Distro for laptop Compaq 6710b

stilita · 09-21-2008, 11:07 AM

I am decided to install Linux in my new Laptop running Windows XP. It´s a Compaq 6710b. This is the first time I will try to install Linux on a laptop, I installed SuSeX five years ago on a desktop PC but not used it. Which is the Linux distribution I should use? Am I daydreaming?

Uncle_Theodore · 09-21-2008, 11:16 AM

I think the choice of the distro is not so much about your hardware as it is about your preferences. Install any distribution you like personally. If you're not an experienced user, probably, Ubuntu or SUSE will work for you well.

stilita · 09-21-2008, 01:30 PM

I´ve already downloaded Mandrake 10.1 DVD image. When I tried to install it the laptop didn´t even had the driver for the DVD reader of my laptop. I guess I should try a Live CD to check how good it detects the hardware. Any suggestions?

Uncle_Theodore · 09-21-2008, 01:38 PM

Mandrake 10.1 was released in October of 2004. By Linux standards, it's rather old and might not support some hardware. Why don't you try something more modern, like the recent versions of Ubuntu or Mandriva (that's what's become of Mandrake now). I think, Ubuntu has live cd's

stilita · 10-10-2008, 11:35 AM

You should know that migrating from Windows to Linux while working on the road is a matter of persistence and time (and a little bit of courage). It took me so long to install Ubuntu because I didn't have a place to back up my Windows stuff. Finally I did and went past the fear when Windows didn't accept the administrator password after the first partition done by Ubuntu (I did not know if a guided partition or a manual one was the best). Thanks Uncle_Theodore for your hint.

stilita · 10-10-2008, 11:36 AM

The next hurdle to overcome was to put the wireless interface to work. I had to figure out what option of WEP was the DSL unit I have (Hex, Decimal, Personal or Personal2). It took me a few more days to accomplish it. But I'm sending this now through the Ubuntu wireless interface. The only device still not working is the fingerprint reader of this laptop. I'm working on that. Any suggestions of where to start?

stilita · 10-10-2008, 11:45 AM

Thee first play around with Ubuntu made me miss Windows ease to hibernate. I guess the installation does not have the correct drivers for all the devices. And, probably, that's the cause for one system freezing.
Anyway, I'm feeling comfortable with no virus originated time waste (which I didn't ever get used to with Windows).

ghodkiller · 10-11-2008, 10:27 AM

if you want a friendlier linux, try ubuntu, suse, fedoracore, mandriva

Debian