I have an Inspiron 1150.
I have tried to install the following Linux systems (The latest versions):
Debian
Fedora
Ubuntu

They will all install, but during the install, it comes up with a kind of Video error number, and gives me a list of Video choices between 1 and 13.

1 being the lowest resolution, similar to the old black and white video drivers.
13, being the highest Video driver with 640 x 480 16 color.

It gives me the choice of picking one of the video choices or the word "scan" for more.

I choose scan and get the same choices.

I end up choosing the highest resolution and the installation continues on.

After said and done, the system reboots and comes up to a command prompt, asking me to login.

I can log in, but no graphics are available, I stay in the command prompt mode.

I need help in knowing if my laptop will work with these linux distributions.

If it will, can someone give me a step by step on getting my laptop to work? I am a newbe with very limited knowledge.

The Laptop has an internal wireless NIC card. It does not work that I know of either.

I thought I posted this once before, but I couldn't find it, so I am posting again.

Dwayne

Inspirons work, but apparently there are display issues. There are network issues. It's a PITA.

Whatever distro is on it now, try lspci.
have a look at your laptop on www.linux-laptop.net. If you have gone through debian, fedora, & ubuntu, there's not a lot I'd recommend. Debian are pure OSS, but fedora & ubuntu will use proprietary stuff. The stuff about 1-13 is this: There are 13 basic video modes which all cards are supposed to support, and you're being asked to pick one of them.

The inspiron 1150 appears to have an intel i810 or i915 video card. Try the intel or vesa drivers. Uninstall others (xf86-video-whoever).

Thank you very much business kid, for your response.

Through searching internet and this forum I found http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/dell.html And tried looking up my laptop. . . all links were dead, except the Suse link.

I will try again, to install Ubuntu and pick a different driver pick. I guess I can install it 13 times! <smile>.

I had Windows XP running on it for quite some time, but wanted to play around with linux. I got a Debian going for a server earlier this year.

Dwayne

It's not so much installing a distro as configuring it that will solve your problems. The whole 'delete & reinstall' m$ routine rarely if ever works in linux. With an awkward box, things may reliably land jammy side down and leave you a bit of work to do.

Put on the distro you want. Of the 3 you had, I would recommend Fedora, but that's a personal thing. Then leave it and we'll get that configured.

Ok, through trial and error. . .

finally was able to load up ubuntu 10.10. The screen is graphic like it is supposed to.

Only problem is, my internal NIC card on my inspiron 1150 is not activated that I know of, and is not working.

The eth0 (hardwire) is working, thus I can have internet access. Been doing a little searching, So far, the only thing that seems to be a possible answer, is a "wrapper". My knowledge is zelch on wrappers.

Dwayne

Being a Dell, if it has built-in wireless, there's a good chance it's a Broadcom chip.

You can run sudo dmesg and search the output for the wireless. Here's what my wireless chip looks like:
Ubuntu has Broadcom drivers in the repos. Start the Synaptic Package Manager, go to Settings-->Repositories-->Ubuntu Repositories, and enable "Proprietary drivers for devices." You will likely find the driver there.

We're dealing with ubuntu. . .
Put ubuntu in as a search term

+dell +inspiron +1150 +wifi OR wlan

Google says: "About 1,750,000 results"