Complete newbie to linux and really confused
 

hi all, i just brought my first linux pc today a acer aspire one with linpus lite on it and because i got it second hand i do not know the password and i hear that this is needed to install programs. Can aanyone please tell me step by step (simples way) how to install programs as i only have the old version of firefox and want to upgrade it.

thank you to anyone who helps :)

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Edit: misread the post, dont see a delete option from the lq app

Your aspire is running a stripped down version of Fedora called Linpus Lite, basically they took all the larger programs etc out of the OS to make room so it would fit on the smaller sized solid state drives they were putting in the netbooks back then. You can continue to use the installed OS , and attempt to update it, but I doubt you will have any luck. With all Linux versions you will require ROOT access in order to make system wide changes, similar to the Admin users in Windows. I suggest trying your hand at what you have first before you go making the jump to installing another version of linux. The versions of Linux that came on the earlier netbooks were pretty bulletproof since they were marketed at non-linux users, so play with it mess with it see what you can do. Then when your ready try installing a full version of Linux like Ubuntu, or Fedora. There are also some other threads on here about your specific model and Linpus Lite http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...s-lite-669864/. I think you will not have much luck trying to install anything newer on there using the current OS.

thanks tekhead2.

would my netbook run slow if i put the latest ubuntu on it? as it is only a 8GB SSD and 512MB ram? i would use windows (dare i say that word on here ;) ) but am thinking it will run unbearably slow any thoughts/opinions?

Take a look at the site below. The minimum RAM is 512 and recommended is 1GB. You won't have much room to install anything with an 8GB SSD.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...emRequirements

Have you tried the Linpus support site? Their FAQ file says the default (root?) password is 111111

I suspect that their "Download" tab might contain so helpful information, but (not having a Linpus system) I didn't bother to check. Sorry - sort of. :)

Might work with sudo.

would it make much difference if i used the sd card expansion bay with a 32gb card?


thanks for all the support guys :)

What I did before I upgraded to a proper hard drive was to make two partitions on a 16G sd card. I put / on the ssd, I put /home and /usr in their own partitions on the sd card (in the "storage expansion" slot)
The down side is that it take a bit of time for the sd card reader to come online as it is not recognised by the bios. So there will always be errors showing during the boot process!
And if you remove that sd card, the system won't boot at all.

Linpus is useless for all practical purposes. Your average smartphone has a better operating system.

I recommend that you use Lubuntu or another Lxde based distro. Nautilus chews memory from time to time and will cause the system to go to swapping, which, due to the ssd's slowwrite speed, will freeze the system.
When you upgrade the ram, try to get a 1G ram (for a total of 1.5G) It must be a 533Mhz DDR2 SODIM ram as the faster rams won't work at all.

Upgrading from ssd to a sata 2.5" hdd is possible, but be warned that this requires soldering to the motherboard and modifying the case by cutting away mounting pillars etc.

Thanks for your reply i have downloaded a recovery disc for it and am gonna create a recovery stick. So hopefully this should reset the password that the previous owner has created wont it?

i was thinking about putting a HDD in it but i am not the most patient person in the world and not the best at soldering.

Although i am looking at putting Ubuntu onto it can anyone suggest other linux OS'S that will run smooth on it? and where to download them from?

Thanks everyone for all your help

I don't think it does but I can't say for sure!


Best to get a professional who has a temperature controlled iron to do it. Damage to the motherboard would turn your AAO into a really pretty paperweight!


I'm running Crunchbang on mine! It runs very well. But be aware that Crunchbang needs some manual configuration for the best experience! (in other words, it's not recommended for total newbies!)

Recovery usually replaces data to as bought state.

Why put a hard drive in if you don't have to. Use a usb flash to boot up with and use internal to store the rest.

There are a number of distro's made for netbooks. Might try a few of them.

I've done that before, but it really isn't a great way to work with these netbooks! Having a flashdrive poking out the side usually results in things going bellyup at the wrong moment when you accidently dislodge the the flashdrive that you booted from! :rolleyes:.

But I agree that modding the AAO for a hard drvie is not something to be taken lightly.

True. Even the smallest have a bit of a nub sticking out.

Thanks for all your advice guys.

Im not doing any modding to it as I dont wanna break it and have to spend more money on it, it was second hand anyway.




What kind of configuration? I dont know my technical terms so please be simple :)

I was also looking at using Lubuntu as i dont want to have to boot off a flash drive every time because knowing what im like id forget the flash drive.

Can anyone tell me step by step how to load a new os on to here?

Thanks everyone :)