Just purchased a used Dell Optiplex GX260 SFF Desktop PC. It came with Windows 2000 already installed, but that will soon be history. Basic specs: Pentium 4 processor, 256 MB Memory, 20 G hard drive, DVD/CDRW combo drive and even a floppy drive. First problem I have is that it is set up for 10/100/1000 Gigabit NIC Cable/DSL, none of which I have available. I also acquired a used External Series USR Sportster Faxmodem V9.0 56K standard and X2 technology compatible. It is my intention to dump the widows.. stuff.. and install my copy of Linux Puppy.
First, I need to know if this modem will work as is, or must I go in search of a driver to get it to work or, option three, just dump it and go find another modem.
Second, I need a clear, concise, step-by-step set of instructions as to how to reformat the HD and upload my Puppy Unleashed Bootable CD V.3.01 since I am a complete nerd when it comes to reprogramming a comp.
Any advice on these matters will be greatly appreciated.
THX,
Wolf

I used a USR Sportster Faxmodem 56K (version unknown) for a couple years from 2002 or so. Linux always found it and I preferred using the command line "wvdial" program to run it. Linux is going to work with any external hardware modem.
Since you want to get rid of Windows 2000 and install Linux you have some leeway for error. As in "if at first you don't succeed.."
I would just suggest going into whatever "advanced partitioning" option Puppy has and reporting back if you have problems. After deleting the Windows partition create a Linux swap of the size you choose and one Linux partition to be used as the root (/) partition.

If you really don't want MS anymore, you should be able to take the default options on the install. If it says something 'Use entire disk?' say yes. It'll prob warn you that you'll lose everything on there. If there's anything you want to preserve, take 2(!) backups) and test them before starting the install.

I believe that Puppy is a small distro of Linux, for flash drives. I could be wrong, I as I am just getting my feet wet in linux.
If you want a good cross between the simplicity of windows in a more linux-like environment, Try PCLinuxOS 2007. Kubuntu seems to have more hardware support than PCL. Good idea with the external modem; I had fits trying to setup s generic "winmodem" that came with my box, so I ran out and got an external. Be sure to try the live CD's (if possible) when looking for a distro to install.

Note about Kubuntu and Ubuntu:
Kubuntu uses KDE for it's default desktop environment while Ubuntu uses GNOME. Software repositories from Ubuntu should work fine on Kubuntu.

Have fun and good luck.

I use puppy from time to time and I think it rocks, and I have successfully installed and used at least 20 linux distros but the only one I couldn't get to install was puppy. Puppy will have an option in its menu called gparted and when you start it up it will show you your hard disks, if you right click on the shown hard disk and choose format as ext3 (i believe puppy will only run from ext 2 or ext 3 and fat partitions) then click apply you will completely delete everything on that disk windows and all, and worst case if you cant install puppy it will still work as a live cd as long as your bios is set to boot from cd.
Also you will need to create a new partition and format it to swap (the rule I have read is to have it twice the size of your ram memory) I have 1gb ram and 1 gb of swap and things run fine for me.

So using gparted in puppy you can create these 2 partitions and then attempt to install puppy.

Good luck, like i said I have tried many and just puppy I couldn't get to install. Hope it works for you. If puppy won't install and you want a small light distro try Tinyme.

Thanks to all for their suggestions. Have decided to let Windows stay on the comp for a while until I am sure Puppy works as I need it. Did some searching here, after finding it impossible to get logged on to my usual ISP (PeoplePC) via Puppy, and have set up another ISP with dialup4less. I can get dialed into the server, but it doesn't seem to like SeaMonkey browser that comes with Puppy. I have copies of Netscape 7.2 and Firefox that I can upload to Puppy (at least I think I can..)or would welcome any other browser uploads I might use to make the dialup ISP work. On the dialup4less registration site they did mention Netscape, but not Firefox.
Getting there slow but sure with all the help I have received in here.
THX,
Wolf

If I remember correctly, PeoplePC does have proprietary access software.
Any dial-up ISP that allows and describes making a DUN connection in Windows should be available in Linux.

A common issue is needing to add your ISP's DNS servers if you can connect but not browse by site name.

How does your ISP "not like" SeaMonkey?

[QUOTE=2damncommon) How does your ISP "not like" SeaMonkey?[/QUOTE]

What I mean is that when I get my dialup connection confirmation and open SeaMonkey I lose the connection. dialup4less suggests linux KDE KPPP for setup and supported browsers as Konqueror, Mozilla, Netscape 7.x and Opera 7.x.. no mention of SeaMonkey.

Maybe I should just give up on Puppy and find a place to buy one of the biggers Linux versions? I would just download one, but in the wonderful world of "DSL Not available in your area." I just can't seem to handle the DAYS long download times of the larger versions of linux.

To confirm your connection is really working try opening the "console" on the Puppy desktop. Try the command (after connecting to the internet) Check your "home" folder and see if the Linux Questions Logo with the 4 penguins is there. If this fails there is a connection problem.

Okay... all seems working now, except for one small problem. I can only get logged in at 9.6 kbs, hence making for a very slow connection. I believe my problem is that when I got my external modem (used) I failed to get the driver disc that goes with it. Have been searching, but to no avail yet to find an online version to download on my other comp. Anyone knowing where I might find a driver for a USR Sportster Serial 56K V9.0 modem, model 005686-03 I would appreciate it. I went to the usr.com site and all they offer is an update to V9.2, which might be useful if I had the original driver.
Still determined to get this linux thing up and running properly and get the heck away from the ill-begotten spawn of Bill Gates.

THX,
Wolf

A driver disk with Windows drivers is not much use in Linux.
When I used dial-up I would see quite a difference in modem performance and usually ISP related.
Try a Google search for your modem model and add "Linux". You may find some suggestions.
A hardware USR modem should be working at some default performance level when discovered by the Linux kernel. If the slowness is not line or ISP related there may be some tweaks.

EDIT: The site has a "Linux Stand alone flasher Version 5.4.62".

if i"m not mistaken people pc requires you to use there on special dialer to connect to the internet with. I know someone that uses people pc in windows and they have to use people pc's dialer to dial out with
I have puppy installed to a hard drive partition, and use net zero which also requires one to use netzero"s dialer to connect with. I had to install jre java runtime for it to work, which netzero dosen't tell you. you might be having a similer problem.I like puppy and use it often to connect to the internet i know this dosen"t solve your problem but it might give you some insight to what you might have to do.