How to select, and install Linux system as sole OS
 

I was given an older computer from work that had Windows 2000. IT removed all programs from the hard drive and I got a message noting Windows 2000 could not load b/c it was missing a critical file.

I would like to use the computer for word processing, email, a little internet searching and perhaps watching a divxx movie. All fancy stuff can be done on the computer I am now using.

So, I have read about distros, support groups, and various Linux options but get confused as the dates on some of the threads go way back. Is there is step by step process I can be referred to? The Dell Service tag showed the following info for the computer. (It was free with flat screen so the price was right!)I got concerned when the discussion went to matching the Linux version with chip sockets.

Thanks in advance,

John

1 1K670 Processor, 80531, 1.7GB, 0, 400FSBSocket N, D0
1 3N338 Printed Wiring Assembly, PlanarGX240, Optiplex, Asus
MICROSOFT..., MIDNIGHT GRAY...
1 5G725 Dual In-Line Memory Module, 256, 133M, 32X72, 4K, Error Correction Code, 168
1 03GDR Assembly, Compact Disk Drive SFX, 24X, TEAC..., CHASSIS 2001...
1 7C586 Assembly, Cable, Compact Disk Drive, Flexible, Transformer Bumble Bee
1 2G823 Card, Graphic, 16 MB, ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC..., Rage, Low Profile
1 3J669 Hard Drive, 20G, IDE (INTEGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONICS) ..., HALF HEIGHT..., 7.2K, 40G/P, SEAGATE SNOWMASS...
1 7F455 Assembly, Cable, Floppy Drive, Flexible, Transformer Bumble Bee
1 8C043 Floppy Drive, 1.44M, Slim Form Factor, 3MD, No Bezel, Sony, Grey
1 0797R System Integration, Fee, Integration, #3
1 1F756 Kit, Software, Overpack, Windows 2000 Professional, SP2, F5 English

Your box is pretty old so download a lightweight Linux Live-CD (a Linux distribution that once on a cd can be booted and run without requiring install or affecting the harddrive - not that you care in this case). You can try out the distro on your hardware and personal preferences that way and decide which one you like best.

For such older specs I'd try PuppyLinux, xubuntu, and/or DSL (damn small linux).
Burn the *.iso file you download as an image file to a CD-R, put the CDR in te drive, set your pc BIOS to boot from CD-ROM first (if it's not already) , boot it up. If you like it you can install (usually from a n icon or a menu item). Each of the distro's home pages will have docs to help you install it.

Cheers

your computer is not that old that a standard distribution could not run on it. some think you need 2gb ram to run a word processor.

the first address should be ubuntu. there's a high probability that your hardware is supported and works out of the box. personally, i don't like it but that's just me. it's a great distro with many user, a lot of good support and able maintainers.

however, be prepared to get used to the new system. it is different from windows without being more difficult. keep an open mind and an open eye :). i'd give it a shot if i were you. additionally you can consult the linux hardware compatibility list (http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/index.php).

install it, look how it goes and adjust if necessary. that's my advice. have fun, cheers :::

p.s. additional info on ubuntu hardware requirements (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...Requirements):

Minimum requirements
* 333 MHz processor
* 192 MB of system memory (RAM)
* At least 1.5 GB of disk space
* VGA graphics card

Recommended minimum requirements
* 800 MHz processor
* 256 MB of system memory (RAM)
* 6 GB of disk space
* Graphics card capable of 800x600 resolution

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

Yes, a LiveCD would be the best route to go to see what fits for you. Look at 'The LiveCD List'.

I would increase the memory for the machine. It won't be that expensive. The hdd is more than big enough. Just format the drive or let the chosen distribution install setup for you. Some distro may require that you setup the hdd first. Just do a search here on LQ as this topic has been covered my times.

Post back if you have any issues.

The above link and others are available from 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

Getting started.
 

Well, I went for the puppy Linux and I have been reading at http://puppylinux.org/wikka/LiveDVD

I downloaded Opera and then downloaded the iso file. The default download file software was "Record Now." It is about 100mgs. It downloaded in about 4 minutes and is sitting on my desktop. I read that I had to verify "md5 sum". But when I clicked on the hypertext to learn what the heck that is and how to verify it, I was told I do not have access and it does not recognize me. I try to register, log in without luck.

I went on the internet and downloaded winmd5sum (http://www.nullriver.com/products/winmd5sum). I then ran the software and opened the file to find the file and the software compares "C:\Documents and Settings\John\Desktop\puppy-4.2.1-k2.6.25.16-seamonkey.iso with "5f9febefd6ce70db1bb2d8538f4e2786". The desktop file is the Record now 100mb iso file. I have absolutely no idea what the 5f9... file is. Anyway it tells me the files are different. However, the Opera file data shows the original file and transferred file to be the exact same size.

Now that I have downloaded the Record Now iso file, What do I do next to verify it and can I use the Record Now software to burn the iso file to the CD ROM?

Hi,

The 'md5sum' or 'hash is very important to learn to use and too regularly get in the habit of utilizing it. You can get a sum checker for M$ if need be; 'md5sum.exe'.

For GNU/Linux the 'man md5sum' will get you all the information to perform the check. You can get the 'man command from the 'cli' at anytime.

If you downloaded the cd/dvd iso then be sure to check the md5sum for the original iso. From the cli for GNU/Linux;

If the iso md5 is ok then you should try 'CdromMd5sumsAfterBurning''.

This way you will know if the burn was OK!

This will check the download iso with the known md5sum that you also get with the iso. You should do the check for any download that you might perform, even a LiveCD. Plus burn the image. Sometimes you may need to lower the burn rate to get a valid burn.

The above link and others available from 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

hi,

sorry i don't know what you are trying to say.

why? what is a default download file? i thought you wanted to download the puppy iso?
by whom were you told? access to what? who is "it"?
why? where?
which software?
??? what has it to do with anything?
that's probably the md5 file with the fingerprint
who is "it"

the procedure is rather simple:
1. download iso (forget about the md5 file for now. it's not really necessary.
2. burn the iso to a CD/DVD
3. put it in the drive and reboot

cheers :::

it sounds like you are asking for something like:
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/
or
http://polishlinux.org/choose/quiz/
(you can find more by the use of a popular search engine, if you wish). as suggested above, a live CD might be a better idea though, either before or after trying one of those distro choosers.

If that is saying that you have a single 256M memory module, you might find that limits your choice of distro a little. In restricted memory situations, the 'small' distros are likely to be better, but upgrading to more memory could make that problem go away, if that is what you want to do. Or you could put up with the computer being a bit slow, if that is acceptable to you.

Like :::, I find your posts rather confusing and full of inforamtion that does not seem connected to the thread; for example

It is unclear how Opera became involved. It is a browser, so does the fact that you seem to be trying to add a browser imply that everything up to that point with puppy has gone well? (Somehow, I think that this is the wrong interpretation.)

Don't understand the reference to 'Record Now'; that sounds like an option in a CD burning program, but you seem to be saying that it is a version of Opera. Opera should not be 100megs (that is megabytes, as in file sizes; if you were counting from a download program that might be in megabits, so that would be around 64M); its more like 8, depending on version and format, so you are presumably talking about something else; what exactly?

Sitting on your desktop? On the Puppy computer? Congratulations!

Please do try to be clearer about what is going on; if progress has occured, please include this in your postings, otherwise the rest of us, who can't see it happening, get confused.

reads to me like the OP is giving a detailed account of his experience. Just disregard the fluff, and nudge him in the desired direction :-)

just reads to me like the OP is giving a detailed account of his experience. Just kindly disregard the fluff, and give him a nudge in the intended direction. :-)

Hi,
You must have read something other than the OP. Maybe between the lines or you have some mystic powers that you could share. :)

The post is not clear. Salasi was correct about the request for detailed information.

I don't see your inclusion of any useful information to the OP other then that to criticize someone who is attempting to aid. My post was to help assist the OP with the 'md5sum' and burning to get to a valid 'ISO'.

Your post aided the OP how? :)

BTW, LQ is slow as far as communications. Be patient, don't dupe your post. Patience, it will show up.

First, if you have an option to create a data disc or something along those lines, don't do that. You should use the "burn iso" option, or whatever option you have along those lines. Don't make an audio CD, don't make a data CD, etc. Make sure you burn the CD properly, so that it works like it should.
The md5sum, if you're having that many problems and can't find an easy explanation, you could probably ignore. Unless I missed something, you didn't write down what operating system you're using, so I couldn't really help all that much, possibly ... I'll leave it up to you or someone else. You don't absolutely need to use md5sum. I don't know how the nullriver md5sum program works, or what its options are, or anything. I didn't notice that you posted anything saying you had two files, only that you had the .iso. What is the name of the other file (not the .iso)
What's the name of the file? What are the contents of the file? Did you download it when you downloaded the .iso?

Read the documentation or help with the software you're using if you're not sure that you're burning it correctly.

This quote is from the OP:
I'd like to say something about this. If you can't understand what the OP is saying in this sentence, I'd really wonder about what you're reading. Pay attention to the obvious statement in this sentence instead of arguing with each other for five seconds or acting like you're stuck in a maze. With no other information, it's extremely obvious what the OP is saying.

I have no idea what you or ::: are paying attention to. The OP's posts have been very easy to understand.

Hi,
I'll bite again!

The 'md5sum' will insure that a valid copy is available to burn a hopefully valid ISO. The checking of the 'hash' has several utilities across OS to make things easy so why not use it? If you choose to ignore and the 'hash' is not correct then go ahead an burn the image to create a ISO. You will most likely have problems with that ISO. Not a valid image.

If you have a shortage of coasters then by all means continue providing that information but sure to request that the bad burn/coasters be sent to you from the idiot that follows the methods or suggestions you continue to make.

You could use other 'hash' code checkers, compare or whatever to validate the ISO image to insure the copy is valid. To rely on the Burner app is just plain stupid. To many problems. You can match and hope that the image is valid but if the burner is not creating a valid image then compares what it burns to be correct. Then where are you? Coaster!

Then someone posts back with problems of incomplete installs, broken install or the installation doesn't work as intended. If the validity of the image of the download along with the image that was burned is verified as OK then that would not be a problem to be concerned with. Russian Roulette anyone?

There is no problem for someone to request that the OP verify or clarify the information. If you understand the OP then fine. Reply with some useful information!

I have useful information.
Here it is:

I've checked md5sums and checked md5sums and checked md5sums and checked md5sums and checked md5sums. I've used Gentoo and emerged and emerged and emerged and emerged and emerged and emerged. For every package (yes, even the dependencies that are installed with the package that you type in at the command-line with emerge), it checks the sums. It checks the sums and checks the sums and checks the sums. I've also done this with my .iso downloads.
I have never ONCE done this and had the wrong sums. Once. One single time.
I understand using md5sum or sha1sum or whatever, and I still do it and will do it ... but you act like your downloads are regularly rigged with explosives and you have to spend your days and nights disarming them with little tweezers and things.

Not to mention the fact that upon editing my original post, I added a couple of questions regarding the md5sum file that the OP is talking about. If you didn't see my final (edited) post, stop hopping and bouncing all over the place with your Jeff Bridges "Blown Away" stories.

By the way, see my above post if you're comparing things to Russian roulette.