Where do I start?
 

I ordered a refurbished system from Shop Good Will. It had ubuntu 9.04 installed on it, but no modem. I ordered a V.92 Modem that came with a linux driver disc. My problem is I don't know which version to install. I have ordered and received ubuntu 10.04, however until I can get the modem or bluetooth one up and running I'm stuck. It has been a long time since I've worked with anything other then W*(&^ws so I'm extremely rusty. I think once I get back into the feel of it, what I knew will come back to me, but at this point I would appreciate any help you can give me.
Thanks
Norma aka sweetspringfarm

Not a direct answer, I will say "It Depends"
 

I think that going with the newer O.S. can be good, as it does have the most updated programs etc. If the machine had 9.04 installed on it, then it should take 10.4 without much hassle. The CD you have is a live CD so it will run on your system without touching the hard drive. Doing the live CD is a very good way of testing your hardware before you commit to an install.

When installing a new OS. It would be import to make a new partition for your /home directory. You can then try out different flavors of Linux without touching your personal files.

And that is the rub. It doesn't run. The cd loads and opens, it acts like it is going to install x number of new programs and upgrade the other, but then I get a long string of errors that come up. I had my brother look at it, he used linux years back. From what he say without connecting to the net I can't upgrade. Thus the reason I'm trying to get the modem drive to work. I can get my phone to recognize the bluetooth dongle, but it won't connect so I'm back to square one and on dial up downloading anything is terribly long and drawn out, unfortunately that's the only option where I live. I bought the "new to me" system before Christmas, but didn't get all the components until recently so I'm still trying to get it to run like it should. I can't get the old program to recognize any of the drivers that should be on it and I can't get the CD to operate either.
Norma




The CD you have is a live CD so it will run on your system without touching the hard drive. Doing the live CD is a very good way of testing your hardware before you commit to an install.

When installing a new OS. It would be import to make a new partition for your /home directory. You can then try out different flavors of Linux without touching your personal files.[/QUOTE]

RE: Where do I start?
 

With SystemRescueCD 1.3.4 (http://sourceforge.net/projects/syst...sysresccd-x86/)

Find out about your Hardware, first. You may have to wipe your hard drive & will definitely have to partition it (easy). Respectively, this version is preferable because it has both "dban" if you need to wipe the HD with zeros and "gparted" is what you will need to partition.

An all-around distro that works with virtually all hardware, is antiX, but start with finding out what you have and what shape it is in.

Best wishes & cheers!