I am wanting to have linux installed on my old Dell Dimension 2400. I have successfully installed Debian Etch, but it is outdated.
So I have tried Ubuntu, but it wouldn't install because the generic intel drivers won't work.
I tried Debian Lenny, but X won't start.
Now I am trying Solaris, but Broadcom won't release any solaris drivers for my NIC.
What is a good distro that is known for having good drivers? I don't know what is wrong. Bad luck I guess. Is my hardware just so rare that there are no drivers for it? Any ideas that will help me out with Debian or Ubuntu?

Dell Dimension 2400
Pentium 4 (don't know clock speed)
Intel 82845G Integrated Graphics (also have NV GeForce 5500, but extra config is needed for it)
768 MB ram
Broadcom 4401 Ethernet NIC

Thanks.

Just an idea:
Try the alternative install disk for Ubuntu and install via text (graphics need not be working when installing). Once the system is installed, the text console will work. Then find the necessary tweaks/updates to enable video. I would recommend the Nvidia hardware - it will yield better results.

I have tried the alt disk for ubuntu. It has been awhile since I tried, but I remember it kept giving me this weird error and I could never get past it. I burned again and checked md5 and same thing.

Did you try upgrading from Etch to Lenny, rather than installing Lenny from scratch?

No I didn't try that. I thought I say somewhere that using dist-upgrade wasn't good. Is that wrong?

I couldn't say whether that's right or wrong, but at this point do you have anything to lose by trying it?

Thats true. ill see what I can do. Thanks for the help.

Here's an upgrade thread, beginning at #9 where harishankar reports no problems upgrading from Etch to Lenny:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...3/#post3252402