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leahjane 03-16-2015 03:36 AM

Dell Inspiron 710m
 
I have an old Dell Inspiron 710m, running Windows XP. I'd like to replace XP with Ubuntu. Can anyone tell me which distro I need and point me to some very simple instructions for doing it? Thanks in advance!

beachboy2 03-16-2015 04:15 AM

leahjane,

Welcome to LQ.

I suggest that you download and burn to DVD:

Linux Mint 17.1 MATE 32 bit.

This is a long term edition with 5 years support.

Set the BIOS for the CD/DVD to boot first (keep tapping F2 or similar key as soon as the laptop is switched on) and follow the instructions here:

https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/Home

Various Linux operating systems reviewed here:

http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.co.uk...-contents.html

Linux Mint:
http://www.linuxmint.com/

Make sure that you wipe XP from your drive and only use Linux Mint.

These instructions by PC Pro use Ubuntu which is basically the same OS:

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/3882...pgrade-from-xp

NB Do backup any personal data from your old XP machine first!!


Additional Notes

***You may need to use a lightweight Linux OS such as Zorin OS 9 Lite if you only have the standard 512MB of memory. You can purchase extra memory if you wish (2GB max). It may not be worth it, so try Zorin Lite first with 512MB.

http://www.dellmemoryram.com/dell-la...piron710m.html

There are only 2 memory slots available, so to get the full 2GB, you need 2 of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crucial-Hyni...item4191773003

The seller lists other suitable Crucial RAM.
Alternatively, just buy one and have 1.5GB total RAM. It's your call.

Zorin, which is also supported for 5 years:

http://zorin-os.com/free.html


Partitioning your drive into 3 parts for Linux

This link is a bit ancient but the information is still valid and the diagrams will help you to better understand the 3 partition process (root, swap and home):

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installseparatehome

Boot your computer from the Linux Mint, or other Linux DVD.

Select the Something Else option.

Wipe the existing hard drive by clicking on New Partition Table and press Continue.

You are now presented with a single free space.

Highlight it and click on Change.

You are going to create 3 new Primary (not Logical) partitions. Make sure to select Beginning for the location of each partition.

First create sda1:
sda1....formatted (X in the box) as ext4 as the root partition (/)......Size: 12000MB
Click on OK.

Highlight the free space and click on Change.

sda2.....not formatted (no X in the box) as the swap partition.............Size: 2000MB.
Click on OK.

Highlight the free space and click on Change.

sda3......formatted (X in the box) as ext4 as the Home partition (/home)......Size: Remainder of hard drive.
Click on OK.

You should end up with something looking like the last photo on the first post here:

Linux Mint partitioning:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=122276

Click on Install now.

erik2282 03-16-2015 11:17 AM

Dells have Broadcom wifi cards in them. The Linux kernel does not come with drivers that work with this card, so you will have to use by Ethernet first to install/update. Then download the broadcom drivers and make an rpm and install and configure a bunch of stuff.

some info... Good Luck
http://askubuntu.com/questions/55868...reless-drivers
http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php
http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/379


or you can replace the wifi card with an inexpensive one from Amazon. Intel or Atheros cards work out-of-the-box, since the drivers come with the linux kernel.

DavidMcCann 03-16-2015 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik2282 (Post 5332938)
Dells have Broadcom wifi cards in them.

The new ones may have, but this is an old model from the days when Dell had an exclusive deal with Intel: it has "Intel Pro Wireless 2915" according to the specification, so that will be fine.

The site linlap.com rated this computer as very good for Linux, but it is a Pentium M, so it's not fast. Mint Mate might be OK, but AntiX MX would certainly do well.

beachboy2 03-16-2015 11:37 AM

erik2282 is absolutely right, the Dell 710m uses Broadcom for wifi, so frankbell's sticky on Broadcom wifi is essential reading:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ux-4175434970/

erik2282 03-16-2015 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik2282 (Post 5332938)
make an rpm

I guess it'd be a .deb for Ubuntu, not an rpm =)


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