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!
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
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/ |
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