Hi, I wanted to know how hard it is to install Linux (any distribution) on Laptop? I wanted to install Linux (Red Hat 7, Open Caldera and Suse 7.0) on my laptop initially but it didn't work at all and then finally i switched to PC, but honestly, is it so difficult to install on Laptop?

Laptop:
Pentium 4
128 Ram
30 GB Mem

Red Hat: installs by fluke, and hangs up while booting when it comes to eth0.

OpenCaldera: hangs up while installing process

Suse: gives error while installing! (some base_aaa error), but the same Suse got installed on my PC with no problem.

I want to install Linux on my laptop because in near future I intend to install Oracle for practice.

I am totally lost. HELP!

I have toshiba(laptop)- celeron 700 MHz w/ 128MB RAM. I was able to install Mandrake 9.1 on it without any problems (and its been 5 months) . I think if u want to install linux on laptop Mandrake is the way to go.
Good Luck

Thank you, Jatt_thugz.

I would try that. I appreciate your help.

Depends on the laptop. Check out http://www.linux-laptop.net if you have questions. Some laptops can be harder to configure than others.

Hi,

install DEBIAN and all problems are solved

cu

It hangs on eth0 because it's looking for your network, btw. So if you try to install Redhat again just make sure to either have it plugged into the network (which you don't really want to do unless you're sure no one will crack your box) Or tell it you'll set up the network at a later time.

Look up your laptop on that linux-laptop site mentioned earlier and look up your graphics card. I had problems installing redhat 7.3 back in the day because I have the nVidia Geforce card and you have to install the drivers (which are on nVidia's site) after you install redhat. So just install redhat in test mode instead of graphically.

When the first screen comes up asking you if you want to install you just type linux-text or something (it tells you, just look for TEXT). You can always do "startx" later and....wait....Start X.

The LAZY^H^H^H^H EASY way:

Try Knoppix first!

Steve

Thank you, for all the responses.


Sorry for the following simple qs but : do you mean the Internet network??? But the installing process does not ask whether I want to configure the network or not; it just either detects (something DHP...) or I have to enter the IP address (which I do not know since I use laptop at home).

Great, I too have nVidia Geforce card in my Dell Inspiron 8200 series laptop!

got it. I will try this on for sure.


Suggestions by Steve Cronje and stony

Use of Debian


if Red Hat doesn't work I go for that.... Thank you

Try latest release, like Redhat 9.0. It may have better support for your hardware than old os has.

Redhat 7.0 starts to be history...

-Tommi

Thank you Tommi.

I got RH 9.0 yesterday, I will try it today.

Good Luck. Pray a little before you do it... :-)

-Tommi

... and may I point out that praying should be done in the kneeling position, with a reverent attitude


Steve

Right on!!!!! :-)

Thank you both, Tommi and Mr. Steve Cronje.

You were right Tommi, RH7.0 is definitely history after installing RH9.0. It got installed so smoothly without any problems at very first time!

Well it does not stop here tough, now its time for Oracle to come on-board!

I'm happy to hear everything worked.

I did mean the Internet when I said network, but I guess you got that all worked out

If you haven't already done it, go to the nVidia website and get their new driver installer, it's freaking great and very easy to use, just follow the directions on the site. You might be able to use X Windows right now but if you haven't gotten their driver then you won't be fully using the card.

OK about Oracle, you'll have to let us know how that works, I have not installed Oracle in Redhat Linux.