Hi all,

I just got a new dell inspiron 640m. I am trying to partition it, and install ubuntu on part and leave XP installed on the other part. Upon going to the Ubuntu download page, there were numerous versions to download. I am not very sure about which version to download and install. Can someone please give me some advice, and maybe explain briefly what the difference between i386, amd64 and powerpc is?? thanks in advance for your help.

~Jonathan

I'm new to this too, but the usual version for the usual computer user is the i386, which describes the computer "architecture" most used by folks with relatively normal computers. AMD 64 may describe a processor that is the fastest processor AMD makes, but if your processor is relatively normal, that again will point you to i386. The same would be true of powerpc. I think it's a good bet that it will be i386. But in the meantime you can download a CD image and just boot off of that and not make any changes in your inspiron until you know for sure.

You will probably have to download an ISO extractor (the name of which is on my other hard drive, sorry), which will burn the ISO image to something that you can boot from, and install later on when you know for sure.

i386 desktop is what you need.

If your XP is taking up the whole HD (which it probably is if it was pre-installed), you will need to resize the HD to make room for ubuntu. I believe that the ubuntu Live-CD is equipt to do this, but it is dangerous if you don't know what you're doing! You run the risk of screwing up XP!

On the other hand, if you have a Windows CD then you can just wipe the HD (since you JUST bought the box, you should not have too much of your own information on it), then partition it, re-install XP first. Then install ubuntu. Ubuntu will recognize XP and the partitions. Then install Grub to your MBR to dual-boot.

Install the i386. 64Bit will not hurt anything, you just will not get the benefits of 64Bit unless you are equipt for it.

What benefits will I be missing with the i386 instead of the 64bit?

These are different processor families.

Under Windows XP, click Start >> My Computer (or similar). Right-click: Properties. Choose that tab that lists information on your CPU, RAM and operations system (sorry, I'm currently not on XP).

Likely, your processor is of the i386 family (else you find the term "64" there). PowerPC is an Apple Mac processor, so you probably knew if you had that.

I'm not a pro on 64bit, but you will not be "missing anything" just because you have the i386. 64bit is for 64bit processors, 32bit is for 32bit processors. If you have an OS that was created for 64bit on a box with a 32bit processor, you are still going to have a good system. Your box will just not be able to utilize the 64bit

hi, this is my first post in LinuxQuestions.org and i have a problem with an inspiron 640m, i install ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper Drake) and i can configure the dual core and the video resolution (1200x800) acording to this page "ivan. cabrera. googlepages. com/ ubuntu_dell640m. html" (just remove the spaces, i cant post pages until i got 13 post) and in this page it said that the wireles works ok but it doesnt, i dont know if i am mising something. if anyone know what the problem is? it would be grate any help.

thaks

HUH?! What the HELL are you trying to say MAN?! lol!

sorry, forget about it. i just install the wireless assistant and thats all.

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still cannot get my wifi to work, read numerous blah blahs....bottom line, no workee....apparently the driver in Lubuntu and I assume other versions of Linux loads the previous version of the broadcom STA package....also I read some discussions about people running this bad boy in 64 bit....so here I am, newbee, ready to be impressed by the pros....