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Help with computer.
Freerepublic ^ | 6/27/2008 | raybbr

Posted on 06/27/2008 2:27:03 PM PDT by raybbr

I have an older computer that I have cleaned out of W2000 Pro. I tried loading a version of XP Pro that I have on this machine. MS wants $269 for an additional key. I am not willing to pay that.

I am currently downloading Ubuntu and would like to put Linux on this box. It has an Athlon XP with a gig of memory and no video card.

I don't plan on any gaming or high end computing. Just photo editing, video editing and web surfing.

Do I need Ubuntu or is there something else smaller and simpler I can use?

Also, what can I use to wipe XP off and start over? Will the installation disk of Ubuntu do that?

Thanks in advance, Ray.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: linux
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To: Knitebane
WiFi HOWTO

I can't open a terminal to check the settings. I can't load the terminal tools. It tells me the "manufacturer" (me) is not allowing it. This is not going to be easy.

61 posted on 06/27/2008 8:08:04 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: Knitebane

It’s a Linksys. It model is listed on the site you linked.


62 posted on 06/27/2008 8:09:40 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: rabscuttle385
Actually, I omitted something. The IEEE Computer Society’s student program gives me free access to both Vista Business and XP Professional, in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors! Woohoo!

Ummmmm..... Feeling generous?

63 posted on 06/27/2008 8:10:43 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: Knitebane

If your wifi card isn’t supported by Linux.

Rather than go through the (steep) learning curve installing non-Linux drivers.

Go to any major electronics store, and buy the cheapest USB wireless thumb drive you can buy. Basic generic.

It will probably work.


64 posted on 06/27/2008 8:12:45 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (CHEVY VOLT COUNTDOWN: V minus 106 Weeks. Waiting...)
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To: antiRepublicrat

His motherboard has a PCI-E slot....you can get cards at a reasonable price though.,


65 posted on 06/27/2008 8:14:44 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: raybbr

Great....what about sound?


66 posted on 06/27/2008 8:15:46 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: raybbr
It’s a Linksys. It model is listed on the site you linked.

You should be okay then.

67 posted on 06/27/2008 8:18:53 PM PDT by Knitebane (Happily Microsoft free since 1999.)
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To: raybbr
Ummmmm..... Feeling generous?

The student license for XP non-transferable.

If you're going to get an illegal copy of XP, just get one from Pirate Bay

68 posted on 06/27/2008 8:21:41 PM PDT by Knitebane (Happily Microsoft free since 1999.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Haven't hooked up any speakers yet. Still trying to get on the net.

Got to go to bed.

69 posted on 06/27/2008 8:22:16 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: raybbr

Do yourself a big favor. Get a new computer (I suggest the Dell Outlet Center) with Vista Home Premium already installed. That’s what I did eight months ago on my three home computers and never looked back. You can download free OpenOffice and it will work just fine with Office files.

If you listen to all of the Vista bashers you will think this is an operating system created by Satan himself. It is total bulloney. Vista works fine.

I turned around and sold my four year old XP computers for what I had put into brand new Dell computers with the proper hardware and have never regretted it.

I went through the dual boot mode and Ubuntu and in the end I asked myself why I wanted to put myself through agony for no good reason. Linux is not for the average user and there are no advantages that I can see except for the masochists who just like to cut off their noses to spite their faces.

My $0.02.


70 posted on 06/27/2008 9:23:09 PM PDT by RichardW
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To: Knitebane
The student license for XP non-transferable.

If you're going to get an illegal copy of XP, just get one from Pirate Bay

Yeah..., Y'know there might possibly be just a smidge bit of difference in the wisdom of using a genuine copy of XP that is illegal solely because the license doesn't allow transferral between parties, and installing and using a copy downloaded from pirate sites that could have any number of keyloggers etc in it. 

Kinda like there's a difference between having your brother pretend he's you to pick up your medication, and buying your pills from a guy named "Domino" down on the corner of fifth and MLK Blvd.



71 posted on 06/27/2008 9:36:34 PM PDT by MichiganMan (So you bought that big vehicle and now want to whine about how much it costs to fill it? Seriously?)
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To: Nailbiter

ping for later read


72 posted on 06/28/2008 12:57:29 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: Knitebane; Ernest_at_the_Beach

I have loaded Mint over the Ubuntu. It’s working too. Still having wifi problems. I have been through the Mint forums and not getting any real solutions.

Mint knows the card it there. It just won’t connect to my wireless router. I used the Windows wireless drivers tab to load the .inf file for the Linsys card.

Not sure I really have the time to make this a project. I thought it would be simpler. I am going to try to connect the PC to a cable to the router.


73 posted on 06/28/2008 6:57:20 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: raybbr

http://www.linuxmint.com/wiki/index.php/MintWifi#Broadcom_43xx


74 posted on 06/28/2008 8:01:18 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: raybbr

http://www.linuxmint.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=12609


75 posted on 06/28/2008 8:07:47 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: raybbr
I used the Windows wireless drivers tab to load the .inf file for the Linsys card.

Ah. This is the difference between using native drivers and using ndiswrapper.

ndiswrapper is a hack to let Linux use Windows drivers. It works, but only for small values of work.

If you want full support, like WPA, you need to use a card that uses native drivers.

ndiswrapper doesn't support encryption on every card that it "supports."

76 posted on 06/28/2008 1:36:16 PM PDT by Knitebane (Happily Microsoft free since 1999.)
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To: Knitebane

I posted a thread on the Mint forum.

http://www.linuxmint.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=14222&p=88033#p

Take a look and tell me what you think.

Ray


77 posted on 06/28/2008 2:40:28 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: raybbr
Yeah, fairly common.

There are two different kinds of wireless under Linux.

Native and ndiswrapper.

ndiswrapper works, sort of. It uses a wrapper around Windows drivers.

Native drivers use their own drivers and tend to implement all of the required features.

ndiswrapper is a quick hack to get some functionality out of a wireless device.

You can spend a lot of time trying to get hardware working with ndiswrapper.

Or you can use fully supported hardware like the RT series of chips.

I like this one.

78 posted on 06/28/2008 2:54:24 PM PDT by Knitebane (Happily Microsoft free since 1999.)
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To: Knitebane
I like this one.

Allright. I ordered the card. I hope you will be around when it comes to help me out. Thanks again.

Know anyone who need a Linksys Wifi card for $35?

79 posted on 06/28/2008 4:11:24 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: rabscuttle385

That does happen.

Enjoy!


80 posted on 06/28/2008 5:37:52 PM PDT by raygun
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