help with linux? - DPChallenge Forums

12/28/2006 03:19:08 PM · #1

Ok im looking to download linux onto my old laptop, im trying a copy of ubuntu, but in the download section theres 3 different types:

AMD64, i386 and powerpc. How do i find out which i need?

12/28/2006 03:20:00 PM · #2

i386

fotomann_forever

12/28/2006 03:20:15 PM · #3

Likely i386, but what kind of laptop is it?

12/28/2006 03:22:59 PM · #4

also, once i have the image burnt on a cd, is it safe to dump windows off the laptop and install linux? The laptop only have win 98 so its not huge loss if something goes wrong but im just wondering if linux runs as its own operating system or if its supposed to be run with windows too.

12/28/2006 03:23:49 PM · #5

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Likely i386, but what kind of laptop is it?

Toshiba 2060

Possibly a Pentium 1 lol

Ok ill try getting i386 now and try that

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/28/2006 03:23:56 PM · #6

It runs as its own OS and with that laptop it's i386

fotomann_forever

12/28/2006 03:24:18 PM · #7

Yes, it's safe to dump Windows. Ubuntu is a full OS.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

12/28/2006 03:26:37 PM · #8

Linux is its own OS, but if you leave Win98 on your laptop and boot to the linux boot CD to install, Linux will probably see the Win98 already on there and make your laptop dual boot.

use my info at your own risk!

12/28/2006 03:30:54 PM · #9

naw ill dump win 98, the laptop is only 4gig so i wanna use as little space as possible. Im gunna convert it for astronomy stuff. Possibly pick up a newer webcam and look that up to the telescope, get some star tracking software and such. It sucks as a regular computer so i might as well get SOME use out of it lol

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

12/28/2006 03:34:31 PM · #10

Hmm kind of off topic but im having trouble formatting the computer. Normally type format c:/ but on the laptop somethings funky the / comes up as Ã© or something similar, it is an E with a symbol. ANywho, how can i correct this? or is there another way of dumping it.

Hmm interesting, seems most of the buttons are wrong like {}[]\|;:'"<>/? they all show up as other characters. How can i resolve this?

Message edited by author 2006-12-28 15:42:25.

Louis

Nikon D800

12/28/2006 03:41:43 PM · #11

Originally posted by kawana:

Just use your Linux install disks. It'll need to format your drive anyway since it's a different filesystem. Formatting with the Windows utility is an unneeded step.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/28/2006 03:43:15 PM · #12

I'm lazy, so I'd just let the Linux install wipe the entire drive for me. You'll probably be given the choice shortly after you boot to the linux install CD. Linux will change the file system anyway.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

12/28/2006 03:43:17 PM · #13

so your saying that i should just use the linux cd, restart the computer with it in and install linux and it will erace windows by itself?

Louis

Nikon D800

12/28/2006 03:43:56 PM · #14

Originally posted by kawana:

so your saying that i should just use the linux cd, restart the computer with it in and install linux and it will erace windows by itself?

Yeah. Now get going already. :)

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/28/2006 03:44:10 PM · #15

ah ok, thanks ill do that. I thought it would just install linux as well, and leave windows as is. Ok ill do that now. Thanks.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

12/28/2006 03:44:31 PM · #16

Oops, Louis beat me to it. :-) What he said.

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

12/28/2006 03:50:59 PM · #17

Er.. better put:

WARNING!! ADVICE IN THIS THREAD COMES WITH NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED!! ALSO, BACK UP YOUR DATA!!

...that'll learn him.

12/28/2006 04:14:08 PM · #18

ya no worries lol its a crappy computer, im just trying to get some use out of it. Its been collecting dust for like 2 years lol

12/28/2006 04:44:18 PM · #19

ok well i burnt the image onto a blank cd with alcohol 120% and tried restarting the laptop with the cd in but it did nothing. It just went straight into windows. Thoughts?

12/28/2006 04:45:32 PM · #20

fdisk the laptop

And make sure the cd drive is selected as the first boot device in the bios

Message edited by author 2006-12-28 16:45:59.

fotomann_forever

12/28/2006 04:46:51 PM · #21

Wazz beat me to it, but yes make sure the CD is the first boot disk.

12/28/2006 04:50:30 PM · #22

sorry but how do i do this exactly?

12/28/2006 04:51:14 PM · #23

remember that i CANT use the / as in format c:/ it comes up as an E with an accent.

12/28/2006 05:00:59 PM · #24

Download a old windows boot disk that has the program fdisk on it.
//www.bootdisk.com

Then boot to the floppy and run fdisk and delete primary partition. Then make sure of the boot priority in the bios then boot to the linux cd.

Message edited by author 2006-12-28 17:01:37.