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Author Topic: Any linux experts?  (Read 5802 times)

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theolodian

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Any linux experts?
« on: 06 November 2006, 21:39:37 »
I've already approached a couple of people over pm, now time to ask anyone and everyone.

Can I install linux in an external HD, then install that drive into my laptop and run it?  Where should I look for linux drivers for my laptop?

Which of the following 3 options would then be available to me;

Running on linux?

Install XP by starting the install process in linux?

Set up dual boot linux/XP?


This is my latest idea for getting my dead laptop running.  Remember that it will not boot from CD or USB so I can't install XP on the new HD without some serious workarounds like this.

Cheers,

Theo
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TheBoy

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #1 on: 06 November 2006, 21:49:56 »
You cannot start XP install from within Linux - you still need to boot from CD to install (or DOS).

HP/Compaq may have drivers for it, though doubt it. Modern distro should have enough drivers, though again, I think you need to boot from CD...
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theolodian

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #2 on: 06 November 2006, 22:00:39 »
Now I'm begining to understand why you can't buy thin laptops wihtout optical drives.  It is more important than a HD.  You can run a computer with a CD and no HD, but if you don't have a CD drive and your HD goes you're fubar'd.  I thought it was just Microsoft, but apparently small minds prevail everywhere.
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TheBoy

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #3 on: 06 November 2006, 22:06:41 »
Quote
Now I'm begining to understand why you can't buy thin laptops wihtout optical drives.  It is more important than a HD.  You can run a computer with a CD and no HD, but if you don't have a CD drive and your HD goes you're fubar'd.  I thought it was just Microsoft, but apparently small minds prevail everywhere.
yup.  At least MS make it easy, assuming your USB stuff works. Linux just plain sucks.
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tunnie

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #4 on: 06 November 2006, 22:31:34 »
I have Linux Ubuntu running on an old Dell Latitude laptop i had kicking around, its running Duel boot with XP.

Its not to bad, its something different. Picks up my wireless PCIMA Card ok, and can surf the net, interesting comes with loads off apps you can download, and loads of Torrent programs!  ;) - Nifty wireless scanning tools as well!

It also picks up USB drives really quickly much quicker than XP.

Theo, i can't remember if you said you MacMini was Intel? - Try Parallels Desktop for Mac, its a fast Virtual Machine for Macs, very good, runs XP and Linux very fast.

As for installing it to an external drive, there should be no problem. Any machine should do... you can order a free install of Linux Ubuntu from their website, make sure the external drive is on, and bootable. When you come to install it, just select that as the install drive.

You might want to partition the external drive, as you may not want the whole drive for Linux. Linux uses its own file system, so you might want to partition part of the external drive to NTFS or FAT32 so you can still use it under windows or mac.w

Linux however is not as stable as people think, so be prepared for it to crash!
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theolodian

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #5 on: 06 November 2006, 22:38:57 »
Tunnie,

I'm just trying to get the laptop going.  I can not boot it from an external drive under any circumstances.  The mini is Intel.  I was hoping to use it to install linux into an HD in an external enclosure, and then install that HD into my laptop.  Ideally, I would then be able to install XP in the laptop somehow without booting from the CD.  However, running in linux is better than nothing, so I would be happy to just try that.
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tunnie

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #6 on: 06 November 2006, 22:47:54 »
I take it the laptop is like your avatar then?

So why can't you boot the laptop from an external HD, the BIOS is too old? - Guess you have tried updating the BIOS and so on?..

I assume you have no CD drive on the laptop? Hummm whats on there at the moment? Guessing sod all...

I use my Lacie External drive for applications, never tried it for an operating system before...
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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #7 on: 06 November 2006, 22:56:44 »
USB ports burned out of motherboard.  Have updated BIOS.  CD drive seems fine, even bought a spare one.  Works when booted up, but will not boot from CD.  Old HD still boots, but bearings shot.  Can't get anything installed on new HD.  Just want to be able to surf and word docs.  Really don't want to buy a new one yet, and not spending any more money trying to fix this one.
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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #8 on: 06 November 2006, 23:16:30 »
hummm, well don't get a Macbook just yet hearing loads of problems with build quality and reliability!


I have an idea though... seams like you laptop is on its last legs, but.... i have my Dell Latitude, takes 2 mins to take out the HD on that... If you sent me your HD, I could put it in my Dell and then install Windows on it. Then take it out and send it back to you?

Would solve the issue of the external caddy and USB issue, i assume the external HD you have is a 2.5"?
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theolodian

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #9 on: 06 November 2006, 23:19:59 »
TB tried that in his laptop.  Just got blinking cursor when we put the drive back into my laptop.  Laptop is pretty good and modern, except for usb ports.  Those make it not worth spending money to fix.

2 bad about Macbook.
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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #10 on: 06 November 2006, 23:25:22 »
i nearly bought one instead of the MacMini, but just heard to many bad things about them shutting down, and problems when setting them up.

MacMini is quite old now and just been updated so was a bit more proven, thats why i went for that.

Humm odd that it did't work and u just get a blinking cursor....

I also have a Sony Vaio, i have a re-build cd with that which contains an image of all the hardware and drivers, literally takes 20 mins or less to re-build it, any such luck with yours?

What brand is it?

I think if installing XP on the HD in one laptop, then transferring it to your laptop and it still didn't work, i dunno what to suggest... its not looking good tbh...
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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #11 on: 06 November 2006, 23:32:49 »
It is a Compaq.  I have all of the install cd's.  It ignores the cd drive completely on boot.  Could I install linux using another computer and then use the drive in my laptop?

The mini is making HD noises now too  >:(  Or maybe it's only in XP, which I have been running a lot lately  :-?
« Last Edit: 06 November 2006, 23:33:43 by theolodian »
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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #12 on: 07 November 2006, 08:41:38 »
Tunnie, there is something a bit odd about this one. Its got the standard HP style BIOS. but it ignores any setting about boot device.

Only other thing I can think of is to remove shagged drive, ghost it to new one and try that  (I wondered if there was some kind of data encryption going on, but couldn't find a setting)...
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TheBoy

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #13 on: 07 November 2006, 08:42:37 »
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Linux however is not as stable as people think, so be prepared for it to crash!
I think regular users of this forum know exactly how unstable Linux is...  >:(
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theolodian

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Re: Any linux experts?
« Reply #14 on: 07 November 2006, 08:45:32 »
Quote
Quote
Linux however is not as stable as people think, so be prepared for it to crash!
I think regular users of this forum know exactly how unstable Linux is...  >:(
At this point anything is better than nothing.

One strange thing is that XP is more stable on my Mac than it ever was on my Compaq!?
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