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Old computer..Can I install Linux?

argedion said:
Mike you should always try if possible to run the live environments first. Reason I recommend this is that it will be easier to find out what is working and what is not. What distro did you try? or is the problem a Windows issue?
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I think the issue trying to connect to my router is a windows thing, or something.
I am really not that computer savvy :(
So in answer to your question, I haven't even checked out any distros yet. :o

big_z said:
Are you wired or wireless? I have found wireless networking drivers in Linux to be a giant pain in the ass but others on this forum have disagreed with me.

If you are wireless, I would recommend disconnecting the wireless adapter (whether USB or an internal card) and using a wired connection instead for the initial install. Even if it means putting the computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse on the floor in a closet somewhere and sitting on the floor with it, do that first. Get the system up and running. Then plug in your wireless card and see if your package system will install new drivers for it.
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I'm wireless, using a laptop....almost thinking I messed up something when I did the computer "wipe" with a disc I had. The disc did not necessarily say, "restore disc", it just had the OS on the disc and I restored it.
And how I did that?
Prepare for a very noob answer:) :
Well, I put the disc in the cd slot, booted up the computer, kept hitting F12 while it booted up and selected some things I thought would restore..apparently it worked because all the old stuff is gone and none of my info is on it.
I need to get an Ethernet cable and try to connect direct to the router to see if I can connect like you said, and install (at least its a laptop ;) ).
Time has not been on my side lately ;)

Joelgp83 said:
No. In fact, every time I've loaded linux on someone's computer I've used sticks created by my system, not the theirs.:D
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o.k...that's why I would like to try to get the old computer at least connected to the internet:) --To download what I need, onto the computer I want to use it on.
I realize that psionandy and lunatic say it is possible, but I'd like all Linux stuff to be on the old one:)
 
Ok mike first lets get you on the internet rather it be wired or wireless. Easiest way for the time is with the wire.

Seeing how your not very computer savvy I would suggest going with Linux Mint. Even though I personally don't care for it or any *buntu distro they are some of the easiest to start learning. I would wait to install though and run the live distro for atleast a week. If you are using two computers (one for daily use with Windows and one for your experiment with Linux) then I suggest that you start using cross platform programs. Replace Windows Media Player with VLC. Use Firefox or Chrome instead of IE. Libre Office instead of MS Office. Thunderbird instead of Outlook.
 
As you say you think it is a Windows thing that is screwing up your wifi, there's a very good chance that if you try a live disk of Mint it will solve all your problems and get your wireless internet working automagically. It did on both computers I tried it with.

It has nothing to do with your windows system, installing its own hardware drivers, while keeping your windows installation intact. Because it's booting off a removable drive it doesn't install to your harddrive, so you can try it without worry of changing any setup you already have.
 
Ever since Ubuntu 13.xx I haven't had a single driver issue. They've really upped the ante over the last few years and I assume other distros have seen similar improvements. So there's every chance that you might fire right up and run. Hardcore *nix users will stress the need and use of terminal for many things...I say learn it over the course of time but you don't NEED it as much these days. Ubuntu has a software center (play store of sorts) and there seems to be software for nearly every occasion now.

I'm still somewhat new to Linux also Mike. I've been learning for about the last year or two and here was my progression in a nutshell:

1.) How the heck does anybody actually prefer this crap to windows, nothing works.
2.) Screw around trying to learn and wreck an install or two.
3.) Reinstall.
4.) Try different distros.
5.) Start to figure it all out giving me a much better understanding of Android's file system as well. Light bulb comes on, clouds open up, angels sing.
6.) Wonder how the heck anybody actually prefers windows to linux.

It does take time as others have stated and it can be frustrating at first. You're a faster learner than me so you can cut that time frame down a good deal. A linux master told me this advice when I started...you'll figure out more day by day. As you get used to it, there'll come a time when you'll come to prefer it. He was right.
 
Eugene said:
Funny, I think I must have skipped to step 6 Linux worked fine for me the first time :)
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I think I'm somewhere between steps 4 and 5 at the moment.. but there's nothing like actually sitting down with a machine and trying to make it do something to learn whats going on.
 
I decided to try to burn the iso to a live cd on my main, working computer to then later use on the old computer....
In the process of downloading Linux Mint 16 "Petra" from here:
Linux Mint 16 "Petra" - Cinnamon (64-bit) - Linux Mint
I decided to go with a torrent file. (very small file)
I have downloaded the VuzeBittorrent Client. I am using that application to download the torrent file.
Downloading now. :)

7 more minutes....(alot faster than using a mirror to download the file)


Edit: it seems to be stuck on the "seeding". (under the "Progress" column) What is "Seeding":
seeding.png


And my next step would be to check the md5 for the download yes?
 
I think seeding means you are becoming a host for that file just like all the people before you that did the same so you could get a fast d/l. You appear to have the file tho.
 
Thanks IBT! And that's where I'm stuck....trying to verify the md5...the application I'm using cannot find the downloaded iso. I don't know where it is:( (where does the client save it to???)
 
iowabowtech said:
How about the "open torrents" button in the upper left? (per screenshot)
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That's where I originally found the small torrent file that I downloaded so that the client could download the full file....does that make sense?
I'll have to check more tomorrow....it's getting close to beddy bye time for me:)
 
Not sure why there'd be a file to acquire a file? If you're not a regular torrent user, maybe punt and try utorrent. I've always had good luck with it.
 
Yeah Mike the direct download would be best here. Putting it on the usb is what you want. I think using one of the third party programs like Unetbootin or some other usb app to make a bootable usb. this is the best way to ensure that everything is going to work for you. No need to install anything if it's going to be problematic.
 
Seeding just means the download has finished and you're letting other people download from you.

As long as the MD5 checksums match, you're good to go.

I've just seen you can't find the file, right click the download and see if there's a show in folder (or similar) option.
 
You can also go through the download again and pay attention to where it wants to download the file, once you see where, cancel the new download. If you're using Windows, it may put the file inside the client's folder area. I always create a download folder make sure everything I download go there. I only use Windows while at work. Firefox creates a download folder automatically.
 
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