I've been trying for some time to install Kubuntu Dapper Drake on an old Compal CR10 laptop, with notably little success. The live CD worked just fine, but the install would go through a lot of disk thrashing, slow displays, lockups and generally frustrating crashes.
Here's what finally worked:
First, I booted the live CD using the memory check option, wandered off and made some lunch. Came back later to discover that no memory errors were found, even though a cat was sleeping on the keyboard.
Next, I removed the cat from the keyboard, then booted the live CD using the check CD option. The result of this check was no errors found on the live CD.
Next, I booted to a C: prompt in the old buggy Win98 OS that came on the laptop and ran scandisk. This disclosed a variety of directory errors and lost sectors. I told the scandisk program to automatically fix each error.
A follow-up surface scan, performed while I fended off the cat while PIRATE!ing the Caribbean on a much newer Compaq laptop, revealed no underlying problems with the disk.
Next, I booted Kubuntu from the live CD using the safe video option, on the assumption that there might be something odd going on with the ATI video on this 4 year old laptop. Kubuntu booted from the CD as it had done several times before and seemed to be working normally.
Finally, I put the cat in the next room, closed the door, held my breath and clicked the install icon. To my surprise, amazement and great relief after a dozen or so previous crashes, the install proceeded normally without further incident. I've now got a working Linux-based system for the first time in about 2 years in XP hell and looking forward to reacquainting myself with an actual functioning OS.
Next step is to figure out how to get Firefox working... With due respect to Konquerer, I was surprised that Firefox didn't come with the Kubuntu installation.
Regards, John Kinney
Here's what finally worked:
First, I booted the live CD using the memory check option, wandered off and made some lunch. Came back later to discover that no memory errors were found, even though a cat was sleeping on the keyboard.
Next, I removed the cat from the keyboard, then booted the live CD using the check CD option. The result of this check was no errors found on the live CD.
Next, I booted to a C: prompt in the old buggy Win98 OS that came on the laptop and ran scandisk. This disclosed a variety of directory errors and lost sectors. I told the scandisk program to automatically fix each error.
A follow-up surface scan, performed while I fended off the cat while PIRATE!ing the Caribbean on a much newer Compaq laptop, revealed no underlying problems with the disk.
Next, I booted Kubuntu from the live CD using the safe video option, on the assumption that there might be something odd going on with the ATI video on this 4 year old laptop. Kubuntu booted from the CD as it had done several times before and seemed to be working normally.
Finally, I put the cat in the next room, closed the door, held my breath and clicked the install icon. To my surprise, amazement and great relief after a dozen or so previous crashes, the install proceeded normally without further incident. I've now got a working Linux-based system for the first time in about 2 years in XP hell and looking forward to reacquainting myself with an actual functioning OS.
Next step is to figure out how to get Firefox working... With due respect to Konquerer, I was surprised that Firefox didn't come with the Kubuntu installation.
Regards, John Kinney
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