[pm-h] Can't Move to Linux

[Mike Flannigan]

On 8/14/2010 8:47 AM, G. Wade Johnson wrote:
> On Sat, 14 Aug 2010 08:01:29 -0500
> Mike Flannigan<mikeflan at att.net>  wrote:
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> Sorry to hear about your Linux issues. I've installed Linux on several
> machines successfully over the years.
>
> One issue I can think of with the notebooks and laptops is that they
> continue to be "special": unusual drivers or hardware issues. They
> laptop manufacturers normally provide Windows drivers to Microsoft and
> that's it. There are a few special distributions I have heard of that
> take some distribution like Ubuntu and "tweak it" to handle laptops
> installs better.
>
> I know some people have decent luck using the Ubuntu Live disk to
> verify that Ubuntu can get drivers and such up and running. Then, they
> install from the booted Ubuntu system. I don't know if that's what you
> tried or if you just started with an install.
>
> A couple years ago I had a bit of trouble installing Ubuntu on a 64-bit
> desktop I had built and it turned out to be the video board. I know
> nVidia makes this particularly difficult with their binary-only drivers.
>
> There are a few distributions that give you a lot more control on the
> installation. But, I wouldn't recommend them unless you are pretty
> Linux-savvy already: Slackware, Gentoo. You could try Debian, but it's
> the basis for Ubuntu and not nearly as friendly, so I would probably
> recommend against it.
>
> The one other thing I can think of would be to make certain you are
> working with the latest Ubuntu. It seems that the install system is
> getting better at detecting hardware with each new version.
>
> Doing a quick Google of "Ubuntu dv9830US" resulted in examples of
> people who have managed this install. I would suggest checking
> ubuntuforums.org to see if anyone has any advice.
>
>   G. Wade
>    


Wow.  Great advice from you and John.
I'm working these issues now.  I have already
restored Vista.  I'll try a dual boot this time, but
not Fedora.

The Virtual Box idea is very cool.  I'm looking
into that also.


Mike