[The Prisoner]

hello

i would like to install a "lite" version of linux on an old laptop (toshiba satellite 4080XCDT)


can someone suggest one ?

i have tried installing ubuntu breezy badger but i get an error :

I get passed the stage 'Configuring Partitioner' and get this 'step':

|---------------[PARTITION DISKS]---------------|
| |
| ???? ???? |
| [Go Back] [Continue] |
|-----------------------------------------------|

When you go to either button, I get the message 'Unimplemented Function' down the bottom of the screen.

[mrbrownstone]

If you're quite experienced with linux try slackware with a light window manager such as Fluxbox. Or use DSL which is a live CD but can be install to hard disk with instructions on their site.

[The Prisoner]

i'm not experienced and the user is not either. He just wants email and internet.

[rob.rice]

well this is not that bad of a computer for linux the only problem I can foresee is the small video ram you will be stuck with 16 bit color and a resolution of 800x600 as a fact of the matter is it will run almost like a 1Ghz XP computer the hard drive will hold a full install of almost any distro out there but because you and the main user are linux newbes I would suggest debian linux here is a web site that will help you set it up and configure it http://www.linux-laptop.net/ toshiba also has some linux support at there web site here is a link to the debian web site do get the CDs a download install is not for newbies http://www.debian.org/ I also suggest you use fdisk to partion the disk and that you print out and read the Installation Manual for intelx86 befor you start don't pay any mind to the hard core linux users who say there is never any need to reinstall ( there isen't ) but untill you get a good handle on linux don't spend too much time tring to fix it just reinstall
one big plus to linux is that it can use a larger hard drive than the BIOS can understand

[Old Bob]

Here's a place to start.

http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/toshiba.html

[The Prisoner]

Originally Posted by Old Bob

Here's a place to start.

http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/toshiba.html

i had already seen this site, but the article is in german
thanks anyway

[The Prisoner]

Originally Posted by rob.rice

well this is not that bad of a computer for linux the only problem I can foresee is the small video ram you will be stuck with 16 bit color and a resolution of 800x600 as a fact of the matter is it will run almost like a 1Ghz XP computer the hard drive will hold a full install of almost any distro out there but because you and the main user are linux newbes I would suggest debian linux here is a web site that will help you set it up and configure it http://www.linux-laptop.net/ toshiba also has some linux support at there web site here is a link to the debian web site do get the CDs a download install is not for newbies http://www.debian.org/ I also suggest you use fdisk to partion the disk and that you print out and read the Installation Manual for intelx86 befor you start don't pay any mind to the hard core linux users who say there is never any need to reinstall ( there isen't ) but untill you get a good handle on linux don't spend too much time tring to fix it just reinstall
one big plus to linux is that it can use a larger hard drive than the BIOS can understand

why use fdisk ? does this not create dos partitions ?

[rob.rice]

linux also has an fdisk and a sfdisk and a cfdisk
I meant cfdisk (sorry) it keeps a list of partitions along with info about them and a menu on the screen while your using it and it will mark a partition as just about any thing you like
ubuntu uses disk druid and even for me it can be confusing to use
I have a toshiba laptop and somewhere there is linux help for it at there web site thay also have an 800 phone number you can call for help finding your way around there web site the guys at the 800 phone number don't know a thing about linux but thay can point you to the linux info on there web page