[j35jazz]

My company gave out older computers and I brought one home. It is a Dell Optiplex. The service tag on Dell.com shows the following came with the computer:

1 1K670 Processor, 80531, 1.7GB, 0, 400FSBSocket N, D0
1 3N338 Printed Wiring Assembly, PlanarGX240, Optiplex, Asus
MICROSOFT..., MIDNIGHT GRAY...
1 5G725 Dual In-Line Memory Module, 256, 133M, 32X72, 4K, Error Correction Code, 168
1 03GDR Assembly, Compact Disk Drive SFX, 24X, TEAC..., CHASSIS 2001...
1 7C586 Assembly, Cable, Compact Disk Drive, Flexible, Transformer Bumble Bee
1 2G823 Card, Graphic, 16 MB, ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC..., Rage, Low Profile
1 3J669 Hard Drive, 20G, IDE (INTEGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONICS) ..., HALF HEIGHT..., 7.2K, 40G/P, SEAGATE SNOWMASS...
1 7F455 Assembly, Cable, Floppy Drive, Flexible, Transformer Bumble Bee
1 8C043 Floppy Drive, 1.44M, Slim Form Factor, 3MD, No Bezel, Sony, Grey
1 0797R System Integration, Fee, Integration, #3
1 1F756 Kit, Software, Overpack, Windows 2000 Professional, SP2, F5 English

When I turn the computer on, it notes that it can not load Windows 2000 because a critical Windows file is missing. I believe, that Windows 2000 and all programs were removed from the computer by IT.

I have hit F2 and changed the computer to load first on a CD. But I would like steps to take to learn how to select a Linux system, download it on this computer and load it on the older one.

The older computer will be for basic word processing, email and a little internet activity.

[TerryNet]

Choose one of the smaller Linux distributions, such as Xubuntu or Puppy Linux. Suggest you start with Puppy Linux; it is only a 100 MB download. Download the .iso; double click on the .iso file. If Windows does not know how to deal with that file download and install something like ISO Recorder.

Stick your new bootable Live CD in the old computer and see if it will work. Note that if not all the hardware works you can try the Puppy Retro version. You can simply run from the CD until you decide to install Puppy or another distribution.

[j35jazz]

I have been reading at http://puppylinux.org/wikka/LiveDVD

I downloaded Opera and then downloaded the iso file. The default download file software was "Record Now." It is about 100mgs. It downloaded in about 4 minutes and is sitting on my desktop. I read that I had to verify "md5 sum". But I try to click on the hypertext to learn what the heck that is and how to verify it, I am told I do not have access and it does not recognize me. I try to register, log in without luck.

I went on the internet and downloaded winmd5sum (http://www.nullriver.com/products/winmd5sum). I then ran the software and opened the file to find the file and the software compares "C:\Documents and Settings\John\Desktop\puppy-4.2.1-k2.6.25.16-seamonkey.iso with "5f9febefd6ce70db1bb2d8538f4e2786". I have absolutely no idea what the 5f9... file is. Anyway it tells me the files are different. I will download the file again but do not know if I am using the md5sum.exe file correctly as there is no documentation with it. I simply find the Record now file and it finds what it will compare.

Now that I have downloaded the Record Now iso file, What do I do next to verify it and can I use the Record Now software to burn the iso file to the CD ROM?

[j35jazz]

The Opera software shows that both files are 100.3 MB (105,107,456 bytes). So it would seem they are the same??

[TerryNet]

I've never bothered to check the validity of the downloaded file. I seldom have any download difficulty, and will just start over if I ever end up with a non-working CD or DVD.

[saikee]

Don't download the components of Linux. Download the distro itself! Opera is just a browser like Firefox or Internet Explorer and needs a Linux to operate.

The best download site is probably distrowatch.com.

I would recommend just downlaod the iso file of the distro, burn it into a CD and use it straight away.

The checksum procedure is only relevant if you can't get the distro running properly. I know it is a good practice but most download nowaday with a broard band should be reasonably error free.

[itsjusme]

Just download the Puppy .ISO file from here:
http://distrowatch.com/index.php?dis...h=all&year=all
Or here, you can get all versions of Puppy up to the latest.
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/...ns/puppylinux/

I never fool with checking the MD5 sums either, i`ve never gotten a corrupt download. You can use Nero or most any burning software . Select the option to burn image to disk, navigate to the file(make sure you change "Files of type: to .ISO , and burn. Once it`s burned check the disk, you should see 7 files.
BOOT.CAT
BOOT.MSG
INITRD.GZ
ISOLINUX.BIN
ISOLINUX.CFG
PUP_412.SFS
VMLINUZ
If you see only one big file, it wasnt burned as an image, it only copied the files to the cd. If it looks ok try booting it, as it boots you`ll have to set your mouse type, keyboard map, video preference(i suggest Xvesa at first), and resolution once you get to the desktop. Once its booted up, you can take the disk out and free up your cd drive, Puppy loads in and runs from ram, it`s really fast on older machines without alot of ram. If you decide you like it, you can use one of the burning programs in Puppy to burn a multi session cd. With this, when you shutdown you can save your configuration settings back to the cd, they`ll be loaded automatically next time you boot up. It can also be installed to HD or flash drive, but i doubt that machine will boot from usb. It`s a neat little OS, with pretty good hardware detection, have fun.