Best Distro for Inspiron 1300

SeasonalEclipse · 04-21-07, 05:31 PM

Okay, Im looking for the best linux for my laptop. I want full out support for its devices so I wont have to mess with anything. iv tried Ubuntu and it wouldnt even boot up (black screen after clicking start/install) Kubuntu booted but froze up and wouldnt pick up my wireless network card. Freespire wont work either (same issue as ubunutu) but yeah.. Anyone use a inspiron 1300 with linux? and if so.. What distro? Im looking into Fedora right now.

kel_p · 04-21-07, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeasonalEclipse

I want full out support for its devices so I wont have to mess with anything.

This could be a long search..

Tried Debian?
http://gholen.blogspot.com/2007/02/d...iron-1300.html
Seems easy enough..

SeasonalEclipse · 04-21-07, 05:52 PM

Eh, I hate messing with all that terminal crap.. I dont even know how to open it up little lone use it.. I have to look off another screen to type in the message too.... I dont see why it has to be so complicated.. I mean.. DOS died out like.. 10 years ago. Why keep around all that text command stuff.. Its the 21st Century! I should be able to just click, install, and be happy! XD Yeah.

Misfit138 · 04-21-07, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeasonalEclipse

Okay, Im looking for the best linux for my laptop. I want full out support for its devices so I wont have to mess with anything. iv tried Ubuntu and it wouldnt even boot up (black screen after clicking start/install) Kubuntu booted but froze up and wouldnt pick up my wireless network card. Freespire wont work either (same issue as ubunutu) but yeah.. Anyone use a inspiron 1300 with linux? and if so.. What distro? Im looking into Fedora right now.

You might be asking too much.
Support for any one particular piece of hardware, let alone an entire machine with proprietary hardware in it, can't be guaranteed.
Wifi is an especially hit-or-miss area; many, many different cards and incomplete driver support.
Ubuntu has pretty good hardware detection/support from what I hear. I would recommend PCLinuxOS, if you can find a download site. Their servers just recently crashed and they're scrambling to find a substitute host. You might also want to try Kanotix, SuSe, Mepis, Mandriva or Frugalware.

SeasonalEclipse · 04-21-07, 06:56 PM

Well, I am going to try installing Kubuntu since it seemed the best out of all the others iv tried today. Maybe once installed I cant ry that solution to the wireless thing via ethernet. It should work with my onboard LAN id hope. Might as well try the live disk and see if it works with my LAN before I do anything.

JDXNC · 04-21-07, 07:11 PM

Sabayon worked perfectly on my Inspiron 2200, which is similar to the 1300, every piece of hardware worked right off.

http://www.sabayonlinux.org/

ihrsetrdr · 04-21-07, 07:15 PM

Gentoo 2006 Live CD runs great on my Dell D600; picks up the wireless connection without any heartburn.

SeasonalEclipse · 04-21-07, 08:21 PM

ARG! I am on the live Kubuntu cd now, Iv tried installing it 5 times anf it wont work correctly!! I get it up to where its copying files.. then at around 50% the cd rom stops and everything freezes, iv ran the CD check and the cd comes out with no errors.. what gives?

SeasonalEclipse · 04-21-07, 09:49 PM

Woot! I got it to install!.. I dont have a real clue how.. but yeah! Im on it now and its on my hard drive!! Now I just have to do that trick to get wireless to work!

Misfit138 · 04-21-07, 09:54 PM

SeasonalEclipse · 04-21-07, 10:04 PM

Uh.. How do I install stuff? XD I downloaded ndiswrapper and extracted it into my desktop.. but I have no clue of what to do from here.. Imma poke around though..
edit- Okay.. I got ndiswrapper installed I think from the packager thing.. but I have no clue how to access it now.. little lone use the driver I just downloaded.
Edit- Okay.. I found a bundle package thingy on the ubuntu site that took care of it! WOO WIRELESS!!

SeasonalEclipse · 04-22-07, 11:46 AM

Okay, I rebooted the wireless doesnt work. So im trying the ndiswrapper thing
http://www.linux-laptop.net/hosted/d...0-kubuntu.html

It says I can use the driver from the dell site. but I cant.. it says it has to be a inf. file or some crap when I try using it in ndis.. Any help?

04-21-07, 05:31 PM	Thread Starter #1
SeasonalEclipse Member Join Date: Feb 2006	Best Distro for Inspiron 1300 Okay, Im looking for the best linux for my laptop. I want full out support for its devices so I wont have to mess with anything. iv tried Ubuntu and it wouldnt even boot up (black screen after clicking start/install) Kubuntu booted but froze up and wouldnt pick up my wireless network card. Freespire wont work either (same issue as ubunutu) but yeah.. Anyone use a inspiron 1300 with linux? and if so.. What distro? Im looking into Fedora right now. __________________ The Beast(Main)- P5QL/EPU, Q9550, 4GB DDR2 800, 2X320GB Perp, 750GB Cavalier,8800GT(for now) Corsair 750 Watt PSU, Enermax server case, 2x Dell 1908WFP, Vista Home http://heatware.com/eval.php?id=51210
	QUOTE Thanks

04-21-07, 05:52 PM	Thread Starter #3
SeasonalEclipse Member Join Date: Feb 2006	Eh, I hate messing with all that terminal crap.. I dont even know how to open it up little lone use it.. I have to look off another screen to type in the message too.... I dont see why it has to be so complicated.. I mean.. DOS died out like.. 10 years ago. Why keep around all that text command stuff.. Its the 21st Century! I should be able to just click, install, and be happy! XD Yeah. __________________ The Beast(Main)- P5QL/EPU, Q9550, 4GB DDR2 800, 2X320GB Perp, 750GB Cavalier,8800GT(for now) Corsair 750 Watt PSU, Enermax server case, 2x Dell 1908WFP, Vista Home http://heatware.com/eval.php?id=51210
	QUOTE Thanks

04-21-07, 06:56 PM	Thread Starter #5
SeasonalEclipse Member Join Date: Feb 2006	Well, I am going to try installing Kubuntu since it seemed the best out of all the others iv tried today. Maybe once installed I cant ry that solution to the wireless thing via ethernet. It should work with my onboard LAN id hope. Might as well try the live disk and see if it works with my LAN before I do anything. __________________ The Beast(Main)- P5QL/EPU, Q9550, 4GB DDR2 800, 2X320GB Perp, 750GB Cavalier,8800GT(for now) Corsair 750 Watt PSU, Enermax server case, 2x Dell 1908WFP, Vista Home http://heatware.com/eval.php?id=51210
	QUOTE Thanks

04-21-07, 07:11 PM	#6
JDXNC Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Québec, Canada Èh?	Sabayon worked perfectly on my Inspiron 2200, which is similar to the 1300, every piece of hardware worked right off. http://www.sabayonlinux.org/ __________________ Desktop: AMD Phenom 9550 @ 2.6Ghz @ 1.25v Gigabyte GA-MA770-DS3 \| OCZ Gold XTC PC2-6400 4 X 1GB G.Skill Phoenix 60GB SSD \| Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB \| Radeon HD 3650 512MB \| Dual 19" LCD's Heatware
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04-21-07, 07:15 PM	#7
ihrsetrdr Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Phelan,Ca.	Gentoo 2006 Live CD runs great on my Dell D600; picks up the wireless connection without any heartburn. __________________ ihrsetrdr aka Tim Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared, and humble when you are victorious. - Unknown
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Best Distro for Inspiron 1300

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04-21-07, 08:21 PM	Thread Starter #8
SeasonalEclipse Member Join Date: Feb 2006	ARG! I am on the live Kubuntu cd now, Iv tried installing it 5 times anf it wont work correctly!! I get it up to where its copying files.. then at around 50% the cd rom stops and everything freezes, iv ran the CD check and the cd comes out with no errors.. what gives? __________________ The Beast(Main)- P5QL/EPU, Q9550, 4GB DDR2 800, 2X320GB Perp, 750GB Cavalier,8800GT(for now) Corsair 750 Watt PSU, Enermax server case, 2x Dell 1908WFP, Vista Home http://heatware.com/eval.php?id=51210
	QUOTE Thanks

04-21-07, 09:49 PM	Thread Starter #9
SeasonalEclipse Member Join Date: Feb 2006	Woot! I got it to install!.. I dont have a real clue how.. but yeah! Im on it now and its on my hard drive!! Now I just have to do that trick to get wireless to work! __________________ The Beast(Main)- P5QL/EPU, Q9550, 4GB DDR2 800, 2X320GB Perp, 750GB Cavalier,8800GT(for now) Corsair 750 Watt PSU, Enermax server case, 2x Dell 1908WFP, Vista Home http://heatware.com/eval.php?id=51210
	QUOTE Thanks

04-21-07, 09:54 PM	#10
Misfit138 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dallas, TX <-> New York City	__________________ archlinux: Power in simplicity.
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04-21-07, 10:04 PM	Thread Starter #11
SeasonalEclipse Member Join Date: Feb 2006	Uh.. How do I install stuff? XD I downloaded ndiswrapper and extracted it into my desktop.. but I have no clue of what to do from here.. Imma poke around though.. edit- Okay.. I got ndiswrapper installed I think from the packager thing.. but I have no clue how to access it now.. little lone use the driver I just downloaded. Edit- Okay.. I found a bundle package thingy on the ubuntu site that took care of it! WOO WIRELESS!! __________________ The Beast(Main)- P5QL/EPU, Q9550, 4GB DDR2 800, 2X320GB Perp, 750GB Cavalier,8800GT(for now) Corsair 750 Watt PSU, Enermax server case, 2x Dell 1908WFP, Vista Home http://heatware.com/eval.php?id=51210 Last edited by SeasonalEclipse; 04-22-07 at 12:11 AM.
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04-22-07, 11:46 AM	Thread Starter #12
SeasonalEclipse Member Join Date: Feb 2006	Okay, I rebooted the wireless doesnt work. So im trying the ndiswrapper thing http://www.linux-laptop.net/hosted/d...0-kubuntu.html It says I can use the driver from the dell site. but I cant.. it says it has to be a inf. file or some crap when I try using it in ndis.. Any help? __________________ The Beast(Main)- P5QL/EPU, Q9550, 4GB DDR2 800, 2X320GB Perp, 750GB Cavalier,8800GT(for now) Corsair 750 Watt PSU, Enermax server case, 2x Dell 1908WFP, Vista Home http://heatware.com/eval.php?id=51210
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