Linux OS?

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

I need a distro of Linux . I need it to have a distro that is compatible with my laptop, and is easy to get connected to a wireless network. I have both FreeSpire and Ubuntu. On Ubuntu, the wireless adapter is not recognized, and I can't get connected. On FreeSpire, the wireless adapter is recognized, all I had to do was enter in my password for the network, BUT my video isn't supported. It gives me a desktop that is too large for the screen, so I can't see everything on the window.

My laptop :

Everex StepNote NM3900W

Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Ubuntu Linux, FreeSpire Linux

Display: 15.4" WXGA Widescreen (1280 x 800)

Processor: 1.7GHz, Intel® Celeron® M Processor 390

Memory: 980MB DDRII 533

Hard Disk Drive: 120GB PATA (4200rpm)

Optical Drive: DVD-RW/CD-RW Dual Layer

Front-side Bus: 400MHz

Graphics: S3® Unichrome Pro (64MB shared memory)

Audio: AC '97 with Built-in Speaker

I/O Ports: (1) DB 15-Pin VGA Port, (3) USB, (1) Microphone Port, (1) Headphone Port

Modem: (1) 56K data/fax modem

LAN: (1) 10/100 Base-T Fast Ethernet

Wireless LAN: Built-in 802.11b/g (Atheros AR5005G)

Pointing Device: 2 Button Glide Pad

Click to read more...

 

[DemonaL 10+ year member]

Fedora core?

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

That's a 4 CD install isn't it? I'm on slower internet. Each CD would take 4 hours to download.

 

[vgeek 10+ year member]

Try xconf before the gui loads and see if it helps any. If not, **** Small Linux and Slax are both small.

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

How do I use xconf? I'm very new to Linux. Never really wanted to use it until now.

 

[SocMunky 10+ year member]

I would suggest PCLinuxOS. Debians a nice choice too, but if your already having issues with Ubuntu, then PCLinuxOS is probably the best bet. Its a really slick distrobution, and it has an easy to use control panel with it. Wireless setup on it was always easy for me.

http://www.pclinuxos.com

 

[civictech 10+ year member]

x2 on pclinuxos- I use it regularly as it was the only one that worked great and looks good too

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

That's good, 'cause I'm actually downloading it right now.

 

[SocMunky 10+ year member]

That's good, 'cause I'm actually downloading it right now.

How did it turn out for ya?

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

How did it turn out for ya?

So far, I'm having some video problems, just like on Freespire. Other than that it's great, pretty much just like Freespire. I got connected to the internet very easily. I had to boot through a generic video driver, so I still have a 800x600 resolution, which sucks on a 15.4" widescreen. I'm installing it now, and while it's installing, I'm on my desktop posting here, ro hopefully get some help with the video problem. I ran the hardware detection, and it did say my video was fine, but while trying to run the LiveCD without the generic video driver, my screen shuts off until I have to manually reset the computer. I've tried looking all over PCLinuxOS.com for a solution, but all it said to do was, load with the generic driver. Any help getting this resolved would be great! Other than the video thing, it seems like a great little OS.

 

[Hundreth 10+ year member]

Did you try the Ubuntu forums when you realized the wireless wasn't working? (I realize this would have been more difficult without wireless working) More times than not there is a solution for most issues on Ubuntu, just gotta check the forums.

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, no one seemed to want to help. So, I figured I might as well try to get a new since no one is willing to help. I may have found out a way to get my resolution better on PCLinuxOS, but I need to know something. How the hell do I use source codes?

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

After trial and error for the past few hours, I've finally got it setup right. I had to run the live CD with the Vesa driver, and then install. Before I rebooted, I had to change my video driver to the S3 card's driver. I just have a problem with scrolling Firefox windows, it's just weird. Looks like it's jumping and not scrolling. The only thing I highly disliking about this ****ed OS is the size of the task bar.