Linux on old HP computer

[scomac]

I have a question and hopefully someone here can help me. I have heard a lot about linux, but I've never used it before. What I was wondering is this. Could I put linux on my old HP Pavilion (described in sig) and if so, what special types of things would I need to do to the HP to get it to run linux. The reason I ask, is that the old Pavilion is getting unstable in it's old age. I have just recently reformatted/reloaded windows and reloaded all the device drivers and I would just like something that is more stable than Win 98SE. I am constantly having video card issues with my NVIDIA card even though I have all the latest drivers for it.

What hardware/software/drivers would need to be changed etc... Linux noob here.

Scomac

Also: I have my computers networked now and would I still be able to have file and print sharing between the two computers?

[Markoman01027]

Hello,

You should find a program called AIDA(not sure where to find it, I'm sure somebody will send you a link) and find what is on the HP Pavilion and then check your hardware's to the distro's hardware compatability list to see if your hardware is compatable. Most likely it will be, but it's worth to look into.

If you install a distro with the latest kernel or a previous kernel, and some hardware does not work with Linux, you can recompile the kernel with the driver for that particular hardware and then it will work.

I would first start with either Redhat or Mandrake. Then go onto like Slackware or something. I am new to Linux and recently started with Slackware. Good luck. Linux is very tough but also very very fun.

Here are two great links worth looking into..read some of the guides..look at screenshots, etc

http://www.linuxquestions.org/

http://tldp.org/

[hobey19]

aida32: http://www.webattack.com/get/aida32.shtml

craig

[Karnevil9]

If you chose a Linux flavor with good hardware detection like SuSE, Mandrake, Knoppix or Libranet, (there are probably others that I am not familiar with) you shouldn't have to do much of anything except perhaps go to Nvidia and download drivers for linux the video cards you have.

[slotzintin]

aida is fine but no longer developed, instead grab the personal edition of everest

http://www.lavalys.com/products/over...ng=en&pageid=1

then rather than eduring a hair-pulling install experience test some flavors of linux using live CDs

http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.ph...Customizations


hope this helps