Dell can't run Linux anymore?

[reed9]

It will boot live in safe graphics mode.
In regular live mode or fresh install it will not make it to the desktop.

As far as I know, the main thing safe graphics mode does is use the generic vesa graphics driver. It's a very basic driver without any frills.

I'm not really sure the best way to default to the vesa driver anymore with Ubuntu Karmic. Presumably you'll need to create a xorg.conf file and specify the driver there.

[PartsMan]

I'm not really sure the best way to default to the vesa driver anymore with Ubuntu Karmic. Presumably you'll need to create a xorg.conf file and specify the driver there.

I would be interested in trying it if anybody knows how.
Any current Ubuntu derivative/release would be fine.

[PartsMan]

What are the chances that a cheap video card would fix this thing?

I don't mind putting a card and some ram in it if it will work.
The problem is that it would be PCI and not worth transferring to a new machine later.

[techieMoe]

What are the chances that a cheap video card would fix this thing?

I don't mind putting a card and some ram in it if it will work.
The problem is that it would be PCI and not worth transferring to a new machine later.

You could pick up a cheap Nvidia card and pop it in there. The drivers for Nvidia cards are pretty well supported in Linux. ATI is a close second. Just make sure you tell your BIOS to use the new card instead of the onboard.

[PartsMan]

I may just try it.

I figure bump the ram and a video card and she will make it another couple years.

[PartsMan]

I ordered a new video card today.

ZOTAC ZT-52FPC2N-HSL GeForce FX 5200 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Video Card

It's cheap, PCI and had a review that said worked with Ubuntu.

Also swapped my 128mb ram stick for a 512mb for 1g now.

[oz]

I ordered a new video card today.

ZOTAC ZT-52FPC2N-HSL GeForce FX 5200 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Video Card

It's cheap, PCI and had a review that said worked with Ubuntu.

Also swapped my 128mb ram stick for a 512mb for 1g now.

I used to have an FX 5200 and it worked great with every distro that I tried, so you should be good to go, and you should notice a very nice difference in system performance with the big RAM upgrade.

[PartsMan]

Good to here!

I actually had a gig before but traded half with another computer so my buddy could have it. I only missed it on the heaviest applications but figured it would help going to 9.10.

[PartsMan]

I got a hold of a Dell 2350 this weekend. (similar intel video) It runs Ubuntu 8.04 fine but doesn't like 9.10.

I plan on putting the better parts from my 2400 in it along with the video card I ordered to make one decent machine. (faster cpu, bigger HD, higher watt power supply)