[Overlap]

Originally Posted by Simpatico

So it is there? Sounds like good news, then.

your post was made around the same time as I posted this...

no luck with PC Linux either. Won't install properly to the hard drive - grub error 17.. so 5 different Linux installs tried and not one of them can provide a turn key solution. to say I'm gutted would be an understatement as I now have to install vista..

I guess Linux will get there soon but for now for me an impatient man to say the least I can see why Windows has appeal now. It may be fat, it may be slow but it does actually work. I've slated windows for so long and am a bit gutted I can't get an alternative to run. I guess it is due to the Linux distros being much smaller and not being able to keep pace of hardware changes

[TobyKY76]

Originally Posted by Overlap

your post was made around the same time as I posted this...

no luck with PC Linux either. Won't install properly to the hard drive - grub error 17.. so 5 different Linux installs tried and not one of them can provide a turn key solution. to say I'm gutted would be an understatement as I now have to install vista..

I guess Linux will get there soon but for now for me an impatient man to say the least I can see why Windows has appeal now. It may be fat, it may be slow but it does actually work. I've slated windows for so long and am a bit gutted I can't get an alternative to run. I guess it is due to the Linux distros being much smaller and not being able to keep pace of hardware changes

I don't think it is a question of Linux not keeping pace with the hardware companys, it's more along the lines of the hardware companys not making suitable drivers for linux users.

[Simpatico]

As long as you installed grub/bootloader, it should give no error, of course. It sounds like grub was still looking for Windows.

Unfortunately, I have no experience with laptops, which I've heard are more difficult than desktops. Maybe someone else can give you advice from here if you want.

[devils casper]

Originally Posted by Overlap

no luck with PC Linux either. Won't install properly to the hard drive - grub error 17.. so 5 different Linux installs tried and not one of them can provide a turn key solution. to say I'm gutted would be an understatement as I now have to install vista..

Dual boot is default in ALL Linux distros. are you changing anything in Boot Loader Section during installation? i suggest you to start a new thread and explain your problem a bit more. it easy to fix GRUB problem.

[netstrider]

From all this this it sounds as if your laptop really uses some haywire hardware, I mean Ubuntu, Suse and PCLinuxOS have got some of *the best* hardware detection rates among linux distributions. I'm pretty sure if you had just a bit of previous experience with linux you'd be able to look at the problems and try solving them actually before trying a new distribution. I've learnt to stick with something until I fix what was bugging me, that's the way you learn. Obviously this is not easy for a new user and it's just odd that none work. However, as stated above it's not the linux development community's fault for not providing (developing) drivers at a fast enough rate, but more that hardware suppliers only provide drivers for Windows and often Mac too.

Have you considered trying Mac? It's unix-based, stable and far less vulnerable and will run your OO.o, Firefox and even Photoshop. I'd suggest it since you are willing to pay...

Good luck.

[IsaacKuo]

You should keep in mind one thing--out of the box, a clean Windows install is NOT going to support your wireless card...and probably not sound, or include an ATI driver. Those are all things that you'd have to install after installing the operating system.

Keep that in mind when you consider how functional/nonfunctional a Linux install is by default. A clean Windows install is barely functional at all!

Here's a tip for getting various versions of Linux to install properly--it seems that perhaps your Ati graphics chip is a new one which is confusing the Linux Ati driver. In that case, it's better to install using the generic "vesa" driver, and worry about installing the latest Ati driver later. Many Linux installers offer options for which video driver to use--select "vesa" to minimize the potential problems.

Getting wireless networking working is often a challenge in Linux, unfortunately. Wireless hardware is not even remotely standardized and few vendors provide anything other than proprietary Windows drivers. There's this thing called "ndiswrapper" which can use Windows drivers, but it doesn't come with the actual Windows drivers themselves because those drivers generally aren't free for redistribution. So, if you're wondering why the Ubuntu CD doesn't include drivers for your wireless NIC, it's mainly because the NIC manufacturer won't let them. If you're lucky, some very clever Linux programmer has reverse engineered your model of NIC and created a freely redistributable open source driver for it...but more likely not.

[GivePeaceAChance]

Too bad about your situation Overlap. Like others have said, it must be some new hardware you're running that's the problem, because I've been running ubuntu for about a year with XP as well (in no way am I a linux know-it, I merely USE it for simple things like 1st year uni programming and the normal stuff) and I've gotta say, Ubuntu (at least Dapper, v. 6.1 or something) was able to recognize all of my Toshiba Qosmio G30 stuff with few issues. Even wireless was painless. Although as everyone says, Linux isn't for everyone, but by all means, if you can't deal with the OS, perhaps just do what you're doing by supporting the Open Source community and using 'free' software.

If you plan on giving linux another go, perhaps when you're willing to pull out a few hairs along the way, give informative posts about what kind of errors your getting, and people will be sure to help. But start with something like Ubuntu to get the hang of Linux.

Cheers mate!

[mcbumface]

hey mate
try this if you're used to windows/xp
Welcome to Linux XP Desktop website
its very much like xp and it'll help you make the transition slowly into linux then you could go for a more advanced distro
cheers