Help with Linpus Linux

[rosetoo]

Hi everybody! I'm totally new to Linux and totally LOST!

I just received an Acer Aspire laptop. It comes with Linpus Linux, either version 2.6 or 9.2. At some point during the setup it tells me it is Linpus Linux 2.6.22 but at another it's identified as Linpus Linux Basic edition v9.2.

It's text-based. After turning on all I get is a prompt which says [root@localhost /]

I've been playing around a bit and trying to read some guides, learn some basic commands and so on and have managed to be able to move around the various directories and get back to root. But that's the extent of it.

When booting I get an error message which tells me that it has failed to determine IP information.

We have a wireless connection and I would like to be able to access it so I can download a friendlier, graphic-based interface.

What should I do ... other than taking it in on Monday to have Windows installed?
Thanks for any help.

[elija]

OK, first to clear up the version thing...

Linpus is a Linux distribution. That is the Linux Kernel and a wide variety of software that work together. Version 9.2 of Linpus is based around a 2.6 kernel.

Linpus is not text based - it uses a configured XFCE desktop which should start automatically. The first thing to try is "startx" without the quotes to see if the gui starts or if you get any error messages.

[rosetoo]

Thanks. I went to download Ubuntu which i now have on a disk.

I tried startx from the root, and moving up into other directories (boot, home, bin). I don't get error messages as such except for "command not found" in all cases.

[rosetoo]

Hi Elija, I checked out your blog for January 4 where you discuss installing Linpus. However, what I get is nothing like the screenshots you have. I get a DOS type screen, white text on a black screen and a command prompt

[elija]

It sounds like X hasn't been installed. If you have an install CD, you try resetting to the default settings. This will lose any data.

However, I would try it with Ubuntu as much prefer it to Linpus.

[rosetoo]

The computer was straight out of the box, so there's nothing on it yet to lose. I did find an X11R6 directory, but no bin subdirectory or files.

I did get a CD with the computer but I don't know how to change the settings to get it to go to the CD to boot from there.

When booting up I get the option of interrupting and editing the process. This takes me to a screen called the GNU GRUB with two command lines:

root (hd0, 0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22 ro root=/dev/sda1 nolapic_timer

I have the possibility (in theory) of editing the command lines or adding new ones. Should I change the first command? How do I designate the CD drive?

Thanks so much for your help.

[elija]

Normally you would press one of the function keys or Delete or Esc to enter the Bios when booting (way before you get to the bit you are talking about). Common function keys are F1, F2 and F10.

However, if this is supposed to be brand new, I would take it back to where you bought it and shout at them because it probably isn't - and if it is then it's faulty!

[rosetoo]

OK, I give up.

I got the computer in a raffle at work, can't shout and moan too much (gift-horse and all that). I've been reading on the boards that a lot of Aspires come with this non-X version of Linpus and in none of the cases was there a good resolution. Most people just ended up installing XP.

I wanted to take it next week to my daughter in college but as is, it would be useless for her.

I'll take it in to work tomorrow and see if the techies there can give me a hand.

Thanks ever so much for your help.