Linux or NetBSD

I have a Compaq Presario 2100 here that I would like to use for various fun.

I have tried gentoo but it would not install. I am looking for a different distro. I would prefer not using Ubuntu, was not impressed by it.

What would you recommend?

Try Debian – I have been impressed with it since switching from SuSE (after Novell bought it out)

I'm going to have to back stdio up on that, Debian is really great, I recommend it.

i will also recommend Debian. I'm posting this from a Debian box…

With the good name given to Debian I will give it a try and let a report.

Depends on what you are wanting to do, I actually have a Presario 2100 as well and it is currently running OpenBSD and is my dedicated hardware firewall/proxy. But, if I were to use it for a testing machine, I'd personally use a more verbose OS like Debian or Slackware (my personal choice).

maug wrote: You might want to know a little bit more about it than just the name.:right:

edit: I'm sure the others here know enough to recommend an OS, but they are probably at least a step or two ahead of you. grain of salt.

I will admit, I know nothing about Debian altho I have worked with Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS and FreeBSD. When you first drive a car. Most people don't know how to service it or even most people who own a Microsoft based OS computer, I don't believe they all know how to work on it. I may not know Debian but I can definitely give advice on the OS' I know and so will the others.

These people will certainly be two steps if not three ahead of me but to me that means they are a reliable source of information and help. Without someone knowing this before we did. How else would technology evolve?

This is why we post. For help, good advice from people who know this information first hand not to be told to look it up.

Downloaded Debian Net Install.

Ran the install but the X windows would not install. Any other way I can get this done without having to do 20 CD's?

im not sure wether you managed to connect online or not. but assuming you didnt then connect via ethernet to your wifi router (if thats what you use). its the blue cable. anyways now youre connected to the tubes. let the installer run its course. to make sure you get x type

apt-get install xserver-xorg

then this (for kde): apt-get install kde or use gnome or xfce instead if thats what you want. note that will download every kde module which is quite big so you can look here http://packages.debian.org/etch/kde and take note which modules you want. (but download them with apt-get install)

Folk Theory, the X windows was being installed from the network. I am not sure if its just the network that is having issues or the installer was corrupt.

I have been working on this install for 5 hours now. This is just too much work.

I have tried via the WiFi router but I was unsuccessful in getting it to run. It will not resolve DHCP.

I don't know what level of experience you have running linux or any OS for that matter, but i'm running Arch Linux. Very effective, and a relatively small download from the start, but you have to build it from scratch. I'm running it on both of my computers right now. One running 32 bit, and the other running 64bit (some 32bit libraries for compatability with wine). Probably not the easiest to install, but i haven't found anything better when it comes to ease of use/upgrade, and compatability.

if you didnt get an IP with DHCP then what the fuck were you doing for 5 hours? just trying to connect? yeah post back when your story adds up…there's no way to help you if it's not clear what was going on.

I have tried WIFI but it would not work, so I went onto plugging it into the router.

Then I was able to get the install up until the X windows install. Thats where the crash happened.

Which Gentoo could not load the video adapter from its live CD either.