Saturday, February 04, 2006

I am officially a computer geek. I just installed Ubuntu 5.1 on my old Compaq computer ("Designed for Windows 98!"). I'm using Linux! Wheeeeeeee!

To be honest, I'm not sure exactly why I did it, but I hated seeing the old computer sitting in the closet. At least now it's doing something.

The installation was fairly smooth. Eventually. I started the install at 3:30pm. By 5 pm, I was cooking supper and trying to watch the computer. Just before supper, I check the computer. The screen was off. I turned it back on. It promptly turned off. WTF?

I powered off the computer and went inside to eat. While I was eating, I realized what the problem was. During the installation, I was asked to choose the screen resolution. I selected 1024x728. It the resolution I use on my current computer. I realized in mid-chew that the built-in video card couldn't do 1024x728, only 800x600.

At 7:20 pm, I reinstalled Ubuntu. When I was asked what resolution I wanted, I chose 800x600. At 9 pm, I logged into the system for the first time.

I don't know what I'm going to do with that computer. I don't know how I am going to use it. But I am looking forward to experimenting.

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, first things first - I'd get a new "old" video card for about $15 form a computer shop. Check with the hardware guide on Ubuntu's Wiki and get your shopping list.

Or you could just turn it into a file server, at which you wouldn't need a better resolution, but then you'd keep it on all day long...

Definately begin visiting the Ubuntu Forums and ask questions, they are wonderfully helpful and not condescending at all to Linux noobs...

8:22 AM  

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