Scratch

Will you be gaming again after this?

The laptop might not support that much RAM if it is old enough to come with 192MB standard. Check that before you get a stick or 2 of RAM that won't work.


Also, I don't think that XP Professional would help speed, but it would make the PC more secure (XP isn't particularly secure, but Pro is a bit better than Home Edition in that area).

bump

scimonster wrote:

Upgrade to Windows 7. 

and murder the computer in the process.
Well, Here's my saga that resulted in two replacements and in truth, much knowledge gained.

Original specs:

Sony VAIO pcg-v505bl
40GB hard drive
256MB RAM
18MB ATI graphics card
Windows XP Home
CD drive
etc.


Installed "D" Small Linux on original HD

Computer would not boot back into Windows, having a BSOD error when starting recovery mode

Attempted to transfer files off of HD via a cable, did not even start spinning

Replaced HD with a newer 20GB, installed "D" Small Linux again

*A summer passed, in which I tried to install Ubuntu, but not enough RAM*

Came back to school, computer teacher helped me add another 256MB RAM stick adding up to 512MB total

Installed Ubuntu 11.04, enjoyed it :D

Updated to Ubuntu 11.10, was too slow

Installed XP Pro, now to current

Installed original manufacturer's programs

Well, I learned a lot about computers in the process. Also, as I said in the timeline, I actually INSTALLED the original manufacturer's programs, like drivers and things. I did NOT install bloatware, just things that were lost during the re-installation process, such as use of the Fn keys (main reason), battery controllers, and scrolling on the tracpad.

turkey3 wrote:

$2000!!!!!!!

Trust me, that's nothing for an old computer. Especially for a laptop, where they need to make it smaller and portable, a problem not necessary with a desktop.

veggieman001 wrote:

scimonster wrote:

Upgrade to Windows 7. 

Uhhh it's a lot slower

+1.

zippynk wrote:

I recommend you upgrade to Puppy linux. It's supposed to be really fast because the whole OS can fit in memory. [Note: I used a URL shortener and so that the link could not possibly used as an SEO advantage to the people who made puppy linux.]

Err, what about SEO? Anyway, I would recommend that IF you go Linux, you go for a more common distro such as Lubuntu or Xubuntu, Linux Mint, or Fedora. I used "Darn" Small Linux for a little while thinking that it would be an advantage, but there were no drivers for my Internet card. The computer was basically useless until I changed over to Ubuntu. Trust me, in a stripped-down OS like that, if you can't even get on the 'net, it's worthless. You can't download apps or anything. If you have the HDD space, I recommend dual booting XP and your choice of Linux. Or make a Hackintosh 

Can i use puppylinux on a mac? im not an admin

it must be on flash drive

Last edited by Laternenpfahl (2012-03-18 18:48:33)

jji7skyline wrote:

16Skittles wrote:

zippynk wrote:

I recommend you upgrade to Puppy linux. It's supposed to be really fast because the whole OS can fit in memory. [Note: I used a URL shortener and so that the link could not possibly used as an SEO advantage to the people who made puppy linux.]

Err, what about SEO? Anyway, I would recommend that IF you go Linux, you go for a more common distro such as Lubuntu or Xubuntu, Linux Mint, or Fedora. I used "Darn" Small Linux for a little while thinking that it would be an advantage, but there were no drivers for my Internet card. The computer was basically useless until I changed over to Ubuntu. Trust me, in a stripped-down OS like that, if you can't even get on the 'net, it's worthless. You can't download apps or anything. If you have the HDD space, I recommend dual booting XP and your choice of Linux. Or make a Hackintosh 

I would have liked to install kubuntu, but sadly, my dad wants to keep it XP 

Kubuntu is truly beautiful. Still, many people like to stick with what they know and love, and just *can't* leave. *coughmacuserscough*    (and before you say anything about me being a stubborn windows user, note that I have used Linux, and that the laptop I currently drool over is the 13" MBA [dual booting OSX and Win8, of course])

But it is really important to try and find manufacturer software on their web site. Without it, I wouldn't have scrolling, FN key usage, or many other things.

16Skittles wrote:

jji7skyline wrote:

16Skittles wrote:

Err, what about SEO? Anyway, I would recommend that IF you go Linux, you go for a more common distro such as Lubuntu or Xubuntu, Linux Mint, or Fedora. I used "Darn" Small Linux for a little while thinking that it would be an advantage, but there were no drivers for my Internet card. The computer was basically useless until I changed over to Ubuntu. Trust me, in a stripped-down OS like that, if you can't even get on the 'net, it's worthless. You can't download apps or anything. If you have the HDD space, I recommend dual booting XP and your choice of Linux. Or make a Hackintosh 

I would have liked to install kubuntu, but sadly, my dad wants to keep it XP 

Kubuntu is truly beautiful. Still, many people like to stick with what they know and love, and just *can't* leave. *coughmacuserscough*    (and before you say anything about me being a stubborn windows user, note that I have used Linux, and that the laptop I currently drool over is the 13" MBA [dual booting OSX and Win8, of course])

But it is really important to try and find manufacturer software on their web site. Without it, I wouldn't have scrolling, FN key usage, or many other things.

Whatever OS you run, a Mac is the best computer to run it on.

Sleek OS switching.

100% working drivers from Apple for Windows.

Top Notch quality 

Mac users not liking to switch to other OSs is because of the supremeness of OSX 

I dual boot OSX and Win7. Used to dual boot OSX Lion and Snow leopard. Before that I dual booted OSX and Windows 8...

I HATE metro start menu :'(

16Skittles wrote:

jji7skyline wrote:

16Skittles wrote:

Kubuntu is truly beautiful. Still, many people like to stick with what they know and love, and just *can't* leave. *coughmacuserscough*    (and before you say anything about me being a stubborn windows user, note that I have used Linux, and that the laptop I currently drool over is the 13" MBA [dual booting OSX and Win8, of course])

But it is really important to try and find manufacturer software on their web site. Without it, I wouldn't have scrolling, FN key usage, or many other things.

Whatever OS you run, a Mac is the best computer to run it on.

Sleek OS switching.

100% working drivers from Apple for Windows.

Top Notch quality 

Mac users not liking to switch to other OSs is because of the supremeness of OSX 

I dual boot OSX and Win7. Used to dual boot OSX Lion and Snow leopard. Before that I dual booted OSX and Windows 8...

I HATE metro start menu :'(

Lol you're a Mac user, any opinion on the Air vs. Pro debate, lol? [/offtopic]

I think they're gonna make a thinner version of the pro as the "all-new macbook" and replaace the cd drive on the pro with a seperate grapics card

I hope.

</wishfulthinking>

jji7skyline wrote:

16Skittles wrote:

jji7skyline wrote:

I would have liked to install kubuntu, but sadly, my dad wants to keep it XP 

Kubuntu is truly beautiful. Still, many people like to stick with what they know and love, and just *can't* leave. *coughmacuserscough*    (and before you say anything about me being a stubborn windows user, note that I have used Linux, and that the laptop I currently drool over is the 13" MBA [dual booting OSX and Win8, of course])

But it is really important to try and find manufacturer software on their web site. Without it, I wouldn't have scrolling, FN key usage, or many other things.

Whatever OS you run, a Mac is the best computer to run it on.

Sleek OS switching.

100% working drivers from Apple for Windows.

Top Notch quality 

Mac users not liking to switch to other OSs is because of the supremeness of OSX 

I dual boot OSX and Win7. Used to dual boot OSX Lion and Snow leopard. Before that I dual booted OSX and Windows 8...

I HATE metro start menu :'(

You can't really customise Macs at all though.