Author Topic: Advice needed, which Linux to install on a cheap old netbook if poss  (Read 723 times)

Offline Webt

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I have a dirt-cheap (<£50) netbook, a year or so old, running Android Froyo, specs as follows:
Android os 2.2
Kernel 2.6.32.9-default
Build number generic-eng2.2Froyo Ver1.5.7-19700101.125959
CPU WonderMedia WM8650 800MHz
DDR 512 MB
4GB
Since the os is not modern enough to run some software I need, e.g. banking software, I have the brilliant idea of installing Linux.
5 questions: Will it work? Do I uninstall the Android os? Which Linux to use (I thought minime, or lxde, as they are both reputedly small)? Where can I find instructions for doing it from a pen drive? Am I wasting my time, and about to brick a perfectly good toy?
Feel free to have a laugh at the specs, and thanks for any links / pointers / help.
PCLinuxOS, Gnome, LXDE; AMD Dual Core Processor 4850B ‎512 KB ‎2500 MHz; Seagate 500418AS; FreeAgentDesktop external drive; PHILIPS DVDR1628P1; GeForce 6150SE nForce 430; HP Photosmart. PASS April 2012. Still learnin' Linux. If I have offended, please note: I am a professor of dontopedalogy.

Offline JohnW_57

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Re: Advice needed, which Linux to install on a cheap old netbook if poss
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2013, 02:04:43 PM »
http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=cpu&id=a7227&c=qualcomm_msm7227

It comes with a ARM processor and PCLinuxOS is I86x only (Intel or AMD cpus).
There some distros supporting the ARM processors.
Look at www.distrowatch.com what is the best for you.
Maybe Debian, Buntus or Fedora...

JohnW
PCLinuxOS 2013 KDE4 (64 bit) on: home build system:  Intel Core 2 Quad (q6700) (2.66ghz), Asus P5K motherboard, 4 gig ddr2 memory, Asus Nvidia Geforce GTS 250 1024 mb gddr3, Crucial M4 128 SSD,  2x Samsung 500 gig HDD (sata), TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-224BB.

Offline pags

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Re: Advice needed, which Linux to install on a cheap old netbook if poss
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2013, 02:06:35 PM »
http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=cpu&id=a7227&c=qualcomm_msm7227

It comes with a ARM processor and PCLinuxOS is I86x only (Intel or AMD cpus).
There some distros supporting the ARM processors.
Look at www.distrowatch.com what is the best for you.
Maybe Debian, Buntus or Fedora...

JohnW


Yes.

It looks like you beat me to it.
 ;D

Offline JohnW_57

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PCLinuxOS 2013 KDE4 (64 bit) on: home build system:  Intel Core 2 Quad (q6700) (2.66ghz), Asus P5K motherboard, 4 gig ddr2 memory, Asus Nvidia Geforce GTS 250 1024 mb gddr3, Crucial M4 128 SSD,  2x Samsung 500 gig HDD (sata), TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-224BB.

Offline Webt

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Re: Advice needed, which Linux to install on a cheap old netbook if poss
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2013, 02:14:15 PM »
Er, thanks for the swift replies, I am missing something here, why did you post this link:
http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=cpu&id=a7227&c=qualcomm_msm7227
Is it related to my toy being an ARM, said he ignorantly?
I'll swan over to distrowatch and see what comes up.
PCLinuxOS, Gnome, LXDE; AMD Dual Core Processor 4850B ‎512 KB ‎2500 MHz; Seagate 500418AS; FreeAgentDesktop external drive; PHILIPS DVDR1628P1; GeForce 6150SE nForce 430; HP Photosmart. PASS April 2012. Still learnin' Linux. If I have offended, please note: I am a professor of dontopedalogy.

Offline kjpetrie

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Re: Advice needed, which Linux to install on a cheap old netbook if poss
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2013, 02:16:17 PM »
The banking software also needs to be available for the  ARM/Linux combination, or you'd be wasting your time.
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KJP
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PClos64 RC1 on Intel D945GCLF2 motherboard (Atom 330), 2GB DDR2 RAM, Maxtor STM325031, HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H42N, Amilo LSL 3220T monitor. Also Acer 5810TG (with custom kernel) and Asus eeePC 2G surf

Offline JohnW_57

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Re: Advice needed, which Linux to install on a cheap old netbook if poss
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2013, 02:19:35 PM »
Did google with "WonderMedia WM8650 800MHz" for what cpu it have.

JohnW

PCLinuxOS 2013 KDE4 (64 bit) on: home build system:  Intel Core 2 Quad (q6700) (2.66ghz), Asus P5K motherboard, 4 gig ddr2 memory, Asus Nvidia Geforce GTS 250 1024 mb gddr3, Crucial M4 128 SSD,  2x Samsung 500 gig HDD (sata), TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-224BB.