Posted on 03/28/2016 9:16:01 AM PDT by Zeneta
OK, so, I've just acquired an old Dell Laptop and I'm trying to set it up with the ultimate goal of using this machine and it's s-video output to my smart TV.
I want to use my smart TV as "Monitor" that I can control with/from a PC and use the mouse and a keyboard as opposed to the "On-screen" controls that I have with the remote.
First things first.
It's a Dell, Inspiron 1720
Intel core 2 duo CPU T5250 @ 1.50 Ghz 2.00 GB of RAM (this may have been upgraded) 146 GB hard Drive (this may have been partitioned)
I acquired the machine and it would not Boot.
I re-set the boot sequence to CD...etc
I have the Vista OS disk. ( I think the machine originally had Windows 7)
I'm on my second attempt to Install the OS, Vista, because that's the disc I have.
After an hour of waiting for Vista to "Complete Installation", I bailed out and went back into the Bios and "reset the Factory" defaults.
Trying to Install Vista again and it's still hanging up on "Completing Installation" But this time I selected the "Logical Drive" as opposed to "Primary Drive" not sure if it makes any difference.
I have yet to plug it into my Internet connection.
I have a Dell Disc "Drivers and Utilities" That I have yet to run.
The last known functioning state was that Vista was up and running, Internet was connected, an auto update attempted to "Upgrade" to Windows 10 and failed with an error message that said "Not enough Hard drive available" or something to that extent. But this info was from someone that knows far less than I about how these things work.
I can't imagine that I won't be able to get this thing running with the Vista OS, I might be wrong but I don't know.
Assuming I'm able to get Vista running;
Should I upgrade for free to Windows 10?
I hate Vista.
Should I bother with the hundreds of Vista "Upgrades" prior to attempting a Windows 10 upgrade?
BTW, I'm still waiting for it to complete installation on my second attempt. Another 40 minutes as I type this.
No errors and the machine hasn't froze up.
I don't have any other OS's on a disc so I'm not sure what I can do.
I'm looking for ideas.
Advice
Windows 7 came after Vista, why not use Windows 7?
Do you know there are no hardware issues? That laptop is a bit long in the tooth.
Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop. Free. Capable. Easy to use.
My strongest advice: Stop. For the amount of time you’ll waste trying to install Vista and update it to current, you could buy a cheap computer and a s-video card and be up and running.
If you wish to continue on with this computer, download Ubuntu, burn it to a CD, boot on that and install on the drive. It already comes with browser, you can add on open office or just use web based word processing.
Above all, do not try to continue with Vista. It just isn’t worth the trouble.
The machine literally has no OS and I’m trying to get it to run on the only OS I have, Vista.
When I run the “Install” from the disc, the option for “Upgrade” isn’t available, so I chose “new Install” and I’m running into the same hang up.
This!
I have no OS, so downloading Ubuntu seems a bit premature.
I’d recommend setting the computer to boot from CD, and try several flavors of Linux to see if they will do what you want. If you find one you like, install it.
With older machines, you might find an older version of Linux works better than a current one. Start with Distrowatch. http://distrowatch.com/ and search for features you want.
OS: Kodibuntu - Kodi is the latest fork from the old XBMC (XBox Media Center) that features a ton of on-screen options for management of your media libraries and TV control.
Remote: Logitech Harmony 650
IR Receiver: FLIRC 09028 (USB)
Wireless MAK: Logitech K400
This is how my home environment is configured, and it should run fine on the machine you have. Kodibuntu is an Ubuntu-based revision of the Kodi front end. Kodi is also available for Windows, if you are more comfortable with Windows.
If it were me, I would boot off the Vista OS disk, reset the partitions, and reformat the HDD, then install the OS to the HDD if you don’t get HDD errors. You might want to just put in a new HDD if you think the current one is toast, which is possible. The OS installation might take longer than you think. If that goes well, go to Dell with the service tag number from the case and get all new drivers. If you have a working internet connection, do it through the laptop, otherwise you will have to do it through another machine and save the files to removable media to transfer to the laptop.
Agree with kingu assessment. I did the Ubuntu USB boot revival on an older, surplus Acer laptop and found Linux unsatisfying and unstable.
I finally just grabbed a new Lenovo Chromebook for $109 and have not looked back. Great for Chromecasting ($35) as well. After all, what is your time worth?
I have no intention to stay with Vista, I just need it now to seek out other options.
As you posted and I type the Screen went black and the mouse/pointer still works but, I’ve got nothing else.
I’m going to wait it out.
Can I download and install Ubuntu without having to burn it to a disc?
Your effort is well-intended, but that laptop will perform poorly while keeping the fan on high all the time. That computer is best left to internet browsing and Word.
I have a similar system and honestly, the juice is not worth the squeeze for real-time video.
Also, I don’t believe there is a direct upgrade path from Vista to 10. That upgrade is for 7 and 8.1 to 10.
first order of business is to break the partition(s).
Delete all partitions from the drive when it asks you where you want to install the OS. Then create a new partition and try to install it there.
Honestly, download Linux Mint and see how that runs for you. The others on here are pretty much right.
If you want a free OS, Linux Mint is a pretty good one and it almost certainly has the drivers you'll need. If you have a friend who can download the thing (it's free) and burn you an ISO to a DVD (or CD if that's what the lappy has) then you'll be up and running for the cost of the disk. It may or may not run the applications you intend to use for the purpose you've described, but at least it will get you on the Internet and you can bootstrap that into whatever you want.
Just my $0.02. I'm doing something like it for a friend right now. Computer professional, and he has neither his distribution media NOR a viable backup. Tsk tsk.
A new computer and s-video card would cost hundreds of dollars. It sounds like he has plenty of free time to play around to try to get this to work.
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