Posted on 01/10/2021 9:25:44 AM PST by djf
Ok, I'm getting fed up with the internet and Windows. Windows not-so-much, but under WinXP, the versions of Firefox and Chrome I can run are pretty ancient and I either get hit by tons of ads or it gives me a time error and won't even let me in. So I have an older CD which is Knoppix 5.1 and I am trying to configure it to talk to my modem. If you have had experience with this and have hints/tips, please let me know! TIA!
Buy new, bare-bones computer and install Ubuntu. You’ll have to learn a bit of Lynuxbut that isn’t that hard. It will also be much safer than what you are using.
BTW the Ubuntu is free. So is open office. And here is probably driver for your modem.
Why Knoppix? The Reiser FS is nuts unless you’re a German. I dual booted Mint/Windhoes10 for my bride until she gets used to Mint and then we’re going to get rid of Windhoes completely.
Ditch your old Knoppix distro and get current Ubuntu.
Browser overload from videos and ads — and an XP computer crash — caused me to finally go to Win7.
I am still there, but in recent years my browsers [primarily Firefox ESR 52 and Comodo IceDragon 4.2] have been experiencing browser overload.
Thus, to retain Win7 usability, I have found a couple of more recent browsers for heavy video and graphics websites. I primarily use the latest Vivaldi based on Opera and Slimbrowser Pro based on Chromium. Many websites now require these newer browsers.
I did buy a Linux Mint Cinnamon 18.3 laptop that I use more and more. I found Win10 too irritating to bother with. I am retired so I no longer need heavy computing power like I did during my my work years. I dealt with data conversions and various databases having upwards of 50,000 items and files with nearly 1,000 pages of text and graphics.
Why would you not try a newer Linux distro?
Well like I said I have the CD from Knoppix that I burned around 2005.
It does work on my current computer, so I am trying to get an update to 8.6.1 Knoppix or something more current.
That means getting my Internet to work (when Knoppix is booted) so I can download the ISO images I need.
Thank you for not telling me about Ubuntu or answering some question I didn’t ask!
Get Linux Mint. The core is Ubuntu and it is compatable with everything Ubuntu and is a very easy transition for a Windoze user.
Current Mint is 20.1 and the install is about 2 Gig. Get the Cinnamon desktop version. Get it here:
https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=284
Burn it to a DVD or create an USB installer.
USB instructions: https://itsfoss.com/install-linux-mint/
I sent you a private reply. Good luck.
That is exactly what I’m running and really like it.
I remember when I switched from Windows 7 to Linux Mint years ago. I was amazed at how much faster my computer was. At least 2 times faster on average and I could leave it up and running all the time with only the occasional reboot every month or so.
Since we found out Firefox owners are traitors to America I switched to Brave. seems to work fine but there is a little program that worked in ff and chrome but not brave. I do hope that is fixed now that we know about the ff traitors.
Try Chromium. It is Google Chrome before Google gets their sticky data theft and privacy invasion fingers into it. Being open source there is nothing nefarious hidden in it. It should be more compatible than Brave. 20.1 and on it is as simple as a “sudo apt-get install chromium” but for older you have to install via snap. https://snapcraft.io/install/chromium/mint
Best to get a newer pc.
Refurbished ones are fast and you can put windows 7 on it or Linux Mint
https://www.amazon.com/refurbished-Desktops-Computers-Tablets/s?k=refurbished&rh=n%3A565098
Windows 7 on Ebay
https://www.ebay.com/b/Microsoft-Windows-7-Operating-System-Software/11226/bn_2780793
I use Windows 7 on my desktop pc. Much faster then the work pc I have with Windows 10.
Also get a copy of Office 2016 at ebay. The newest version of Office requires Windows 10. Office is Office so get the older one. I use my copy of Office 2016 on my pc and the companies Office 365 on the work pc. The 365 is just irritating. Everything you do is spied on.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=Microsoft+Office&_sacat=11226&LH_TitleDesc=0&rt=nc&For%2520Operating%2520Systems=Microsoft%2520Windows%25207&_dcat=11226
Or the Free Libre office. You can save as Microsoft file types like a Word .doc file.
https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/screenshots/
Moving to Linux makes sense in this age of big tech crackdowns against conservatives, I’m honestly surprised there aren’t more boycott threads about it around here on FR given how cozy Microsoft is with progressives and how much Microsoft money goes toward causes we wouldn’t ever dream of supporting.
First, when you say “modem” do you really mean a 56k dialup? I’m very surprised by this but it needs clarification.
What are the full hardware specifications of your computer?
Processor:
How much ram:
What video card: (This one is especially important)
What wifi chip: (manufacturer)
Was this custom built or is it a retail name brand?
Motherboard:
You are getting good advice from others about giving newer versions of Ubuntu or Linux Mint/Cinnamon a try instead of Knoppix, but you may not need a whole new computer.
Moving to Linux makes sense in this age of big tech crackdowns against conservatives,
Exactly.
PPP/chat is what you need to set up to dialup networking with Linux, IIRC. I’ve done it, but years ago. A lot of modern modems won’t work on Linux, though; they require proprietary drivers that only work on Windows.
Get your feet wet with Linux Mint or Zorin
Go here and all the new versions for free https://distrowatch.com/
A problem I have solved by switching to Brave Browser. No ads unless you opt in (and get paid). I prefer no ads and these are my current stats.
683,989 Trackers and ads blocked
5.56 GB Bandwidth saved
9.5 HRS Time saved
This is over about 9 months of use.
If have an older 32 bit machine your distribution options are going to be limited. Most everything is now 64 bit. MX Linux is a decent 32 bit distro
32 bit version of Linux Mint?
What are your PC specs? What MHz processor speed? How much RAM? How big is your hard drive?
If it was designed in Win XP days, you’re going to be limited.
When you say modem, are you talking old dial up modem, DSL?
Most modern modems for DLS etc are actually modem/router combos so all you have to do is connect to the wifi. If it’s a standalone dsl modem, you might need to contact your ISP and it may or may not be Linux compatible. Maybe they’ll be able to set you up with a router/modem combo but then you need a wifi card if you don’t have one.
At any rate, we need more info. There are versions of linux that will run on a PC made in XP days but not many.
Knoppix is actually made to run from a CD; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knoppix
You should be able to find a new(used - new to you) PC on ebay with some form Linux already installed. A lot of people sell used PCs and put Linux on them so they don’t have to worry about Windows COA(certificate of authenticity) and activation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.