Dumping Ubuntu for DSL

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Dumping Ubuntu for DSL
started by: mustard

Posted by mustard on Jan. 26 2008,09:15

Has anyone out there ever installed Ubuntu on a windows laptop. Ubuntu seems to have made it's own partition?

Is it possible for me to install DSL (I dont get on very well with Ubuntu) onto that partition without messing up my windows XP partition?

Posted by WDef on Jan. 26 2008,13:13

If you don't want to mess about with your partitions, an option is not to install dsl at all. Most of us don't.. Just run it from livecd as nature (and John and Robert) intended.

Have you got a decent amount of ram? If so, boot off the livecd with the toram option. Then you an remove the cd from the drive, since all of dsl is then running from ramdisk. I've always run it that way, only experimenting with hd etc installs occasionally. It's a great way to run it, fast as hell.

If running on anything but a vintage machine, you can probably alo use the dma boot option to enable dma acceleration for your drives.

Or: do an install to a pendrive.

Read the info file that no-one reads when dsl first boots.

If you must install to disk: Do a frugal install. Many advantages.

Posted by mustard on Jan. 27 2008,17:50

Thanks for that advise WDef, I will try the Toram option, sounds good. I don't know why but Ubuntu has disappointed, I think it might be it's looks that I don't like.

Posted by lucky13 on Jan. 27 2008,18:27

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...I think it might be it's looks that I don't like.

That can be easily changed. There are two things I can't appreciate about Ubuntu. First -- and this is the deal breaker for me -- is their slavish commitment to a six-month release cycle without much regard for stability. Six months is too ambitious for what usually amounts to minor changes, especially when it seems the trend has been for them to make more substantial security updates shortly after an official release. If I wanted to stay on the bleeding edge, I would use Debian-testing (or Mepis) instead. I also don't appreciate that Ubuntu installs all kinds of stuff I don't want installed and starts all kinds of processes I don't want started.

Posted by mustard on Jan. 28 2008,19:43

I have tried getting a 'look and feel' that I like but as yet it hasn't worked well.I agree, there does seem to be all sorts going on; mostly superfluously;gosh operating systems they are trying. And that is why DSL is attractive. Having said that I must first get my wireless to work, before I commit further to DSL.

Posted by lucky13 on Jan. 29 2008,00:15

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Having said that I must first get my wireless to work, before I commit further to DSL.

Check the wiki for the page with wireless cards known to work. If you run into some crazy problems (like not being able to connect), ask in the networking section.