Comments on: Ubuntu Saves Compaq Presario 2100 From Death and Windows http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/ WorksWithU is the independent guide to Ubuntu Linux Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:03:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: nygrozlaw http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-7166 nygrozlaw Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:18:55 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-7166 Just installed Ubuntu 9.10 in a Compaq Presario 2100. I was about to trash it because no one could repair it and I coudln't boot my WXP nor install a new copy. After formatting the Hard Drive and trying to install Ubuntu like 5 times I finally succeeded! First I tried installing and old Ubuntu version from an old CD I had. The CD had some errors and couldn't boot. Next I downloaded the latest version of Ubuntu and burned it into an OLD virgin CD which had errors while burning. Finally I burned the image into a NEW virgin CD and tried to install. Most of the times I arrived to the last step of the Installation Wizard, and started installing, but couldn't install more than 0% :S Sometimes I got this strange message: "PXE-E61: Media Test Failure, check cable Operating system not found" So then I read somewhere that this error could be product of a bad contacting in the Hard Disk pins, so I did the trick recommended by hundreds of users: violently smack the laptop thrice near the HD connection. Surprisingly it worked! After that I could install the OS wit no problems. Even though I lost the info in the HD (no biggie) the "soon to be trashed" laptop is now working perfectly! Now I'm selling it on ebay! Any offers?? :P The repair took almost a whole Sunday but It was worth it and I felt pretty good at the end of the day. Seems like this model isn't quite robust. I hope this post helps someone! And never give up when trying to revive your old computers!! Just installed Ubuntu 9.10 in a Compaq Presario 2100. I was about to trash it because no one could repair it and I coudln’t boot my WXP nor install a new copy.

After formatting the Hard Drive and trying to install Ubuntu like 5 times I finally succeeded! First I tried installing and old Ubuntu version from an old CD I had. The CD had some errors and couldn’t boot. Next I downloaded the latest version of Ubuntu and burned it into an OLD virgin CD which had errors while burning. Finally I burned the image into a NEW virgin CD and tried to install. Most of the times I arrived to the last step of the Installation Wizard, and started installing, but couldn’t install more than 0% :S

Sometimes I got this strange message:
“PXE-E61: Media Test Failure, check cable
Operating system not found”

So then I read somewhere that this error could be product of a bad contacting in the Hard Disk pins, so I did the trick recommended by hundreds of users: violently smack the laptop thrice near the HD connection. Surprisingly it worked!

After that I could install the OS wit no problems. Even though I lost the info in the HD (no biggie) the “soon to be trashed” laptop is now working perfectly! Now I’m selling it on ebay! Any offers?? :P The repair took almost a whole Sunday but It was worth it and I felt pretty good at the end of the day. Seems like this model isn’t quite robust.

I hope this post helps someone! And never give up when trying to revive your old computers!!

]]> By: Mark Taylor http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-4820 Mark Taylor Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:24:03 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-4820 I recently recovered some files from my daughter's gateway laptop with Vista. It was stuck in a constant reboot loop and she was crying because she needed some homework she couldn't get to. I downloaded Ubuntu and ran from a cd. Great program for file management. Lots of extras on the software also. She is still playing the games that came with it. Hooray for something useful from the internet. I recently recovered some files from my daughter’s gateway laptop with Vista. It was stuck in a constant reboot loop and she was crying because she needed some homework she couldn’t get to. I downloaded Ubuntu and ran from a cd. Great program for file management. Lots of extras on the software also. She is still playing the games that came with it. Hooray for something useful from the internet.

]]> By: Jammit http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-4244 Jammit Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:08:39 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-4244 Yeah I have my original Compaq 2100, came with XP - and I found the whole "pig of and operating system" from Microsoft; was a total terd on the laptop. Most of it was in the way that XP ran and the way it ran other programs - like Office 2000. Oh lets do / open a document - And away with the 5 minutes of disc caching, thrashing the computers hard drive to death. And FINALLY it opens..... You get the idea.... Thanks to Microscoffs idiotic operating system/s that are at best badly built botch jobs, MY computer was getting it's guts spun out. So I got rid of the XP and all the shitty programming to go with it and tossed in Ubuntu - and several versions later, well I am still using it, and it's getting better than ever. Cause Linux relies almost exclusively upon RAM memory, and only fractionally upon cache memory, for pretty much all of the time, the PC is operating, the HDD barely ever flickers, and if the screen didn't glow, you wouldn't know it was on. Much happier; everything works just fine and I am now running Ubuntu 9.04, along with the full Edubuntu expansion package... Brilliant. So glad there is a DECENT operating system and a huge range of software packages to use. So glad to be be free of that insane corporate mind fuck called Microsoft - and it's never ending upgrade loops... When I see the never endingly HUGE size of the operating systems, the software and the HUGELY insanely specced machines to run them; and the exhorbitant costs and the mind fuck feature deficit packages from the basic / home / small business / enterprise and empire etc., and their fees, registration and the ongoing cost of running the ELECTRICITY EATING computer...... I go "Ubuntu - it's got it all - Fuck Microsoft" And my little loyal laptop - is just so nice and happy and so am I. Yeah I have my original Compaq 2100, came with XP – and I found the whole “pig of and operating system” from Microsoft; was a total terd on the laptop.

Most of it was in the way that XP ran and the way it ran other programs – like Office 2000.

Oh lets do / open a document – And away with the 5 minutes of disc caching, thrashing the computers hard drive to death.

And FINALLY it opens…..

You get the idea…. Thanks to Microscoffs idiotic operating system/s that are at best badly built botch jobs, MY computer was getting it’s guts spun out.

So I got rid of the XP and all the shitty programming to go with it and tossed in Ubuntu – and several versions later, well I am still using it, and it’s getting better than ever.

Cause Linux relies almost exclusively upon RAM memory, and only fractionally upon cache memory, for pretty much all of the time, the PC is operating, the HDD barely ever flickers, and if the screen didn’t glow, you wouldn’t know it was on.

Much happier; everything works just fine and I am now running Ubuntu 9.04, along with the full Edubuntu expansion package…

Brilliant.

So glad there is a DECENT operating system and a huge range of software packages to use.

So glad to be be free of that insane corporate mind fuck called Microsoft – and it’s never ending upgrade loops…

When I see the never endingly HUGE size of the operating systems, the software and the HUGELY insanely specced machines to run them; and the exhorbitant costs and the mind fuck feature deficit packages from the basic / home / small business / enterprise and empire etc., and their fees, registration and the ongoing cost of running the ELECTRICITY EATING computer……

I go “Ubuntu – it’s got it all – Fuck Microsoft”

And my little loyal laptop – is just so nice and happy and so am I.

]]> By: Ryan Speck http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-2182 Ryan Speck Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:23:45 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-2182 Thanks for reassuring me. I've got an old Presario 2100 to play around with and was considering putting Ubuntu on it for the hell of it. I still love Windows, particularly XP, and this definitely won't change my mind, but I think I'm going to drop a full install on the laptop to breathe some new life into an old spare piece of hardware. It's pretty beat up and the mousepad buttons and PCMIA slots aren't working so great anymore. (I'm not even sure about all the keyboard keys.) But it'll make for an interesting experiment and it'll let me see whether it's an easy, worthwhile process or if I'll want to find the nearest Linux nerd and punch them in the face. Thanks for reassuring me.

I’ve got an old Presario 2100 to play around with and was considering putting Ubuntu on it for the hell of it. I still love Windows, particularly XP, and this definitely won’t change my mind, but I think I’m going to drop a full install on the laptop to breathe some new life into an old spare piece of hardware.

It’s pretty beat up and the mousepad buttons and PCMIA slots aren’t working so great anymore. (I’m not even sure about all the keyboard keys.) But it’ll make for an interesting experiment and it’ll let me see whether it’s an easy, worthwhile process or if I’ll want to find the nearest Linux nerd and punch them in the face.

]]> By: Walt http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-2048 Walt Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:14:03 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-2048 There is an easy workaround for the WiFi issue. In fact I know of some laptops that have WiFi problems with Windows that make use of this workaround. Just plug a WiFi PCMCIA card into the machine. The cards that I have are quickly recognized by Ubuntu. There is an easy workaround for the WiFi issue. In fact I know of some laptops that have WiFi problems with Windows that make use of this workaround. Just plug a WiFi PCMCIA card into the machine. The cards that I have are quickly recognized by Ubuntu.

]]> By: Markus http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-1790 Markus Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:10:17 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-1790 It it truly amazing, how new old hardware can feel when you put brand new code on it. In the Windows world, a old laptop will look very old and useless, because there is no way you will be able to install a new Windows on it. But on Linux it just works. I just recently revived a 1.3 Ghz Laptop with more RAM and installed the newest Kubuntu on it (256 megs is usually very tight, put 512 or 768 Megs in it and wow). The cool thing is: Software is always improving, functions that were impossible yesterday are possible today. Hardware is in essence just an empty shell and the software will define the functionality. I am no fan at all of proprietary hardware that has firmware or some other piece of pathetic software on it. Hardware makers many times have NO CLUE about writing software, so software companies (and the Linux community) should do that. I have a very expensive (800$) car radio, that cannot read OGG files. It is very sophisticated, can play videos (which I don't need), but the scanning of the tracks on a 4 Gbyte Medium takes AGES.. it is the only piece of hardware that does what I need (it is a JVC AX33something) and I am moderately satisfied with it, but the bugs it has are aweful and any audio player on Linux, dating back to 2002 does a better job. Everytime you restart the radio (starting the engine) it will re-read the whole media. How stupid is that? I wish I could beam some open source on that piece and do the functions I want in the way I want, but there is no way to do that. Being able to install your own OS is just such a relieve, since proprietary software companies are many times just clueless and get sidesteped by much better open source code. I have heard that you can now install linux on some routers and I have no doubt that things will run much smoother afterwards. Especially car makers have a hard time getting around the concept that you will need a full OS in a carcomputer nowadays, tying all together. These companies have not the least clue how to do a OS and their proprietary nature, they will probably stick to Windows once every car has one of these gadgets. Installing Linux over it will liberate the HW from the limited stupid backwards code, where you pay for every little ounce of extra functionality (ever noticed the license-o-rama game that is going on in enterprise software? I love the Linux "do whatever and how much ever you want with it, without paying a cent more") Markus It it truly amazing, how new old hardware can feel when you put brand new code on it. In the Windows world, a old laptop will look very old and useless, because there is no way you will be able to install a new Windows on it. But on Linux it just works. I just recently revived a 1.3 Ghz Laptop with more RAM and installed the newest Kubuntu on it (256 megs is usually very tight, put 512 or 768 Megs in it and wow).
The cool thing is:
Software is always improving, functions that were impossible yesterday are possible today.
Hardware is in essence just an empty shell and the software will define the functionality. I am no fan at all of proprietary hardware that has firmware or some other piece of pathetic software on it. Hardware makers many times have NO CLUE about writing software, so software companies (and the Linux community) should do that. I have a very expensive (800$) car radio, that cannot read OGG files. It is very sophisticated, can play videos (which I don’t need), but the scanning of the tracks on a 4 Gbyte Medium takes AGES.. it is the only piece of hardware that does what I need (it is a JVC AX33something) and I am moderately satisfied with it, but the bugs it has are aweful and any audio player on Linux, dating back to 2002 does a better job.
Everytime you restart the radio (starting the engine) it will re-read the whole media. How stupid is that?
I wish I could beam some open source on that piece and do the functions I want in the way I want, but there is no way to do that.
Being able to install your own OS is just such a relieve, since proprietary software companies are many times just clueless and get sidesteped by much better open source code. I have heard that you can now install linux on some routers and I have no doubt that things will run much smoother afterwards.
Especially car makers have a hard time getting around the concept that you will need a full OS in a carcomputer nowadays, tying all together. These companies have not the least clue how to do a OS and their proprietary nature, they will probably stick to Windows once every car has one of these gadgets.

Installing Linux over it will liberate the HW from the limited stupid backwards code, where you pay for every little ounce of extra functionality (ever noticed the license-o-rama game that is going on in enterprise software? I love the Linux “do whatever and how much ever you want with it, without paying a cent more”)

Markus

]]> By: David http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-1751 David Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:39:15 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-1751 Great post. I work in the area of music print-publishing. I installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my (inherited) Compaq Presario 2170 last January and have been enjoying the stability and security of Ubuntu GNU/Linux ever since. I've since updated to Ubuntu 8.04. Got wireless networking going and now it's my primary workstation and I do all my email, accounting and word processing on it, as well as maintaining clients' files (for reasons dependent on clients' file format preferences though, I am dual-booting Ubuntu along side Windows XP). I look forward to the day that I can kick resource-hogging, monopolizing, license agreement-as-a-bludgeon-wielding, open-source-software-fearing Windows to the curb. First, I just have to convince my clients that open-source solutions will do as good or better a job than their proprietary counterparts. I've bookmarked this page, Dave http://www.thenotesetter.com Great post. I work in the area of music print-publishing. I installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my (inherited) Compaq Presario 2170 last January and have been enjoying the stability and security of Ubuntu GNU/Linux ever since. I’ve since updated to Ubuntu 8.04. Got wireless networking going and now it’s my primary workstation and I do all my email, accounting and word processing on it, as well as maintaining clients’ files (for reasons dependent on clients’ file format preferences though, I am dual-booting Ubuntu along side Windows XP). I look forward to the day that I can kick resource-hogging, monopolizing, license agreement-as-a-bludgeon-wielding, open-source-software-fearing Windows to the curb. First, I just have to convince my clients that open-source solutions will do as good or better a job than their proprietary counterparts.

I’ve bookmarked this page,

Dave

http://www.thenotesetter.com

]]> By: workswithu.com : 26 Comments Ubuntu Saves Compaq Presario 2100 From Death and Windows | Rich on Linux and FOSS! http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-1676 workswithu.com : 26 Comments Ubuntu Saves Compaq Presario 2100 From Death and Windows | Rich on Linux and FOSS! Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:47:39 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-1676 [...] Full post here! [...] [...] Full post here! [...]

]]> By: Garret http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-1669 Garret Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:05:47 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-1669 I saved an old Dell Dimension 8100 desktop, loaded Ubuntu 8.04 and am using it to write this note. It has become my main computer while the wife and kids use the Win XP desktop and an old Mac Tiger laptop. I have toyed with a few other distros but have returned to Ubuntu as most stable on this particular box (strictly opinion!). I have had several friends ask about "upgrading" their old computers or what to buy in a new computer. My very strict rule is to steer anyone away from upgrading old stock and attempting to run Vista, it's just not worth the headaches, also telling them to think hard about purchasing Vista pre-loaded on anything short of a supercomputer (sic). And I always tell them not to upgrade for the sake of upgrade -- basically, if their computer is doing everything they need to do, not to waste their money. You should see their eyes when I show them this old box. They can't believe this machine is 7 years old as it boots faster and loads programs faster than our much newer XP machine. I saved an old Dell Dimension 8100 desktop, loaded Ubuntu 8.04 and am using it to write this note. It has become my main computer while the wife and kids use the Win XP desktop and an old Mac Tiger laptop.

I have toyed with a few other distros but have returned to Ubuntu as most stable on this particular box (strictly opinion!).

I have had several friends ask about “upgrading” their old computers or what to buy in a new computer. My very strict rule is to steer anyone away from upgrading old stock and attempting to run Vista, it’s just not worth the headaches, also telling them to think hard about purchasing Vista pre-loaded on anything short of a supercomputer (sic). And I always tell them not to upgrade for the sake of upgrade — basically, if their computer is doing everything they need to do, not to waste their money.

You should see their eyes when I show them this old box. They can’t believe this machine is 7 years old as it boots faster and loads programs faster than our much newer XP machine.

]]> By: Jim http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-1661 Jim Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:06:10 +0000 http://www.workswithu.com/2008/09/10/ubuntu-saves-compaq-presario-2100-from-death-and-windows/#comment-1661 I've been using my Presario 2132 RS (that's the Radio Shack version) with Ubuntu linux since version 6.06. I bought this computer new and was always frustrated by the kinds of problems and costs associated with windows xp. My D-Link WNA-2330 pcmcia wireless card works great as it was detected on install. I have it configured to use wep encription to access my netgear wireless router. The wireless card won't hot plug so if I want to use wireless I have to have the card plugged in when I boot up (no big deal). I love ubuntu and never will go back to windows. I try to get others to understand how much better, in so many ways, linux is than windows. The speed increase and stability were immediately noticeable, and the ability to customize so well is awesome. I’ve been using my Presario 2132 RS (that’s the Radio Shack version) with Ubuntu linux since version 6.06. I bought this computer new and was always frustrated by the kinds of problems and costs associated with windows xp. My D-Link WNA-2330 pcmcia wireless card works great as it was detected on install. I have it configured to use wep encription to access my netgear wireless router. The wireless card won’t hot plug so if I want to use wireless I have to have the card plugged in when I boot up (no big deal). I love ubuntu and never will go back to windows. I try to get others to understand how much better, in so many ways, linux is than windows. The speed increase and stability were immediately noticeable, and the ability to customize so well is awesome.

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