Attention Linux gurus of MeFi: Attempting to set up an old Dell Latitude CS laptop as a Linux system (Xubuntu) for a coworker. Massive installation headaches ensue thanks to missing hardware. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by caution live frogs on Sep 1, 2009 - 6 answers

Which one of the multitude of Linux distros should someone who's never used Linux before give a go? [more inside]
posted by n3rt on Aug 18, 2009 - 34 answers

Does software exist which will allow me to use my PC's DVD drive as an external USB drive for my netbook? [more inside]
posted by whir on May 20, 2009 - 8 answers

A plea for help in installing/running a seemingly simple open-source program on a Windows box. [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Sep 28, 2008 - 6 answers

I am having problems making a persistent installation of Ubuntu on a usb thumb drive. [more inside]
posted by tip120 on Jul 22, 2008 - 3 answers

Is it worth changing to xUbuntu from Xandros? [more inside]
posted by trinarian on Jun 10, 2008 - 7 answers

Configured Readline with the prefix 'ur/local' on OSX. Then installed Ruby in /usr/local, but with Readline. Would like to put everything in the proper place without damaging anything, so what do I do now? [more inside]
posted by djgh on Jul 23, 2007 - 5 answers

What are all the things I need to apt-get, in order to turn my minimal Ubuntu Fiesty Server install into the complete graphical OS? [more inside]
posted by Jimbob on Jun 16, 2007 - 5 answers

I'm trying to install Ubuntu Server on a just out of the box Dell machine. After completing the install the machine hangs (displaying only a blinking cursor), and subsequent attempts at reinstall from the LiveCD result in hangs as well. [more inside]
posted by phrontist on May 3, 2007 - 18 answers

How can I wipe a hard drive if I can't boot from CD and there is no floppy drive? We want to install winXP on a machine with Ubuntu (eventual dual-boot). [more inside]
posted by billtron on Jan 28, 2007 - 14 answers

Installing Xubuntu on an iBook SE with a broken CD drive: possible? [more inside]
posted by jack_mo on Aug 1, 2006 - 9 answers

I just installed Ubuntu, now how do I install programs? [more inside]
posted by chuckforthought.com on Jul 20, 2006 - 14 answers

Debian won't find my hard drive! Please help! I have details so there's [more inside]
posted by tdreyer1 on Jul 12, 2006 - 14 answers

LinuxFilter: Install Linux on laptop from Floppy? [more inside]
posted by noahv on Nov 22, 2005 - 9 answers

Yet another dorky Linux question: how can I install an upgraded version of the Berkeley DB libraries on my RedHat Linux 9 machine without totally horking all the apps that are installed that rely on the older version? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by delfuego on Oct 23, 2004 - 2 answers

What would be a good way to do an absolutely minimal installation of Debian Linux (or a distro based on it) and then install what I need as I need it using apt-get? The system would need to have decent hardware support (ie. work with my cable modem) but, apart from that, contain the minimum required to boot the system and run apt-get.
posted by reklaw on Jul 7, 2004 - 5 answers