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I have this PC that I had used from 2005 to 2009 until it crashed. We completely wiped the HDD and there is no OS on it. I was going to install Puppy Linux but I don't really know which version. I have 1024 Mb of RAM, and an Intel Pentium 4 processor that clocks at 2.66 GHz. They have recently release 5.2, and I'm not sure if that will run. I would just like some information so I can give my old PC a new life.

I would look more into it first, assuming you haven't. I have Ubuntu 10.10 as a secondary OS, and it is WAY different from Windows. You have to use the Command Prompt (or in this case, the terminal) a lot more than Windows, well, you have to use it to install just about everything. Unless, P.L. is different in that way.

I looked into Ubuntu a little and it seemed like it could work with my specs, but how do you mean use Command Prompt? Is it very difficult, because I could use a challenge.

It depends on what you mean by difficult. It can be, somewant hard at first, because, one little typeo, and you have to retype evything you just did. I would download the .IOS version of the OS you want, if its possible. Then burn it to a CD, and use it to test the OS without making a change to the system.

Or try running it from an USB:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/
The tool works great, any errors shouldn't come from this utility, unless you're using an unsupported distro of linux.
I haven't got any user experience with Linux itself though, so I can't help you further than this.

Ubuntu and similar distros are pretty easy to use. You almost never have to even touch the command line. If you're just doing simple web browsing and tasks like that, command line will never have to be seen. Even installing new programs is pretty simple. On the rare occasions that you DO have to use command line, the instructions are very simply laid out for you.

I know a fair bit of Linux terminal commands, so I can help you out if you need it. Using Linux on a desktop is more akin to Mac OS X than it is a purely command-line interface, like it is on web servers.

One thing that is important to realize is that with Linux distros, external hardware might not always work properly. The vast majority of it will, but if you're connecting using a wireless internet connection with an external adapter, you'll likely have to install something to support it. This process is pretty easy and, like most things on Linux, well-documented.

It sounds like you have nothing to lose, so why not go for it? Running Linux can give you valuable experience with how computers work fundamentally, so give it a shot! You'll need this version: http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download Just burn it to a disk, pop it in, and the installer should take care of everything else.

About this "Puppy Linux" distribution you mentioned- I would advise against going with it. Ubuntu is much better supported and allows for a lot more to be done with it, so it's a better choice for pretty much anyone getting into Linux.

I did install ubuntu and its pretty good. I couldn't run from an USB, I didn't even try. I just burned the .iso onto a disc. The only thing I need though is internet. I have my regular PC, so any advice on how to setup a home network? I have a cross over cable and my USB modem, which is very troublesome.

Do you connect through Ethernet or wireless? What model is your wireless adapter, if you connect through wireless?

Its a Huawei EC168 USB card. I would have to use a cross-over cable to establish a connection between my two computers, but I have had enormous trouble with my PS3 and sharing a connection, to which all internet forums I posted it on have ignored.

Wait, you're trying to connect to a mobile broadband network? Doesn't your computer have a network in your house or something that you can connect to? That would be a lot easier.

No, the only way my PC gets internet is from the USB modem. We live 5 miles outside of city limits so this is the only internet besides satellite we can get.

Plug in your USB modem. Ubuntu should support it and it should be automatically configured.

I tried that, but to no success.
I have been constantly ignored on this subject whenever I have brought it up anywhere. Can I ask why is this? Does anyone have any advice. This USB modem is terribly difficult to share, and I need help in this. I'm trying to share the internet with the other PC with a crossover cable, but it never works. I am frustrated from the lack of help and the difficulty of this situation. Please, I urge for someone to give me any sort of help.