Edited by author 03-25-2008 11:40 AM
Where does a newbie find Linux NIC drivers and is it possible for a newbie to install the drivers? I've found windows NIC drivers that work, but don't know how to get them to work on the box with Linux installed.

This link might help: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/li...ell-xps-210-616483/

This link is more technical but has some good information that might steer you in the right direction: http://www.df.lth.se/~triad/krad/linuxinstall.php#xps210

More information useful or not:
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/suse-linu...9-dual-monitor.html

This looks promising: http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/suse-linu...boot-menu-grub.html


This one looks like it could be you: http://forums.techguy.org/unix-linux/69599...ting-rid-vista.html


The Google search that found all of the above: http://www.google.com/search?num=30&hl=en&...x+forum&btnG=Search


Some of this looks very technical. If you are not familiar, at least a little, with a command line, it might be a white knuckle experience. The best bet would be to find a distro that will correctly recognize and configure your hardware. The only two suggestions I have for that would be the most recent releases of Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS. And one more possibility. I had a computer spit out 4 different distributions of Linux before it finally accepted SimplyMepis. Why SimplyMepis ran when the others, including Ubuntu, failed miserably? I have no idea. The two distros that might work are Ubuntu beta 8.04 (Hardy Heron) and PCLinuxOS MiniMe 2008. Understand that beta means some things will not work. Beta is a favorite of Linux bashers. They install a beta and rant about everything that's wrong with Linux. Ok Richard, it's ok, just step away from the keyboard. I'm ok. I'm ok, really. I won't say another word about Linux bashers.

So where was I? Oh yeah. Dell computers, in spite of their Ubuntu relationship, are notoriously different in how they put their hardware together. They often use specialized and proprietary components. You are stuck with the computer you have but if you ever shop for a new one or decide to build one yourself, do some serious Googling with any prospective hardware you're thinking about.

That about wrings me out of all my knowledge on the subject. I hope you find joy in your current endeavor. I'll keep this link bookmarked for a few days and check in every now and then.

Thank you very much for your help. Please don't interpret my questions as Linux bashing -- I realize I'm in a little over my head and greatly appreciate your suggestions. Again, thanks.

Edited by author 03-27-2008 07:16 PM
Yipee It works! Thank you so much for your help. I picked up a distribution disk with kubuntu 7.10 for 64-bit PC. I'm assuming that this is ubuntu and the "k" is for KDE. It booted up perfectly from the cd. I'm having a little trouble booting from my hard drive. I get a command line prompt, but found on the www.kde.org site that I must enter "exec startkde" to get going. Everything on the pc seems to work. Plus, it's crazy-easy to install other programs, such as Firefox web browser. Again, thank you!