Backup computer

[JimL]

I have a $350 "large screen" T42 running XP Pro SP3, and am getting along fine, but I need another computer in case this one dies.

I tend to buy "behind the curve." Hot/New doesn't impress me even slightly - new stuff is always buggy and more _to_ go wrong means more _will_ go wrong. Besides, hot/new costs WAAY too much. But it's time to move up "a tad."

Someone on a newsgroup said his T60 was really great, but when I asked him what was so great about it he disappeared.

I'd be interested a 17 incher if the screen were taller as well as wider - except that it's new. I have no interest in consumer models - solid, "well wrung out", bedrock computing is my thing.

Now I'll prove I'm a glutton for punishment and try to find a consensus for what next Thinkpad will fit the picture I've described above. Something a little up the scale, rock solid, and, of course, dirt cheap!

Suggestions?

JimL

[RealBlackStuff]

17" Thinkpad? Nothing really!

[dr_st]

All depends ultimately on how much you are willing to spend.

If you want something a bit faster/newer than your T42, my recommendation would also be a T60. Probably a 15" model, since you like the size.

It's more or less the same laptop as a T42, with slightly changed exterior design. Hardware-wise, the dual-core CPUs make it a bit (or a lot) faster, depending on the applications, it supports up to 3GB RAM (compared to 2GB on a T42), and does not suffer from the GPU failure syndrome, which is a risk on a T42.

Check the models in my signature. I went from a 15" T42 to a 15" T60 as my primary laptop (both high-resolution wide-viewing angle Flexview IPS screens), and I am very happy to be using the T60, although the T42 is also great and still works perfectly (mostly used by my sister now).

[JimL]

If you want something a bit faster/newer than your T42, my recommendation would also be a T60. Probably a 15" model, since you like the size.

Thanks. It helps to narrow things down. There are a lot of machines out there and I can't retain details from that many spec sheets. I can put more into one than I did the T42. Right now I'm more interested in proven technology than low prices.

The only problem I have with the T42 is that it seems to have lost its wireless capability, altho I'm not sure that isn't an XP problem.

I suppose there are a lot of T60 configurations out there to choose between. Except that maybe my eyes wanting the larger screen narrows that down some. That's about all I can muddle through now.

Thanks again.

JimL

[goofyGAguy]

If eyesight is an issue, you would probably love a 15" T60 w/XGA resolution.

[GomJabbar]

The only problem I have with the T42 is that it seems to have lost its wireless capability, altho I'm not sure that isn't an XP problem.

Download and burn the image of a Linux Live CD, boot it up and test your wireless. I know Mandriva and Fedora Live CD's work with the Intel 2200BG wireless adapters. Note that you might have to set up the firewall before you get an internet connection.

[JimL]

Download and burn the image of a Linux Live CD, boot it up and test your wireless. I know Mandriva and Fedora Live CD's work with the Intel 2200BG wireless adapters. Note that you might have to set up the firewall before you get an internet connection.

Thanks. I got Fedora - kinda nice. I got on the internet right away via wire, but I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to "test" wireless. In "Network Connections" I see the wire hook up listed right away, but nothing when I click on the Wireless tab. Is that the test? I can find nothing similar to XP's Device Manager.

BTW, is that screen full of junk during boot-up intentional?

JimL

[GomJabbar]

I set it up in F12, but I don't know Fedora as well as Mandriva. If you right-click on the Network applet on the taskbar, is Wireless enabled? If you go to set up your firewall, is WiFi checked as well as Ethernet (LAN) - they both should be. Even so, it is possible that your wireless adapter is not being recognized.

This is all easy to check in Mandriva KDE with MCC (Mandriva Linux Control Center - AKA "MCC" - AKA "Configure Your Computer"). Go to Configure Your Computer and set up a Network Connection. If your WiFi adapter is not being recognized, you should be prompted to install the Windows drivers using ndiswrapper. Next set up your firewall from Configure Your Computer (the first page of options with ftp, telenet, etc. can be left as is - unchecked). The firewall generally is enabled for wired connections, but needs to be enabled for other connections to be able to connect.

[JimL]

I set it up in F12, but I don't know Fedora as well as Mandriva. If you right-click on the Network applet on the taskbar, is Wireless enabled? If you go to set up your firewall, is WiFi checked as well as Ethernet (LAN) - they both should be. Even so, it is possible that your wireless adapter is not being recognized.

This is all easy to check in Mandriva KDE.

I'll have to check again. I downloaded a Mandriva, but I didn't see anything about KDE. What I got gets to the blue desktop with the little white gidgets going in circles and stops there.

I never found anything about firewalls in Fedora, altho it must be there.

I did manage to get the wireless to show in Network, similar to the way I can enable it in XP and get the wireless tower light to come on on the laptop. And it actually lists it by name (Linksys) in Fedora. But just as I get no connection in XP I never get access in Fedora. So it appears that there must be something "half-wrong" in the T42 hardware.

The first time this showed up under XP I was at a public link. Similarly it actually listed the available connections (more nearby), but would not actually connect to any of them.

JimL

[RealBlackStuff]

Try another wifi card, or try yours in another laptop.

[JimL]

Try another wifi card, or try yours in another laptop.

Isn't that part of the mobo?

JimL

[JimL]

This is all easy to check in Mandriva KDE .

Well, turns out I actually have Mandriva KDE4. I've downloaded it twice and burned it several times. It still halts at the blue desktop with the things going in a circle. I left it running overnight last night and it was asking for a login this morning. Of course I have no login for a first time run.

What's the deal on Mandriva Free? It's over a 4 gig download.

JimL

[GomJabbar]

The Live CD does take several minutes to boot up, but it should not take overnight on a T42. I had no problems booting up the Live CD on my system (took about 5-10 min. as I recall). Try adding the following kernel boot parameters to see if that solves your booting problem with the Live CD.

nomodeset
speedboot=no

http://wiki.mandriva.com/en/2010.0_Erra ... _speedboot

The Live CD can be installed after it is booted up. It installs an image of itself to the hard drive. The 4GB Free DVD has a traditional installer. You can choose what gets installed with the Free DVD. Note that the Live CD has non-free propriatary drivers. The Free DVD does not. So some hardware that works out of the box with the Live CD will not work out of the box with the Free DVD. You can add the non-free repositories after installation and then install most of these propriatary drivers and software if desired. Of course you need to be able to connect to the internet for this to work. Sometimes just using a wired connection is needed. Othertimes you need to use ndiswrapper with Windows drivers from a Windows installation on another partition, or use a hardware driver install CD. Ndiswrapper usually looks for *inf and*sys files in the Windows directory.

There is a Powerpack DVD for sale on Mandriva's website that includes propriatary drivers and software along with a traditional installer.