Got a free Inspiron 3700 recently, with a whopping 4.9gb hdd that lasted a whole week before crapping out.

So currently I've got Ubuntu 7.04 LiveCD running, wireless settings working great, no touchpad support, but usb mouse is fine.

Just curious, anyone have any clue how long this setup will last, or is this something that may be an option indefinitely, as i only need the machine as an internet station . .. .?

8/1/2007 7:28:38 PM

Knoppix is more full-featured than ubuntu as a live cd, and also it has the ability to save settings and configs to usb drive, persistence. For example, whenever I boot off my knoppix live dvd, my IM client is already set up, my browser has all the plugins and bookmarks as always, and my display and wallpaper is persistent. You can very easily use a live cd as a daily use computer with such a setup.

8/1/2007 7:37:48 PM

^

I use Slax in the same way. Unless you save the settings then whatever you did will be gone the next time you reboot. You can use a USB stick and I believe if you have a cd or dvd burner in the system then you can burn you changes and they'll be on the CD/DVD.

8/1/2007 8:13:31 PM

You can save Ubuntu LiveCD settings and preferences on a USB stick or any volume. You just have to format it to EXT3 and call the volume "Casper_Cow", I believe. It's kind of odd, but that's the way to do it. It tells you about it in the Ubuntu Hacks book, but I'm sure you can find that online too if you know what you're looking for.

I have a box that's running on an Ubuntu LiveCD, with no HDD, that just runs F@H. I've been meaning to roll a LiveCD that includes the software just for doing that, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

8/2/2007 10:25:43 PM

cool, thanks for the inputs, i just wanted a machine i could take in public anyway, so i think the setup should be straight.

but i'll break down n buy a new hdd soon enough.

8/2/2007 11:08:30 PM