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Question

Installing OS

Feb 19, 2015 4:32PM PST

I recently received an old Dell Latitude C840. It had it's hard drive wiped with a think vantage program. It is able to boot but ends up at a black screen with text.

How can I install an operating system?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: installing OS
Feb 19, 2015 4:57PM PST

That's easy. You get an OS install disk, boot from it and install the OS.

The ones I see on eBay have 256 or 512 MB RAM. That limits you to using Windows XP or a small version of Linux. But I'm afraid that with Windows XP you'll have trouble to find the necessary drivers to fully enjoy all this laptop had to offer.

Kees

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Re: Re: installing OS
Feb 20, 2015 3:27AM PST

Thanks for the answer!

Would Windows 2000 work?

What versions of Linux would work best?

Thanks in advance!

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Windows 2000. That's my game.
Feb 20, 2015 3:55AM PST

I ran NT 3.5, 4.0, 2000 for many years. The thing here is you would never expose these to the web because of unpatched vulnerabilities. There will never be a patch.

Also, you run into the same driver hunt issue. So sure, your choice at the end of the day.
Bob