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Resolved Question

Please help: Ubuntu on Toshiba Satellite L-30 laptop

Apr 22, 2012 9:57PM PDT

Hello,

I am planning to try and set up Ubuntu on a Toshiba Satellite L-30 laptop for my relative, mostly for basic web-surfing, etc.

It is an older computer, it has a Celeron M 1.6Ghz processor, 40GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM (2 x 1GB, maxed out). It originally came with Windows XP Home. I believe it is pretty much the same as this model (except I have an Asian version):

http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/web/resource/pdf/discontinued-models/notebooks/satellite/satellite_l30_psl30a-00100e.pdf

As I understand, it all comes down to if the hardware can fully support the Ubuntu operating system. I do not want to start doing this, if I will run into serious trouble with it later. (Also, it came with Windows XP pre-installed, and with no backup disk, so I would not be able to re-install Windows again later.)

Could anyone let me know, if this laptop would be a good candidate for an Ubuntu "upgrade"? I am specially concerned about the wifi and sound/video working well.
How can I get drivers for this model?

Any help would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Discussion is locked

MusicianMBA has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Try the LiveCD next.
Apr 23, 2012 7:07AM PDT

Sorry but to keep this short, I'll skip telling what a LiveCD is.

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How about drivers?
Apr 23, 2012 11:37AM PDT

Yes, I used LiveCDs in the past while playing around with different flavors of Linux distros. (Haven't done that in about 6-7 years now though.. ) They were useful trying out the OS, but did not include all necessary drivers then.

Are you suggesting, if I make a Ubuntu LiveCD, it should now have all the correct hardware drivers for any computers? Including e.g. the wifi card driver for the Satellite L-30?

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That's why I try the Live CD.
Apr 23, 2012 11:45AM PDT

Since I don't have this model and you do, you can guess what your next test is.

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All right,
Apr 23, 2012 12:05PM PDT

I'll do a quick test with the Ubuntu LiveCD. In the meantime, I'll check the Ubuntu forum for any additional info (didn't know it existed)

Thanks!

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Unbuntu LiveCd
Apr 23, 2012 12:11PM PDT

Unbuntu LiveCd is a very mature distro. You should not have any problems getting this laptop to work. It will not hurt to give it a go.

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Answer
What an odd statement.
Apr 23, 2012 7:04AM PDT

"so I would not be able to re-install Windows again later"

So you have never heard of using CLONEZILLA to backup and restore the entire HDD?
Bob

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Might be odd,
Apr 23, 2012 11:45AM PDT

but t makes sense...

We are talking about an old laptop that came with XP pre-installed and my relatives never ever re-installed the operating system, even though it was/is infested with viruses/bloatware. The machine is literally crawling... opening anything takes about 30sec to a minute. But at least it still works for their web-browsing.

Why would I ever want to clone this disk to restore it later??

Look, what I want to do, is to help out my relative. I understand Ubuntu would be a good choice to clean up this computer, but just want to make sure things will work. (I do not have unlimited time to spend on this, it is not even my own comp.)

So, anyone using Ubuntu on an older Toshiba Satellite, or knows this stuff care to contribute?

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Why would I ever want to clone this disk to restore it later
Apr 23, 2012 11:48AM PDT

"Why would I ever want to clone this disk to restore it later??"

Because you may want to return it to its prior state. We know we can clean up most of the pests but before I do such work, out comes CLONEZILLA so I can go back.

I forgot that to write you should use the UBUNTU FORUMS if you want a bigger audience that may have this laptop for testing if you don't want to do the work.
Bob

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(NT) Thanks!
Apr 23, 2012 12:03PM PDT
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Answer
How did it go?
Apr 28, 2012 4:48PM PDT

How did you go? Everything worked out-of-the-box with the live CD I expect?

I'd be interested in hearing if you've installed Ubuntu yet and whether you are enjoying it, and if there were any further questions you have. Also, I'm not sure if anyone suggested it to you, but there's also the option of a "dual boot" - keeping XP but also having Ubuntu installed side-by-side, so you can choose which OS to boot into whenever you start the computer. However XP uses quite a bit of precious disk space so it's not a fantastic solution if you've only got a 40GiB HDD.