Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

dmohr · Joined: 17 Jan 2013 Posts: 2

Ive been trying to get Linux running all evening, through a bunch of different formats. I couldnt make a functional Boot Disk, so I saved the Puppy 540(?) Firefox.exe to a flash drive and ran it on the target computer. Said CPU is a Gateway Solo 2550 laptop. Before my pap stored it he put a fresh version of XP Pro. On it, and it works fine, but I want something faster as I want to use this CPU for simple forum surfing and document work. I get it to boot Puppy, and it lets me choose to either load or not load data. I can choose either and it will go to a screen and boot through some more functions then go to a black screen... What do I do??? Thanks.

cthisbear · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 2943 Location: Sydney Australia

dmohr:

Welcome to Puppy.
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Specs:

Intel® Mobile Pentium® III 450, 500, 600, 650, and 700-megahertz (MHz)
Intel® Mobile Celeron™ 450, 500, and 550-MHz
Pentium II 333 and 366 MHz

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/Solo_Series/P2550/p255044.shtml

Video memory 4 MB SGRAM

Maximum colors displayed 18-bit; 262,000 colors

Onboard RAM

32 megabytes (MB) onboard RAM (PC 100)

"""""""

" he put a fresh version of XP Pro."

How much ram have you.???

::::::::

Someone here will post an older suitable Puppy.
Your current Puppy is too new mate.

Hang in there.....Chris.

dmohr · Joined: 17 Jan 2013 Posts: 2

I see... Thanks... I cant get any boot discs to work though... Ill have to play with it.

sfeeley · Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 807

This thread has a case study for a computer with less ram (16mb). The thread is old, but some of the tips might still stand
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=36678008&t=48214

RJARRRPCGP · Posted: Sun 20 Jan 2013, 19:14 Post subject:

And he couldn't have installed XP with 32 MB!

XP requires 64 MB and it will run like crap at 64 MB!

Sky Aisling

dmohr,
Welcome to the forum.
I may be wrong but I don't think you can upgrade the RAM in a Gateway Solo 2500.
I think it's glued to the *motherboard*.
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Solo%202500%20Series

EDIT: I am wrong. Max RAM can be 288MB. The machine has two slots.

RetroTechGuy · Joined: 15 Dec 2009 Posts: 2301 Location: USA

Sky Aisling

Hello dmohr,
I was given a Gateway Solo 2300 last week. The machine has 128 mg of RAM.
There just isn't enough wriggle room in the RAM.
I'd like to get into the machine in order to delete the contents of the HDD so that I can properly depose the equipment.
I've considered trying DamnSmallLinux.
I did try WakePup Floppy disc boot and that worked to a point but because the machine only has a bay for either a floppy drive or a CD drive and no extension cord came with the floppy drive ... things got a bit awkward.
Personally, there are so many orphaned PC out there with more resources than the 2550, I'd go out searching for one to adopt.
But, that's just my take on Gateway Solo's of this vintage. They sure make tough door stops though.
Wink

starhawk · Posted: Wed 23 Jan 2013, 12:41 Post subject:

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=78941
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=83550

One of those may work. Try the stuff in the 2nd link first.

Consider upgrading your laptop's RAM. If there's a door on the bottom of the system, that goes to the RAM, it's easy -- and I can help you find the RAM you need. I'd just send it to you, but TBH I'm all out of PC100 at the moment.

If there's no door, that means laptop disassembly time -- it's likely under the keyboard. At that point, if you've not disassembled a laptop before (it's a real pain in the donkey) you probably should look for a system with somewhat better specs.

TBH I'd offer to send you my spare Dell -- it's a C600 somethingorother I think... but it needs its internal BIOS battery replaced and that's not something I've done yet.