Breathing New Life Into An Old Laptop

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Breathing New Life Into An Old Laptop
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• Give an Old Laptop New Life with Cheap (or Free)
  Projects
• Picture frame
• Wireless Bridge
• File Server
• Printer server
• Secondary monitor
• Making it fly again with lite weight Linux

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My Goal

• Be able to use this computer for wireless
  internet access with reasonable speed and safety

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My Laptop Specs

• Processor Celeron 700 MHz
• Installed Memory 64 MB (SDRAM)
• Hard Drive 10 GB IDE
• MHz Motherboard Bus Speed 100 MHz
• Memory Installed RAM 64 MB RAM
• Technology SDRAM
• Max Supported RAM 192 MB
• Installed Cache Memory 128 KB
• Hard Drive Hard Drive Capacity 10 GB Storage
• Controller Type IDE CD / DVD
• CD / DVD Type CD-ROM Optical Drive Read Speed
  24x (CD)
• Other Drives Floppy Drive 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy
• Display Color Support 24-bit (16.7 million
  colors)
• Display Max. Resolution 800 x 600 Video
• Installed Video Memory 4 MB
• External Video Resolution 1280 x 1024
• Audio Output Type Sound card
• PC Technical Features
• Input Method Accupoint II Keyboard

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What is Linux

• Linux is an alternative operating system
• Linux is available free of charge
• Linux is a generic term, there are many varieties
  of Linux
• Linux offers many light weight options
• Puppy (128MB)
• Damn Small Linux (DSL) 16MB - 64MB
• Linux has a reputation of being so difficult to
  use.

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Linux isn't only for the super geek
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Why Puppy Linux?

• Puppy has a reputation of being easier to install
  than other small builds
• Puppy has many builds that work with older
  hardware
• Puppy's user forum is more friendly than the
  other forums.
• Puppy doesn't require any commitment
• Puppy doesn't touch change your existing
  operating system

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No hard drive required
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Can boot from CD
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Can boot from USB stick

• If the BIOS allows it

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Can boot from diskette/USB stick

• Older PC's can boot from diskette with the
  majority of the operating system on the USB

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Getting started

• Need to download an iso image
• Need CD burning software capable of burning an
  iso image many are available as free downloads.
  
• Need access to a computer with a CD burner

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Memory

• 128Mb to bring me to 192Mb
• Online Memory Chat
• Instructions on the internet
• Cost 16.95 shipped

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Wireless Card

• USB or PCMCIA
• 54Mbs
• WPA2
• Compatible with Linux

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PCMCIA

• AutoDetected by Puppy
• D-Link WNA 1330 Wireless G Notepbook Adapter
• Others Needed Windows drivers
• Netgear Wireless PC Card 32-bit WG511v2
• Each cost 6.95 Shipped

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Setting up was a breeze

• Answering a few questions about my display and
  mouse
• Installed the PCMCIA card
• Connected to the wireless router
• Setup the firewall

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Setup Continued

• Installed a Browser from a list
• Fire Fox
• Google Chrome
• Opera
• Seamonkey
• Added
• PDF reader and editing tools
• Java
• Total time about 15 minutes

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Total Cost
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More Information

• Puppy Linux Website
• www.puppylinux.org
• LifeHacker
• Give an Old Laptop New Life with Cheap (or free)
  Projects
• http//lifehacker.com/359389/give-an-old-laptop-ne
  w-life-with-cheap-or-free-proje
• TechRadar
• 10 useful things to do with an old laptop
• http//www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/lap
  tops/10-useful-things-to-do-with-an-old-laptop-908
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