Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Computers
  4. / Computer Software
  5. / Computer Operating Systems
  6. / GNU / Linux

by Nohbdy on June 30th, 2004

Nohbdy

Question

Help answer this question below.

Are there any differences between installing Linux on a laptop as opposed to a desktop?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by Christopher Woods on July 4th, 2004

    Christopher Woods

    You _may_ have more trouble installing Linux on a laptop as opposed to a desktop, as the components in a laptop are by tradition a little more custom / specialist as opposed to the fairly generic components in a desktop PC... For instance, if your laptop has a special "portable" version of a model of graphics card, perhaps a low power version with a special powersaving chip at its core, it may well need a special version of its drivers to operate properly. You might be able to achieve standard VGA operation, but with no 3D acceleration at all, or you might find that you can't initialise the card at all... It's more the realm of PCMCIA devices / custom LCD screens e.g. where Linux tends to come into more problems with when it's installing.

    However, that said, recent versions of the popular flavours of Linux have a very large driverbase, and some have user-friendly installations which guide you through the installation process when it's time to configure your hardware. I know that Xandros Linux has a one-click installation for every type of common NVidia graphics card.


    For best results when installing Linux, contact your hardware vendor and ask them if the components inside your laptop are compatible with Linux - you could also Google for the information, with the model numbers - www.linuxquestions.org is also a good place to start if you're a Linux newbie.


    I'd say that you'd probably have fewer problems installing Linux onto a desktop, but then again, you never know until you try. :)

    Comments

    • Probably the biggest challenge with laptop installs these days is getting the embeded wireless networking up and running. Check your hardwares model against the distro you plan to install that way you know what you are up against before you dive in.

      Romanogee

      by Romanogee on December 28th, 2006

    • Like
    • Report

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Are there any differences between installing Linux on a laptop as opposed to a desktop?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company