The more random than that other thread thread

[Maudie]

Idk anything about computers, but I know my brother has revived several of our dead ones with some strain of Linux wizardry...

[HeadInAnotherGalaxy]

Zave yer money, buy an Axe, put it trough ze ztupid device...

[The Skarzs]

It might save time. . .

[HeadInAnotherGalaxy]

...Und tvid be more enjoyable...

[The Skarzs]

Indeed. I can imagine the sound.

[Jukka the Sling]

Idk anything about computers, but I know my brother has revived several of our dead ones with some strain of Linux wizardry...

Awesome.


I found a tutorial for putting Ubuntu on the exact laptop I have (an Ideapad 100s), so I'm more hopeful now.  The Ubuntu download was going to take like 20 hours, though, so I can't do it right now.

[Chipster of Noonvale]

The Ubuntu download was going to take like 20 hours, though, so I can't do it right now.

Your internet connection is really slow...
You might perhaps want to try a lighter version such as Lubuntu, Xubuntu or Ubuntu Mate, the file size should be smaller and therefore the download faster.
Hopefully you can pull this off; from what I've heard Lenovo computers' UEFI firmwares stink, especially since yours doesn't seem to have legacy boot support.
Also, if you still have some important files stored on that computer, you should be able recover them through the live CD, unless the partition has since been reformatted.
Feel free to PM me if you need help with this, I've had some experience with Linux.

[Jukka the Sling]

Thank you!

Unfortunately, the laptop is so tiny and thin it doesn't even have a disc drive. It's the 11iby model.  (Amber and I each got identical ones on Black Friday of 2015.  Hers is kinda falling apart physically now, but at least it still functions. )

The laptop uses UEFI, btw.  Legacy isn't actually necessary, I don't think?  Some websites were mentioning changing the boot to legacy, but maybe they were confused.   Or maybe I am...

I'll have to see if one of those other versions will work.  I was trying Ubuntu because of this tutorial - I'm such a noob that I wanted to follow it exactly to make sure I got everything right.

[Matthias720]

Keep us updated, Jukka. If you have any questions, just ask.

[Chipster of Noonvale]

Unfortunately, the laptop is so tiny and thin it doesn't even have a disc drive.

This seems to be an annoying tendency with newer computers, to reduce the number of components and plugs.  You'll have to boot from a USB flash drive instead (which is what I assume you're trying to do).  The live Ubuntu USB could possibly help recover the files.

The laptop uses UEFI, btw.  Legacy isn't actually necessary, I don't think?  Some websites were mentioning changing the boot to legacy, but maybe they were confused.   Or maybe I am...

If you're going to be reinstalling the operating system and wiping the hard disk, it shouldn't matter whether you use UEFI or Legacy.

The tutorial overall seems like a good way to install the system.  Just one thing though: you'll probably want to use Ubuntu 18.04 instead of 17.10.  17.10 is no longer supported, while 18.04 is a LTS release that is still supported for years to come.  The two versions should behave pretty much the same way when following the rest of the tutorial.

[Cornflower MM]

It lasted less than three years?? D:

[Chipster of Noonvale]

Back in the early 2000s, my father had a computer that lasted only one year.  He was quite annoyed at having to buy a new one so soon
I've had my current one for eight years.  The CD-rom drive is broken, and the speakers are on-and-off, but other than that it still works great and is very fast.

[Jukka the Sling]

Mine actually only lasted like seven months.  I think it might've been shut down wrongly/while updating, which caused its boot problems.

Anyway, I bought a gaming laptop today!  We're about to go pick it up.

[Cornflower MM]

That makes me cringe, honestly. *Shudders* If I bought a computer that only lasted a year I would die on the inside.

[The Skarzs]

Seven months? Ew. . .