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    Best current free OS for CF-29s?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by gbrittenum, Jan 19, 2015.

  1. gbrittenum

    gbrittenum Notebook Geek

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    I have a couple of CF-29s. I would still like to get some use out of them, especially has computers to surf the Internet.

    Any suggestions?
     
  2. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    What is the model number of your 29 for starters. I am guessing that you don't have the recovery disk ?
     
  3. gbrittenum

    gbrittenum Notebook Geek

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    No, I have recovery disk for both. But XP is getting long in the tooth and browsers are not very effective.

    CF-29EWKGZKM and CF-29NDLGFBM
     
  4. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

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    UNCNDL1 likes this.
  5. safn1949

    safn1949 I'm sure I'm on the wrong planet

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    Slacko Puppy is a nice and simple one for that Mk3. Very lightweight,I'm using it on a CF-71 and CF-48.
     
  6. gbrittenum

    gbrittenum Notebook Geek

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    Shawn do you run Zorin or Zorin lite?

    safn1949 thanks for reminding me about the puppy versions.

    I will try all those.
     
  7. Shawn

    Shawn Crackpot Search Ninja and Options Whore

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    Zorin OS Core. No lite for me..
     
  8. droppointalpha

    droppointalpha Notebook Enthusiast

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    Mint 17 w/ MATE desktop has been good on my mk 5 field unit.

    But if Shawn suggests the Zorin OS, I'd start with that. The look/feel think for someone not accustomed to Linux OSs and the start up compatibility with Windows materials you may carry over are features hard to beat. Saves a lot of frustration.
     
    Shawn likes this.
  9. CWB32

    CWB32 Need parts for my flying saucer.

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  10. SHEEPMAN!

    SHEEPMAN! Freelance

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    You can do a PAE install (most newer distros) on the MK5 and run it in the MK 2. Mk 2 is non -pae.

    Porteus is worth a look once you figure out the lingo. Design and cook your own.
     
  11. 1517

    1517 Notebook Guru

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    Best free OS is Linux hands down, might have some driver issues but most stuff will work on first boot. I have to check out Zorin???
     
  12. 1517

    1517 Notebook Guru

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    XP is still usable but you open yourself to virus or malware. Unless you can find a Warez version or a commercial company the pays MS for extended support not normally available to public.
     
  13. CWB32

    CWB32 Need parts for my flying saucer.

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    "Design and cook your own."

    i used to live three houses from a guy that did that ...
    they evacuated several households while removing the really nasty chemicals .

    linux is the core that many different variations are based on ... it has roots in "unix" .

    not all versions of 'nix will load properly ... some will choke during the install of when rebooted will produce a black screen or require editing of the "xserver" .
    be thankful that you are not trying to load a 'nix OS on a toshiba older than a couple of years ... it doesn't want to work right and many people wound up with bricked machines .
     
    Shawn likes this.
  14. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    Never heard of Zorin, looks pretty cool so I am going to check it out.

    I can't upgrade our CF units in the field since I need Active Directory, Domain Services, Etc so they are on XP until we finish replacing them with new Win 8.1 Toughpads but I am going to try this out on my own computer to see how well it intergrates Windows software into the Linux environment. Wonder if I can actually get all of our Windows software we use in the field to work.

    Normally I run Fedora or Kali Linux on my non Windows laptops.
     
  15. CWB32

    CWB32 Need parts for my flying saucer.

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    normally , windows stuff will not run on 'nix .
    there are ports of several programs that run on different OSes .

    if you want to run windows software on 'nix , there are a couple of programs that might let you do it :
    https://www.codeweavers.com/products/crossover-linux/ (paid for)
    https://www.playonlinux.com/en/ (free)
    Wine (software) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    i have used POL and W.I.N.E. with very mixed results .
    there is all the essential "stuff" to run some windows based programs (usually very popular programs) ... these programs are in a list .
    as an example , i was able to load/run photoshop on a mint13 machine via POL/wine without a hitch (the gui looked a bit different) .
    elsewise , a couple of amateur radio programs would not load/run .
     
  16. UNCNDL1

    UNCNDL1 Notebook Deity

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  17. CWB32

    CWB32 Need parts for my flying saucer.

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    i just pawed through my collection of 'nix based OSes and (ahem) *tools* ...
    27 CDs
    46 DVDs
    this is not the total amount i have tried ... many disks were used as mini-skeets lobbed in the general direction of file 13 .
     
  18. Rod Drew

    Rod Drew Newbie

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    I have a Mark 4 - CF-29LTQGBBM - that's running fine on Windows XP - but the Wireless G is limited to 54.0mbps - so get the upgrade card to Wireless N at 300 mbps. Massive difference anticipated (this Forum found the card, brilliant)