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    Need OS Help

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Altered Phoenix, Jun 24, 2011.

  1. Altered Phoenix

    Altered Phoenix Notebook Evangelist

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    Hey guys. So my family has 7 computers. 3 Toshiba Satelites, all broken, 2 desktops, both not working, my dad's HP, my mom's Macbook Pro, and my own ASUS. My mom is out of town with her laptop and my brother is dying to use my computer (he doesn't like the HP). I am saying no.

    The better of the Toshiba's has a busted harddrive (don't know why). I have an empty 500GB external harddrive. I would like to get that laptop up and running but I need an OS. Is there a legal way to get a free version of windows? (XP preferred but will take 98 or 95).

    If not, how hard would Linux be to learn on the fly?
     
    Altered Phoenix, Jun 24, 2011
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  2. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

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    id say download ubuntu and tell him to deal with it
     
    KCETech1, Jun 24, 2011
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  3. Altered Phoenix

    Altered Phoenix Notebook Evangelist

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    Trying to be nice here... :p And what is ubuntu?
     
    Altered Phoenix, Jun 24, 2011
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  4. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

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    ubuntu is one of the Linux distros, pretty simple and easy to work with.
     
    KCETech1, Jun 24, 2011
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  5. Altered Phoenix

    Altered Phoenix Notebook Evangelist

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    Ok. Can I do all this by downloading the file on my ext. HD and plugging it into the USB of the broken laptop?
     
    Altered Phoenix, Jun 24, 2011
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  6. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

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    best is to download the ISO, burn the DVD and then pull the drive from the external cage and install it in the laptop internally. boot from DVD and install
     
    KCETech1, Jun 24, 2011
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  7. Altered Phoenix

    Altered Phoenix Notebook Evangelist

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    Ok sounds good. Does CD-R work or does it have to be DVD?
     
    Altered Phoenix, Jun 24, 2011
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  8. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

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    download the ISO and Try I think it is just under 700mb so a CD should work
     
    KCETech1, Jun 24, 2011
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  9. Abidderman

    Abidderman Notebook Deity

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    Most likely there is a sticker on the bottom or back or under the battery of the laptop with a COA for windows with a product key number on it. Look for the "legal windows downloads" thread here in "windows OS and software for how to get the ISO, follow the instructions and you will be able to replace the HDD, use the same key to install a new copy of the same version of windows that was on it.
     
    Abidderman, Jun 24, 2011
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  10. Abidderman

    Abidderman Notebook Deity

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    Abidderman, Jun 24, 2011
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  11. Altered Phoenix

    Altered Phoenix Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks man! And good news. My clever brain said "take the working HDD out of broken toshiba #2 and put it in broken toshiba #1"

    How great is scavenging?
     
    Altered Phoenix, Jun 24, 2011
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  12. Abidderman

    Abidderman Notebook Deity

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    There are many distro's of Linux, many are very simple to use if you have any comfort with computers, and many very light versions for laptops. Check out the Linux thread here on NBR and see what you might be comfortable with.
     
    Abidderman, Jun 24, 2011
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  13. Abidderman

    Abidderman Notebook Deity

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    Good to hear. If you need any more help let us know. If you have an OEM version of windows on the HDD, you might get an error window during activation. If so, you might need to call and tell them you replaced the HDD to get a new key.
     
    Abidderman, Jun 24, 2011
    #13