I'm curently using a dell mini n series running linux with ubuntu. I had to reinstall my operating system because, according to Dell, I shouldn't do updates on my mini because the newer packages of linux take up too much room on the hard drive. I'm sorry could you repeat the question?!? That to me makes NO sense. After reinstalling my operating system I tried to link up to my wireless router, which went fine for two days. Today, everytime I open a web browser page it will stay open for aproximatly two mins before it closes by itself for no reason other than to annoy me apparently. Also, it isn't saying any of my bookmarks. After all that, I tried to click on my link to restart my mini & the entire top panel just disappeared?!? I had to turn it off by holding down the power key for 2 seconds. Anyone have ANY of these issues? Please, help, I really want to uninstall linux & install windows but I can't because I only have enough space on the hard drive for linux, which is complete trash! Thanks in advance for any help.

Buy windows, insert the CD, let it do the rest. Works fine.

If you don't like that, stop whining and start asking about particular issues.

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Ubuntu has so many bugs because it's an Debian based OS without being Debian if this makes any sense. If you have some basic knowledges in Ubuntu than you can easily switch to Debian, personally I prefer Debian Squeeze. Debian it's far more stable and more practical than Ubuntu is or will ever be, at least in my personal opinion.
I used Ubuntu in the past and I had many problems like the image was flickering in GoogleEarth tough my video card was installed properly, mplayer crashing suddenly and so on, many bugs and many small inconveniences. But because Ubuntu it's an linux OS that can be burned on a regular CD and not a DVD as many linux distros need, because it's so easy to install and work with it after installation, because it has many preinstalled features it still worths if your not that pretentious. If you want stability and versatility than I strongly advise you to switch to Debian.

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Just one quick example: I had dvips segfaulting (testing as well as stable) just in the moment I wanted to apply for a job... (of course, downgrade to stable helped)

If you really MUST advocate debian and you want to argue with "stability", at least advocate the stable release

But, in fact, I really think the OP should buy a copy of windows 7. It's a nice little OS after all and he'll get customer support.

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Sure but Debian lenny it's not that up to date this it's why I think Squeeze it's better. As for Squeeze aka Debian testing i was amaized by it's stability. I do upgrades about two times a week and I have no stability or incompatibility problems in any kind of aspects, and I use the same Debian installation I've did six months ago.

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Right, but, apply some realism please I know how to manage a debian-dist, you know it, too, that's called experience. I once recommended ubuntu to ppl who just wanted an alternative to windows and they suffered stability problems, so I won't do this again. I experience similar things in debian squeeze. I have the experience with all the apt-tools (as well as strace, gdb, etc if it is necessary) to solve situations like that. Other's don't.

I'm sure i could solve stability problems in ubuntu, too, if I wanted to. But if I really want to recomment a rock stable system to anybody not having this level of experience, I'd definitely go for debian/stable. Right, lenny is "old" -- so how old is windows xp sp3? It's still in widespread use and doing a good job for those still shocked by vista and therefore reluctant with trying win7

edit: on a side note ... I'm running debian on my desktop since "potato". The only time I did a complete reinstall was the move from i368 to amd64 architecture. And even then, i at least kept my "dpkg --get-selections" and stuff like /home, /var, /usr/local etc

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Than you rock, and Debian rocks too. But to be honest this it's a linux questions forum, not a windows questions forum. And yeah I agree Windows XP was the greatest Microsoft achievement, 'cause let's be fare Vista and Win 7 are kinda crappy. Personally I wouldn't recommend anyone to install one of those two.

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zirias and Tux*;
You two remind me of two dogs I once owned---they would fight with each other over whose turn it was to bark at the postman. Mostly amusing, but it could get annoying.

Regardless, if you are not going to help the OP, then please do not continue this.


First, while it is plausible that you are having some issues, Linux is not "complete trash". Many of us use it on a daily basis.
As to your specific question, you CAN install Windows---it will take the space currently used by Linux.

If you have any other specific questions, we'll be glad to help....

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Could you stop the personal insults please? In fact, you didn't say anything i didn't already mention in my first post. This thread is completely pointless.

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please tell us who is insulting you.

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I'm very sure you know yourself, so please stop this stupid game.

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To Wipe the Drive completely

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install...using-windows/

Happy Trails, Rok

Suggesting Windows 7 on a Dell Mini seems counter-productive. (Perhaps Win XP, but 7? )

Anyhow, from the OP's handle, I suspect that some more polite and responsive answers might be helpful.

Now I've never used a Dell Mini, but I suspect that downgrading to a older version of Ubuntu might solve many of the problems she's having. Perhaps switching to another small, stable release using an older kernel might help. (The newer kernels sometimes seem to be confused by "less capable" hardware.)

Is there someone looking at this thread that has used other Linux distributions on a Dell Mini? Is the Ubuntu they (Dell) ship with their "Mini" tweaked for the Mini's hardware? (Perhaps the kernel is compiled with Mini-specific options, and the "generic" Ubuntu kernel is not appropriate. )

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Although I don't know the exact specs of dell mini, I know win7 is working on my institute's VERY old research thinkpad (still has IBM logo) better (faster, more reliable) than XP, so, I'd really give it a try here

And for the rest; sorry, but either it's "just another stupid troll" and not worth the effort .. or else, giving more specific problem descriptions WILL result in helpful responses here

Let's try that again. I'll confess to being a little slow sometimes, but I'm not playing games.
The normal etiquette here is to simply answer the question---especially when a moderator is asking.

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