During my 8 years of Linux on and off usage I have tried more distros than I have chocolate bars. Each one of my previous encounters meant that I had to spend at least 2 days configuring before I have a desktop that I was somewhat comfortable with. With Ubuntu Feisty Fawn's latest test beta --for the first time ever-- this was not the case. I was up and running with all the niceties I wanted within 2 hours.
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Member since:2007-02-17
{{"A new install of Windows is likely to be 640x480 VGA 16 colours no 3D, because Windows doesn't have the video card driver at all. You have to find the CD that comes with your video card to get a driver. More than likely that will be an XP (or older) driver that doesn't work with Vista, so forget about upgrades."
It's been years since I have seen that behaviour, seeing as radeon and Nvidia drivers come with Vista and XP, and you don't need to find the CD if it does happen, because Windows update will have drivers, or you can download them from the manufacturer's website}}
Windows will not recognise your video card correctly out-of-the-box if either: (1) your video card was made after the install CD image for your version of Windows was made, or (2) your video card ceased production before the install CD image for your version of Windows was made.
I personally have three or four video cards that have had to be scrapped for no other reason than video drivers were no longer available for Windows, because the card was out of production (this was before I discovered how easy Linux was to install).
Yes, if your situation is category (1), you can typically go on-line and get drivers, but that is the very thing that Windows fanboys like to try to bash Linux about. If your situation is case (2), you are out of luck with Windows, and your only option is to install Linux. Mac OSX won't work at all if your hardware isn't Mac.
Member since:2005-08-11
Member since:
2005-08-11
"A new install of Windows is likely to be 640x480 VGA 16 colours no 3D, because Windows doesn't have the video card driver at all. You have to find the CD that comes with your video card to get a driver. More than likely that will be an XP (or older) driver that doesn't work with Vista, so forget about upgrades."
It's been years since I have seen that behaviour, seeing as radeon and Nvidia drivers come with Vista and XP, and you don't need to find the CD if it does happen, because Windows update will have drivers, or you can download them from the manufacturer's website