linux os problem on dell laptop

**alex2020** · February 14th, 2012

hello fellows!
im new to the linux operating systems, i have dell inspiron 1545 laptop with no os installed, recently i downloaded and installed ubuntu 11.10 32bit on it and started to have problems just right after finishing the updates, when i try to shut it down it restarts, when i try to connect to my wireless network it doesnt connect, when i try to edit my account preferences like automatic login but it doesnt work, the lock icon dimmed, i tried all suggestions around the net and the terminal stuff but nothing worked, then i said ok lets try linux mint 12 64bit "as mint sounds fresher than ubuntu lol" but after installing it i found out it has exactly the same problems.
so what is the problem?
is it my dell laptop that doesnt like the linux os's ?
or the linux os's got some common and permanent issues in them ?
are there real solutions for these issues?

**gbrainin** · February 14th, 2012

I'm not familiar with your particular model, but the most common sources of problems are the video card and the wireless card. Based on what you've described, I'd look at the wireless first. What you need to do is find out exactly what wireless card/chipset you're using (sometimes a given computer model will have more than one over its lifetime) and search (here or elsewhere) for that card and the version of Linux you're using. Usually, someone will have posted something with a similar problem, and sometimes a solution. If not, then post to see if someone can help you out.

Alternately, you can try installing an older version. Sometimes problems creep in along with updates, and a computer that works fine with version 10.10 will start having problems with 11.04, for example. The flip side is that these problems tend to get fixed over time, so perhaps the next version will work better.