This is the "Absolute Beginners Forum"?

**houseworkshy** · October 16th, 2012

+1 to the above, a drive each works out very well, though in my case I have another linux on the other drive.
I recomend getting this
http://ubuntu-manual.org/ which is a free and well written guide in pdf format. It gives a good overview quite quickly.

**Mark Phelps** · October 16th, 2012

Really old PCs have BIOS's that are not able to see the new large drives.

Even if you do find a large PATA drive, don't just presume it will work in the PC. I had an old laptop that came with a 20GB PATA drive, which I tried to replace using s new 320GB PATA drive -- and the BIOS couldn't see the drive.

Through trial and error, I determined the largest drive the BIOS could see was 120GB -- which is what I put into the laptop.

So, if you do buy a PATA drive larger than 120GB, be sure to buy it where you can return it if the PC BIOS can not recognize the drive.

**audiomick** · October 16th, 2012

Originally Posted by Mark Phelps

-- and the BIOS couldn't see the drive.

Yes, I've had that problem too. It was a long time ago, but nevertheless. I think the machine had an 8GB drive (yes, they really did used to be that small...) and I wanted to put a bigger one in to try and get a bit more use out of the machine. The lady in the shop put the smallest drive she had in stock in it, and it couldn't deal with it. That was a huge 40GB drive...

**patilsb** · October 16th, 2012

hi
iam new in ubuntu 12.04,my network maneger not showing " MOBILE BROADBAND"
ICON after 30/40 min ...when start.then i have restart my pc then its showing on it. plz help me .

**offgridguy** · October 16th, 2012

Originally Posted by patilsb

hi
iam new in ubuntu 12.04,my network maneger not showing " MOBILE BROADBAND"
ICON after 30/40 min ...when start.then i have restart my pc then its showing on it. plz help me .

I would recommend starting a new thread of your own in this forum, there it will be immediately noticed and get the appropriate help.
Click on the absolute beginner option in forum jump at the bottom of this page, when the site comes up use new thread
near the top, left hand side of page.

**SWGraphics291** · October 16th, 2012

You need Windows installed first.

1. Get an Ubuntu disk.

2. Put in disk drive and startup.

3. Change boot settings to disk (Guess)

4. Once loaded click install

5. Come to a bit where it says Dual-boot or overwrite.

6. Skip partition bit (Unless you know what to do).

7. Wait for install.

**offgridguy** · October 16th, 2012

It is not a requirement to install windows first unless you want to do a dual boot.

**Bugscuffle** · October 16th, 2012

Thank you every7one for your help. I have decided to do the following:

1. Don't do anything until the machine arrives
2. Set up the new desk top along side of the laptop XL machine and work them both for a while until I am comfortable with Ubuntu.
3. Buy a second H.D.
4. Install XP on the smaller H.D. (80 GB) and Ubuntu on the larger drive (size to be determined later).
5. Buy a graphics card and install it on the new computer. Presently the new computer has an "intgrated graphics card" that I am told really sucks, but I have no idea wjhat has to be done to put a new, seperate card on the machine. Do I have to disable and/or disconnect the old graphics card in somne way? I'll ask Dell about that.

The computer that I bought, a Dell Dimension 310 configured as follows:
Pentium 4 processor running at 3.06 GHz., 2 GB Ram, 80 GB H.D., Ubuntu preloaded. This will be my home machine and a new toy for me to play with. My laptop will eventually go to my wife to replace the 15 year old Gateway that she has now.