Ubuntu

how to install old device drivers in ubuntu

Asked by mr.peeters

ho!

i have an old computer i bought in japan a couple of years ago, a toshiba dynabook C9/214LDEW.
i've been running winxp for ages, and would very much like to try installing ubuntu now.
my main worry however, is whether and how i will be able to install the hardware drivers of this computer.
when i bought it i had a japanese guy install an english version of xp since it came with a japanese version (and dito installation cd's) only.
i remember having troubles later on finding appropriate drivers since the models and devices have different names for the japanese market (which is why you won't find any traces of anything called dynabook on european or american site).

is there a way to save, copy or export the hardware drivers for my computer and import them into my new ubuntu set-up?

thanks for letting me in,
grrrrr, d.

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actionparsnip
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Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Try the liveCD. It will tell you what the chips are inside with various commands. See what works or doesn't work and we can play from there. Usually the old stuff works out of the box.

Download the 32bit desktop ISO, MD5 test it, burn it as SLOWLY as you are allowed then boot to it and you can try the OS without modifying your system as it will run in RAM

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mr.peeters (mr-peeters) said : 		#2

thanks for all the info - i actually tried the live cd on my brand new thinkpad and installed it straight afterwards, in dual boot with windows though 'cause i'm doing audio and there's apparently no linux drivers for my edirol fa101 sound device. nevertheless very very happy with my ubuntu, so happy to get rid of windows to do my daily affairs!

grrrrr, d.

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mr.peeters (mr-peeters) said : 		#3

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.