The one good thing about Linux is the range of distributions available. Every few months I will load a new Distribution on my flash drive or make a Live cd and try it out. I am currently trying out Linux Mint and I like it, I would definitely recommend it for new users it comes loaded with most apps that you need day to day. It’s eye candy is one of the best I have checked out so far, I even loaded it onto one of my old boxes that am planning on donating.
Find and Identify Device ID’s
If you help fix people’s computers you will come across devices that windows will not have drivers for or you may be having problems downloading them from the machine manufacturer site, here is a quick way to go about it.
Go to Device Manager right click on unrecognised device there will be an exclamation mark on it click Properties ->Details and select Hardwae ID’s from the property drop down list. VID_ and VEN_ are used to identify vendors and PID_ and DEV_ identify Product ID. The HEX value following Product ID “PID_/DEV_” or Vendor ID “VID_/VEN_” is what you use in your search to identify the device.
Now go to pcidatabase.com enter your product or vendor id to such for your device.