Travelling around Australia I've noticed several backpacker hostels use GlobalGossip computers for providing internet-access. It's relatively easy to gain free internet on some of these machines.
At the moment, its only possible where the machine allows you to boot from a CD. Some machines (possibly the newer ones) come with this setting disabled in the BIOS, and it's passworded. How do you check?
- Make sure the machine is off (hit the power button to tell Windows to shut down if necessary)
- Turn the computer on and immediately start tapping the F12 key until the monitor displays "Loading one-time boot menu..."
- You should be presented with several options on how to boot up the computer. One of them should be a CD or USB drive. The default option will be the local hard disk. If you have the ability to choose CD drive then this machine will work
I recommend the Ubuntu LiveCD, but you may be able to find other Live CDs on the internet that are smaller to download.
- Download the ISO image for the Live CD
- Ubuntu
- Find a method of burning the ISO to a blank CD
- Nero (that comes with many CD burners) should work fine
- Or there's plenty of free software around, such as Create Burn ISO
- Insert the CD when you reach the boot menu (as explained above) and choose the CD boot option
I have had Ubuntu freeze when booting. If that happens, then just reboot and try it again (mine worked the second time). It runs brilliantly on the Dell Optiplex 750, quick and with a high widescreen resolution.