So many versions of Linux, what do I do!!!

[scitobor 617]

I started out on Mandrake 9.2 then Upgraded to Mandrake 10. I moved to Linux so that I could host websites for fun and later for profit. My site can be found at http://nullagent.no-ip.com when my computer is on . Mandrake is great for newbies, 10 is very easy to install but will not work on all hardware. Installing a program on Mandrake is very easy when using RPM packages but next to impossible if you try to compile a program from the source. I am now finding it restrictive as it has many dependencies and I am now planning a move to Knoppix or Gentoo. Gentoo is a cool distro but I would not recommend it for the faint of heart, or those that may be tempted to go back to a M$ operating system.

[Ashley Weed]

Its time to revive a very dead thread of mine.....

I have to finally give in, and decide how I want to run Linux. I had been working with the Live CD. However, I'm "moody" and my computer is even "moodier" so, I'd really like to not have to make it run from a CD.

a) Do I have to completely remove everything to partition my HD, in order to place Linux on the HD? When I do this, can I place the Live CD version on the HD or will I have to obtain another version? Or is it simple, and I can just keep everything the way it is (WinXP OS), and partition my Linux area.

b) I have the resources to Ghost my WinXP OS. Would this save me a lot of trouble. Then start all over. Create two partitions - but then do I need to locate another version of Linux other than the Live CD?


Pfew... thanks

[gobeavs]

Originally Posted by Ashley Weed

Its time to revive a very dead thread of mine.....

I have to finally give in, and decide how I want to run Linux. I had been working with the Live CD. However, I'm "moody" and my computer is even "moodier" so, I'd really like to not have to make it run from a CD.

a) Do I have to completely remove everything to partition my HD, in order to place Linux on the HD? When I do this, can I place the Live CD version on the HD or will I have to obtain another version? Or is it simple, and I can just keep everything the way it is (WinXP OS), and partition my Linux area.

No, just defrag your hard drive to try to get all of your data near the beginning, and during most linux installs you can just cut off some free space from the end of your windows partition and use it for linux. There are not gaurantee's that your windows data will still be there though.

b) I have the resources to Ghost my WinXP OS. Would this save me a lot of trouble. Then start all over. Create two partitions - but then do I need to locate another version of Linux other than the Live CD?

It depends...if you really need to save windows, it may be comforting to gaurantee yourself that windows will still work by ghosting and starting all over, but I have never had any problems taking some space from a windows partitiona and using it for windows, just make sure the windows partition has the space to give.

For installing linux, the liveCD may work. Some distrobutions you can install from the liveCD (knoppix), others do not (Ubuntu). If you are still open to distribution suggestions, I now recommend either ubuntu (ubuntulinux.org) or mepis (http://www.mepis.org). They are both based off of Debian, so you get the great package management system apt-get, which makes them in my mind a lot easier to use. I have never tried Mepis, but based off of what I have read, out-of-the-box it will be easier to use than most other distributions because it comes pre-configured with various media plugins and such. With Ubuntu and other distributions you need to install those yourself. Mepis and Ubuntu both have liveCDs, but you can only install from Mepis'.

[MrToast]

Man, it's so much simpler than that...

Buy a Mac.

Dave

[gobeavs]

Originally Posted by MrToast

Man, it's so much simpler than that...

Buy a Mac.

Dave

A lot more expensive also ...

[Raven_Writer]

Easier solution:

Back up all your data from the windows partition
Use a partitioning program like Partition Magic to repartition your drive
(or use what the distro. you're installing has, if it does)
Pop in the installation CD, and restart
Install Linux on the space you alloted for it.

[wk1989]

Originally Posted by Raven_Writer

Easier solution:

Back up all your data from the windows partition
Use a partitioning program like Partition Magic to repartition your drive
(or use what the distro. you're installing has, if it does)
Pop in the installation CD, and restart
Install Linux on the space you alloted for it.

You have to repartition, just resize the Windows partition.
One thing though, convert your Windows partitions to FAT32 if you want to be able to write to it in Linux, otherwise leave them the way they are.

[KTorak]

Originally Posted by wk1989

You have to repartition, just resize the Windows partition.
One thing though, convert your Windows partitions to FAT32 if you want to be able to write to it in Linux, otherwise leave them the way they are.

Captive NTFS Package allows you to read/write to a NTFS partition using linux.

[wk1989]

Originally Posted by KTorak

Captive NTFS Package allows you to read/write to a NTFS partition using linux.

http://faq.arstechnica.com/link.php?i=1227

Read Write
Linux Yes Experimental/Dangerous

Be careful with that thing, I heard it could mess up your ntfs partitions, like making them unbootable. I prefer FAT32 over NTFS since I don't boot into Windows often.

[Ashley Weed]

I am finally dual booting SuSe and WinXP using GRUB after a LONG week. First I was dual booting with Fedora C3, and with the struggle of finding that my video, sound, and wireless card were not installed..... I tried to switch. When using Partition Magic to rid of a partition, and start over, I LOST both partitions, as it destroyed my boot loader.
Next, I began to reload my windows partition, and at this time created a secondary partition. (I believe my WinXP is NTFS). No, swap drive as Windows will only be used on the school network as a safety precaution, and for school learning purposes. I have successfully installed SuSe Novell Corporate version, only laking my internal wireless card and frills for my touchpad.

Hmmmm... now on to tackling that wireless card. And learning how to install things in Linux.

[scitobor 617]

Originally Posted by Ashley Weed

When using Partition Magic to rid of a partition, and start over, I LOST both partitions, as it destroyed my boot loader.

It's handy to have a Linux live cd around like Slax or Knoppix because if you are hnady with the command line you can use it to fix your master boot record without loosing all of the data on the harddrive.

Ok for your wireless card you should take a look at the following websites.

http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_...nux/Tools.html
http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/

One the first site you will find info on the linux wireless tool package. Most modern distros will already have it installed but more than likely you need to get a driver for your card. There is a good chance that the manufactor of your WiFi card has not written a linux driver. Have no fear! If there is only a Windows driver you CAN use it. The second link will take you to the NdisWrapper homepage. This software will allow you to run Windows WiFi drives on Linux. However, this software is not perfect but it gets the job done, and if you have the option of a native Linux driver take it.

If your network uses WEP, WPA, or some other encryption method you well have a slightly more difficult time configuring you card. Theres alot of information on those two pages and should be enough to get you started.

Ok now that you have internet access I bet you want to install stuff. Well the most common why to install stuff on linux is to do it the programmer way, from the source code. There are five basic steps when installing from source. Few applications differ from these steps and when they do read the read_me file.

Don't forget to unzip the program first.

cd folder_name //Move to the folder with the program in it.
./configure //This command configures the program and prepares it to be installed
make //This compiles the program
su //Become the root user
make install //This places the compiled program files into a folder where all/most of your programs live

If you dislike the command line you may want to use RPM packages. They generally are the easiest ways to install programs and can cause the most frustration. Deepening on your distro you can simply double-click on the RPM file and it will be installed. The main source of frustration with RPMs results from dependencies or other programs/drivers that the program you want to install is reliant upon.

Another way to install programs is dependant on your distro. Most major distros have software that will allow for the easy installation of progams. Gentoo for example has a program which will download/compile/install the requested program and all programs that it is dependant on.


I hope I helped. I would hate to see a potential Linux user take the easyway out of things rather than explore Linux.

[gobeavs]

Re: Ndiswrapper, I got it to work with a Linksys wireless "g" desktop card...refer to http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/p...index.php/List and see if your card is there to see if it will work and some notes on how well it works...

[jhnphm]

Using straight Debian here.

[wk1989]

Use a Debian based distro, apt-get is awesome.

[gobeavs]

Originally Posted by wk1989

Use a Debian based distro, apt-get is awesome.

I don't know if I have said it before...but it is awesome. I pretty much exclusively run debian-based distros for apt-get alone.