[resolved]-Linux

[grim_reefer]

i am very interested in using this operating system but i dont know where to begin as there is so many different versions of linux out there and i want to run it aswell as my current operating system(s) - ive heard about having to "partition" the hard disk to do this but while i understand basicly what that means - i have no idea yet how that is done.. can anyone help me or point me in the right direction

i also wanted to know..

is it true that from Linux you can see all your folder and files including +ystem (+ecret) and +[h]idden files and folders/directories??? even though certain versions of windows hides certain folder and files - and even hides them from DOS using these methods... does Linux show ALL files and folders?? i am unfamiliar with Linux but i want to find out more and probably start using it

[Redhat]

Welcome to my second section of expertise :flowers:

I'll address the question in your quote first. Yes, that is correct. Linux is "Open-Source". This basically means, there is nothing hidden, you can read through the code of the kernel. You can even compile the source and call it "Reefer Linux", sell it for £30 a try, and it's perfectly legal.

Partition your harddrive only needs to be done if you are going to have more than one operating system on the box. If you are, a program called Partition Magic (http://www.powerquest.com) is the most widely used to partition. There are others too.

Partitioning is basically sectioning your Harddrive. Scenario :

I want to run XP and Redhat Linux 9. I have only Windows on my harddrive, taking the full 80gb of space.

Partitioning makes Windows only take up say.. 40gb (you can choose however much you want) and the rest is free space. You can then place linux on this free space.

When installing a distrobution (type) of Linux, it installs a BootLoader which means when you boot up your system, it gives you a menu where you choose which OS to load.

There are many distro's of linux, your right. There are several main players, I suggest you choose one of these. The ones that are normally chosen for the first time you use Linux are Redhat or Mandrake. My first was SuSE but all I used iut for was games as I was still on dialup and it was annoying to sort out dialup in linux.

My first distro that I used with an internet connection was Redhat. It is a great introduction to Linux, but the problem is Redhat have discontinued Redhat Linux so future updates are not possible.

So on a process of elimination I suggest downloading the 3 ISO's of Mandrake 9.1 from http://www.linuxiso.org and then get partition magic. They sell it in PCWorld or if you can get it anywhere else.. you need version 8.

Feel free to ask anything else you want :)

[Chris]

lol only download the 3 ISOs if you have broadband because if your on 56K it would take you weeks.

You would also need 3 CD-Rs, A CD burner, Cd Burning software that is capable of burning an Image.

Before you attempt to install Linux backup all of your work.

[grim_reefer]

i do have a 56k modem - so what can i do other than downloading it? as i dont really wanna have to wait "that" long - although i am willing to if i dont have a choice

you mean i need THREE cd writer drives? why is that? is that only if its downloaded?

thanks

[Redhat]

You can purchase Linux distros, Mandrake 9.1 included from shops such as PCWorld, Watford Electronics etc..

As you are on dialup, it will be difficult to get online with linux, but if you would like to learn linux which, if you do, will be very rewarding and helpful, then IMO it's still worth it.

p.s. No, what I mean't was you would have needed 3 blank CD's, and one CD-RW drive.

[Adwanoc]

You dont have to partition the hard disk to install linux. If you want to keep both linux and windows on the same machine, you can install linux on a separate hard drive, although if you dont have a spare hard drive you can just do fdisk through dos to split the HD in two. Then when you install linux, you have to configure it to dual boot with windows during installation.

[expertec]

If you use FDisk everything on the drive would be lost! :shocking:

[expertec]

If you're interested in buying off Ebay click here Plenty of Linux for very cheap B)

[grim_reefer]

sorry redhat i was confused beacuse Powerless said i needed 3 CD-R i thought he meant drives, my mistake

i do have a second drive BUT its a protable USB so i guess i cant run Linux off that? :confused:

[grim_reefer]

i have windows XP on my new computer and that is the one i want to run linux on aswell - im a bit too busy at the moment - but i will go PCworld soon and hopefully pick the one mentioned up - i do wish to learn linux but for coming online i will simply use windows if i cannot manage it through linux, i havent used any OS other than windows and DOS since very old apple computers when i woz at skool, and other older ones before that with BBC basic, and the computer we had which was an Amstrad made in about 1986 it had a greenscale monitor, no hard drive, about 256k memory! so im still familiar with other formats but not not any modern ones like linux but since i found out about it - it seems much more appealing than Micro$ofts windows!!

[Redhat]

First computer I used was an Acorn at primary school :D

Then te '95 PC's at primary school, no teacher knew how to work them, I was effectively a network admin at the age of 9 :lol:

Then my own '98 box.

I then stuck SuSE on it.

Then bought new PC with XP Home.

Then partitioned and used Redhat 9.

Then Put XP Pro on.

Then replaced RH with Slackware 9.1 :)

Used OS/2 and Unix at work places.. and of course NT4 workstation :surrender:

[grim_reefer]

actualy the last ones i used before windows 3.11 and DOS was ACORN not Apple!!!!! would never have realised if u hadnt mentioned that name

i always knew more than the teachers at skool - most subjects they used to tell me to help the class ffs lol like it was my responsibilty - but i was very corrupted and always in trouble.......... :innocent: lol anyway - seems you still have more experience than me

ive got to get everything off my old computer onto my USB drive - and then clean everything off the computer and THEN put everything my mother needs on it at work... and then sell hers so i get a bit of money for this brand new one back ;) once thats all done maybe ill have some free time to go out and get linux and find out about partitioning the drive... oh but xmas is coming up and i havent dont any shopping yet and ive also gota book up wit a driving skool for my new test in january and maybe do a couple of lessons just to brush up sort of, so i can get my license back again! :D

ok THEN ill have free time! gotta wait until next year me think :(

[moon]

Just looked at expertec's eBay link for cheap SuSE 9.1 pro. (5 CD set ) Is there anything missing from that offer in comparison to the SuSe site at £64 ?

No worries, bought it anyway. Mad tempestuos thing.

[catgate]

The purchase of cheap distros of Linux from Ebay is fraught with the danger of getting rubbish. I have had Mandrake, Knoppix, Fedora, Suse in 1, 2, 3 and 5 CD sets and have had problems. The main problems seem to be caused by bad copying of the CDs. because some of the necessary files have been corrupt. Granted the cost has been minimal but the amount of time wasted has been not insignificant. The best result I have had was with a single disc copy of Knoppix which was bootable, and runnable, from the CD and did not need any installation. Granted it is slower than the others (which did not work properly anyway), but it does give a good feel for the thing. I feel before long I shall have to make a permanent change myself.

[moon]

Well I've got the guy's address. If it doesn't work he can emulate the Masai with a five CD set. :D