hey sorry aobut the double post but i just wasn't sure, delete it if u must but. i was just interested in linux. will things like msn messenger and stuff still work? im a total idiot when it comes to linux. dunno anything about it. but i wanna have a go at it. how do i get started? im downloadin the 3 cd's off fileshare as we speak. is it difficult? thanks

Windows software is supported only to a degree in linux. The windows emulator: wine will run many but not all windows apps in linux. I do not recommend wine for everyday use though, as it eats up much memory and cycles depeding on what windows programs you are running.

On the other hand there are a handful of decent MSN clients available for linux. They are free implementations of the MSN protocol. Basically the same functionality with a different interface/gui.

As long as you READ THE DOCUMENTATION it is really not that hard to get into linux on a basic level. I suggest Linux Mandrake to new users from the Windows world. I would personally not run Mandrake but it does cater to the newer users better than any other linux distribution.
http://www.linux.com/ http://www.linux.org/ http://www.linux-mandrake.com/ http://www.redhat.com/ http://www.linuxdoc.org/

ummmm can i run xp and linux mandrake or redhat on the same comp without too much hassle?

you can dual boot, i do it. winXP and mandrake 8.2.

but im curious, youre downloading the 3 discs from where? fileshare? what is this? if youre downloading linux from a filesharing program youre a moron, because you can download them from the distributor for free and not have to worry about what some jackass on a filesharing network may have included.

dont forget Tin Foil Hat Linux

i installed mandrake 6.1 yesterday on my system for the very first time.

i had some problems. during the installation both disk druid and fdisk(linux) gave me errors about not being able to recognize the filesystem. turned out that i had to delete all the existing partitions using fdisk(msdos). luckily i was working on a brand new harddrive and had nothing on it.

here are some things you will need to know about your hardware:
- monitor horizontal and vertical refresh rate
- type of monitor (vga, svga, etc.)
- name and model of video card
- video memory
- type of mouse (ps2, serial, etc)
- keyboard type (qwerty, or some other key arrangement)
- if you have any scsi adapters

you will also be asked to use either disk druid or fdisk(linux) to create your partitions. i suggest you use disk druid because of its graphical interface, whereas fdisk(linux) has a text interface. you'll have to create at least two partitions: swap and a principle partition.

after that it will show the list of packages (software) you want to install. if you are using linux for the first time i suggest you go with the items already selected. same thing goes for the services.

after all that is done you will be asked to chose a root password. the installtion may ask you to create another normal user account. i suggest you use this account for your everyday work and for getting used to linux, just so you dont risk changing any system settings that might effect your system in a bad way.

installing linux is not that hard. you just need to have the basic information about your hardware, and should know a bit about disk partitions.

- negative_zero

dude, when i installed 8.2 about a month ago i didnt need to know anything like that. it was all plug and play. easier than installing windows.

i already had an ext2 and a swap drive partitioned out on my drive though, so i just told it what partitions to use.

quote:

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mandrake 6.1

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is over 2 years old. The latest version of mandrake is 9.0 and its all plug and play/hardware detection much like Windows.

quote:

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is over 2 years old. The latest version of mandrake is 9.0 and its all plug and play/hardware detection much like Windows.

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i know. but it was the only linux distro i had in the form of a cd. i know you can download it from the net but i dont have high speed. but its still good, and i wanted to try linux so bad.

by the way right now i am using win98 and its over 4 years old.

- negative_zero

[This message has been edited by negative_zero (edited 12-31-2002).]

ok fellas, im downloading mandrake 9.0 from the mandrake site, there's three iso's but they said something about only needing the first one?

URL? which one are you getting?

ftp://ftp.cise.ufl.edu/pub/mirrors/mandrake/Mandrake/iso/

its a mirror.

You only need to download "Mandrake90-cd1-inst.i586.iso" this is the install cd.
The other two are reccomended to be downloaded.

argh crap!!!! i was like 50% thro the 600meg file. im on a 56k.... anyway i left it downloading with DAP and i left the comp there and went to sleep when i woke up i got a error message and it was bak to 6% waaaa *crys like a baby*

Why not just order it on CD, it saves the hassel of downloading (especially over a 56k) and it means you have the hard copy in a matter of days.

if you're on dial-up, then i suggest heading down to your local newsagent or computer store and picking up one of those PC-World minibooks (they come with a install cd + extra goodies ). they give some tutorials, etc. to teach you the basics to get you started.
but if you have to download it, use something like Gozilla so you can resume incomplete downloads.
concerning the use MSNM on Linux, use aMSN.

http://www.cheaplinux.net/

really, really cheap CDs there.

If I remember correctly, its illegal to sell just Linux. The loophole for most stores is that they are selling the manuals to you and the copy of Linux is free.

As far as I know, it is legal to charge a symbolic fee for the copying, post and for the CD itself etc. Remember that there are CDs for US and for nonUS because of the ban of strong cryptography in the US. So, if you're not in the US, use that version. Also, I would recommend ordering the CDs.

/Rasmus, Denmark

i prefere red hat to mandrake and i laugh at the ppl who download linux of p2p sofware cos u can get it ne where for free

(LFS http://www.linuxfromscratch.org) is a great alternative to most overpackaged distributions. You can make your own distri, pick what packages you wish/need and go.