Guys,
I’m looking for an install Linux for dummies. Do you guys have any good sites that would walk me through installing Linux on a PC? TIA
nikoshepherd found these a while back…
http://www4.tomshardware.com/howto/20040329/index.html
http://www4.tomshardware.com/howto/20040412/index.html
For a first time distro, i would recommend Mandrake
how come your into linux now greg?
http://www.northernjourney.com/opensource/newbies/
and my favorite linux forum
http://www.linuxforums.org/
or just some question here
Best guidance I can offer you is, be prepared to blow your install away and redo about 3-5 times a week. Try all the distros you can find. You’ll learn a LOT and improve your skills.
It’s more fun if you have a working OS you can fall back on for email and web questions that kind of thing.
Vergil is right about Mandrake, excellent first distro.
Fedora Core 3 has just been released.
Ubuntu is very simple and smooth.
Yoper is fairly easy after you get past setting up your drive.
Check out: www.distrowatch.com
Have fun.
Jim in TN.
The best way to learn linux is to just do it. I have been totally Microsoft free for 3 years now and lovin it. My first distro was Mandrake. I still agree that it is probably the best “first” installation to attempt. My weather box is a dedicated PIII 550 with 256M ram, Nvidia GEForce2 video card. Nothing fancy, just sits and runs WeatherDisplay and apache web server.
there is a mountain of information regarding installation and use of linux on the web. A quick google for linux and newbie should provide you with a wealth of info.
If you are unsure if your hardware is supported, try one of the bootable CD distrbutions, such as Knoppix. Burn a cd and boot. Older boxes may run slowly, but you can see if your hardware functions without a lot of tweaking.
Bill
Welcome to the world of Unix…
First, Linux is not for everyone. It has somewhat of a learning curve, especially if it is your only box and you have to have it running in order to get the Internet to get more information. If possible, setup Linux on a different box so you can do both until you are very comfortable with it. Just like many software packages and systems, sometimes it turns out not to be your cup of tea… but you won’t know if you don’t try.
I’m kinda of a non-Linux Unix type of guy. I deal with big iron boxes and most of them are not Linux based, but Linux can be fun to setup and learn… so go for it.
As for doing every thing with one type of platform… I use the right platform for the right task (my own opinion on what is right of course) and I still do 99.9% of my browsing with a WinXP box and don’t play dual boot at all. I get a chuckle sometimes at the lengths that some will go to be only in one camp or the other when from my point of view, they all belong. You have to watch out for those Apple types though Nah they have a place too.
As to not dual booting… Many can’t afford to have multiple boxes due to cost, space, energy or in my case HEAT in the office but if you can, you most likley will have an easier time learning if you have a solid working Internet platform while you are learning how to setup and use Linux. Your frustration level might be a lot less to if you can quit for a while and still get what ever type of work you need to get done, done. It does not take a real powerful box to get a good taste of Linux You can always get better hardware later…
There are tons of Linux support sites though and I’m sure there are a few here that can answer WD related Linux questions.
They say even your Grandmother can do it… well Knoppix maybe…
Thanks guys for all the information. I need to set up Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS for a project at work. So I’m off to learn. Thanks again.
Greg
especially if it is your only box and you have to have it running in order to get the Internet to get more information. If possible, setup Linux on a different box so you can do both until you are very comfortable with it.very true. it is not fun trying to get your x server to work when that is the only computer you have. lynx gettings annoying fast :roll:
I'm kinda of a non-Linux Unix type of guy. I deal with big iron boxes and most of them are not Linux based, but Linux can be fun to setup and learn... so go for it.how much is SCO currently charging for unix? To much for me, that is for sure :P
You have to watch out for those Apple types though:lol:
Best guidance I can offer you is, be prepared to blow your install away and redo about 3-5 times a week.very true. This week I had to reinstall debian, when I accidentaly downloaded the wrong kernel, and ended up with a mixed system (testing and unstable), and then ending up removing gnome while using it :oops:
Actually, funny you should say that, but I do support 4 SCO boxes still. All used by Disability related Non-profits. Very old stuff though. Each of those sites has Sun and/or Linux boxes now for their web and mail servers. The SCO boxes are used internally only for disability related stuff. I still have a SCO box here in my home office, but it is turned off.
At work it is primarily Solaris, AIX and and some HP/UX. We killed off all of the Sequent Pty/Dynex boxes about 6 months ago. There is also a number of AS400’s but that is not Unix (neither is AIX but it looks like it).
actually, the SCO comment was not as much as a joke as it seemed.
all the sudden, i have and urge to download Solaris 9 http://wwws.sun.com/software/solaris/binaries/get_x86_dl.html 8O
We just had a large Sun tech thing at work the other day and got to play with and ask a bunch of questions about Solaris 10.
Both the Sparc and x86 versions. Despite my previously very negative impression of previous x86 versions of Solaris, this version was very quick and I was very suprised with the number of different hardware types it was working on.
If you want to play, I would get that instead. You can get a free version via download from the sun site and from what I can see it is a very solid product.
http://wwws.sun.com/software/solaris/solaris-express/get.html
I was so impressed, I put several Linux porting projects on hold today pending more info from sun and a chance to play with some hardware they are going to throw our way.
This is straying from the topic at hand though… if you have question about this… PM me.
Solais 10 BTW has native Linux binary compatibity built in it.