----------------------------------- josh Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:06 pm Moving to Linux ----------------------------------- Within the next month I will be buying a new HD, to go with my 80GB on ethat is currently in my PC. When I do this I want to install linux on the new HD ( and still have room on it for windows programs and keep my windows on the C drive). My c Drive already has a partitoin (it is an HP computer) labeled as the D drive that contains system recovery info. I wanted to know which distro you recomend to try first, preferably one that is simple to install and one that will not rewrite my windows install. Also how big of a partitoin would I need on the new drive to to run linux and all the linux apps (a linux only partitoin) thanx ----------------------------------- Martin Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:18 pm ----------------------------------- As for simple to install: go with SUSE, Mandrake, Fedora, Ubuntu or Knoppix. Just because they are easy to install doesn't make them 'bad' versions of linux. If you are in for a bit of a challenge, a debian install can be very satisfying. I've personally used Mandrake, Knoppix and Fedora. One problem you will have with Fedora is that, by default, you have no mp3 support (but this can be added relatively easily). Right now, I am using a 64 bit version of Gentoo. ----------------------------------- josh Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:21 pm ----------------------------------- I just finished looking at your instructions for installing the kantoxi linux. It looks good, but how would you install it so it is a dual boot system? ----------------------------------- Martin Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:31 pm ----------------------------------- I dual boot Windows XP Pro and Gentoo 2004.3 Here's what I did: 1. Install Linux, leaving however much space you want for your windows install. 2. Make a bootable Linux CD (for gentoo, I just used my install CD) 3. Install Windows, making sure you install it on the correct partition. 4. Boot back into Linux, and reinstall grub/lilo. 5. Edit the grub.conf so it boots to both Linux (usually hda3) and Windows (usually hda4) ----------------------------------- josh Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:32 pm ----------------------------------- is there a way to o it so that I don't have to unistall my windows already (if I am installing linux as the first thing on a brand new HD) ----------------------------------- Martin Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:35 pm ----------------------------------- You see, linux is very different from Windows. First off, it doesn't use the lettered drives system: instead, / is the base of your system. Usually, a linux install requires 3 partitions: your boot partition, which is under 100mb and tells the computer to load the OS, your swap partition: this is where your swap file is, and should be equal in size to twice the ammount of ram that you have. Why windows doesn't use it's own partition for the swap file is anybody's guess, and finally your root partition, which is where everything goes. I have my 60 gig drive set as follows: 100mb boot 1024mb swap 41gb root 17gb windows. ----------------------------------- Martin Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:37 pm ----------------------------------- If you're installing it to a brand new hard drive, you shouldn't have any problem getting it to work. You'll boot to your linux hard drive, and then it'll tell it to boot to either the Windows HD or the Linux one. Seperate hard drives is the easiest way to do it. Just be careful that you don't overwrite your Windows partitions. ----------------------------------- Mazer Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:25 pm ----------------------------------- Just curious, what goes on in the boot partition that requires 100mb? ----------------------------------- Martin Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:27 pm ----------------------------------- Your bootloader, I would imagine. ----------------------------------- Mazer Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:32 pm ----------------------------------- That would've been my first guess, but I couldn't see how it would take up so much space. I'll just classify that as "black magic" and stop worrying. ----------------------------------- Martin Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:36 pm ----------------------------------- It doesn't take 100mb, I just have no idea how much it actually takes, so I figure that 100mb will be more than enough. ----------------------------------- Mazer Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:39 pm ----------------------------------- Oh. I thought I'd just let the installer decide. But I guess now I'll have to look into that (thinking Debian for my next distro). ----------------------------------- md Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:33 pm ----------------------------------- is there a way to o it so that I don't have to unistall my windows already (if I am installing linux as the first thing on a brand new HD) You probably have to resize your windows partition (partition magic is awsome) so that you can create a boot partition on your first drive, but other than that it's failr strait forward. 1. resize windows 2. install linux 3. setup grub/lilo to boot both The gentoo instalation manual is very strait forward and gives lots of help (if you decide to use gentoo...) Just curious, what goes on in the boot partition that requires 100mb? The boot partition really doesn't need to be 100mb, but it's nice to have ti big enough to store a few different kernels, say one that will boot no matter what, one optimized for your current config, and maybe a dev kernel that's too unstable for reguar use. ----------------------------------- Martin Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:35 pm ----------------------------------- Not that you'd know though, seeing as you use windows excusively :p ----------------------------------- josh Sun Dec 19, 2004 5:19 pm ----------------------------------- well I have a PC in my bvasement that is ap iece of **** and my dad said that if I wanted I could install linux on that, one. it is running windows 98. I think I will test it out on that one just in case I end up messing it up. When I do it on my PC, how do I change it to boot from D??? In the BIos I am guessing right, but do I do it before or after I install the linux distro. ----------------------------------- Martin Sun Dec 19, 2004 5:23 pm ----------------------------------- No, not in your bios. You run fdisk, and set your boot partition to become bootable after you install windows, and then you reinstall your bootloader. ----------------------------------- zomg Sun Dec 19, 2004 6:32 pm ----------------------------------- okay im sick of windows!!! :evil: :evil: where can i get a version of linux that is 64 bit and which one would u recomend for my computer? specs: athlon 64 3000+ 256 mb ddr 400 ram 80gb sata harddrive 64 mb crappy grapics card (nvidia) anyway thx ----------------------------------- md Sun Dec 19, 2004 6:42 pm ----------------------------------- Not that you'd know though, seeing as you use windows excusively :pHey! I use managed to live with linux for a whole 2 months once! The major problem I have with it is that I can't play BF: 1842 or BF:V very easily. Besides we all know who really got linux working on your comp :P shadow master, I would recomend going with gentoo if your a quick learner, it's a little harder to get running then say fedora, but I find it to be a lot more customizable (plus portage is inginious!). If you feel less confidant in your abilities go for one of the pre-build distros, such as fedora. ----------------------------------- Linux Sun Dec 19, 2004 7:07 pm ----------------------------------- could ya give me a link or something to download it fro mcuz i got an althlon64 too :) ----------------------------------- md Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:53 pm ----------------------------------- Gentoo install guide: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml Just read through it and it will tell you everything you need to do (dunno about x86_64 tho, you should do a google for 'gentoo amd64' probably... ----------------------------------- wtd Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:57 pm ----------------------------------- A note: Linuxdistributions like Ubuntu, Knoppix, Mepis, Xandros, etc. are to varying degrees based on Debian, so if you want to do a "Debian install", you can do it via one of these, generally. I personally wholeheartedly recommend Ubuntu. It's on a single CD, and then you can use Synaptic to get the software you actually want on top of the base, which is already fairly comprehensive. ----------------------------------- josh Sun Dec 19, 2004 11:47 pm ----------------------------------- wow guys way to jack this thread :? I noticed you talked about Ubantu before WTD, and I think I may give that a trie. ----------------------------------- wtd Sun Dec 19, 2004 11:57 pm ----------------------------------- Best of luck. Latest Ubuntu love story. I had something go runaway memory leak on me last night... did a hard reboot. With previous Linux distros, this pretty much trashed the system, so I wasn't optimistic about the restart, but I did it anyway, and everything was fine. That deserves a big "wOOt!" ----------------------------------- josh Mon Dec 20, 2004 12:02 am ----------------------------------- I feel dumb asking this, but I am still quite in the dark as to what i have to do to install it (me = an idiot), couls someone maybe, in one post, just tell me step by step what I need to do when I install my new HD ( shoudl be getting it soon, waiting for a good deal). I dont' want to delete the windows that i have on it already. thanx ----------------------------------- wtd Mon Dec 20, 2004 12:19 am ----------------------------------- I feel dumb asking this, but I am still quite in the dark as to what i have to do to install it (me = an idiot), couls someone maybe, in one post, just tell me step by step what I need to do when I install my new HD ( shoudl be getting it soon, waiting for a good deal). I dont' want to delete the windows that i have on it already. thanx Well, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. To start the installation, you insert the install CD and restart your computer. Assuming the BIOS is set to check the CD drive for an OS before the hard drive (99.99% of the time this is the case), this'll go smoothly. You'll then go through either a graphical installer, or a text-based installer. The Debian installer is text-based, but it's a piece of cake to use. As for not affecting your Windows drive/partition, it should simply be a matter of telling the installer not to partition that drive. For more information, I'd ask questions at the distribution's site. http://www.ubuntuforums.org The above is a great resource for asking Ubuntu questions, and the ones you'll have have probably already been asked. Look for FAQs, but don't be afraid to ask. They're quite friendly. :) ----------------------------------- josh Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:03 am ----------------------------------- thanks I will definantly check that out. ----------------------------------- Cervantes Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:16 am ----------------------------------- If you're planning on getting Ubuntu shipped to you, rhystic light, don't expect it to arrive by the end of the holidays. It takes a while :? *prays for my version to come before the end of the holidays* ----------------------------------- josh Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:18 am ----------------------------------- I was planning on finding it for download. I htough you can download it and then burn it as an iso. :? ----------------------------------- wtd Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:18 pm ----------------------------------- I was planning on finding it for download. I htough you can download it and then burn it as an iso. :? Yes, you can. ----------------------------------- Hikaru79 Mon Dec 20, 2004 1:39 pm ----------------------------------- Just wanted to add my vote for Ubuntu =) I've been using it exclusively for about two months now. w00t, w00t. You won't have any problems running the installer. The biggest tip I can give you, though, is after installing Ubuntu, go through these steps to "optimize" your installation: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=3713 http://ubuntuguide.org/index.html Both of those are excellent. Especially for you, since you're using an NVidia graphics card, which needs to have it's drivers installed seperatly. Instruction for how to do that are featured in BOTH those documents. It should be a breeze, with Ubuntu, to get a powerful Linux system in hours :D Good luck! Feel free to add me to any of the IM protcols I have listed if you have any other questions, concerns, or if you need some more encouragement ;) ----------------------------------- josh Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:51 pm ----------------------------------- actually I am not using an Nvidia graphics card. I bought a radeoin 9800 PRO a while ago and I use that now. Thanx for hte offer of help though, I will keep that in mind when i do it. ----------------------------------- Hikaru79 Mon Dec 20, 2004 5:43 pm ----------------------------------- actually I am not using an Nvidia graphics card. I bought a radeoin 9800 PRO a while ago and I use that now. Thanx for hte offer of help though, I will keep that in mind when i do it. Radeon? Coincidentally, ATI cards are ALSO explained in the links I posted :) So you still win. ----------------------------------- josh Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:12 am ----------------------------------- I know, I found that out after I posted.