Linux Download

[Xandria]

Caldazar,

I have found that the singularly most difficult part of Linux (in most cases) is getting everything installed, and finding all the drivers for your devices, and getting everything configured to work right.

However, when (for me it\'s usually \'if\' ) you get everything working, Linux is very stable and tends to have very few problems while it is running.  Even if you get an application error, you can usually continue on whereas in Windows you\'d have to wait for a reboot.  In Windows, if your GUI somehow freezes and you can\'t get to \"Task Manager\" to close anything, you\'re pretty much screwed.  Most Linux GUI\'s have a key combination (something like Ctrl+Alt+F1) that will drop you out to a command prompt, where you can \"kill\" the offending app, then switch back to the GUI (or if it got messed up, you can just switch runlevels back and forth to relaunch the GUI, but you still don\'t need to reboot).

[Kramy]

Um...Xandria, that sounds just like my windows. I\'m fed up with the fatal errors, but they don\'t actually do anything except close the offending program, and the only time my windows ever froze was today when I install \"Daemon Tools\". I just got 14 illegal operations from trying different methods of making a .avi file.

If Linux crashes just as much as windows...than that sucks, since I\'ve managed to get my windows to become very \"stable\", by your definition, too....other than annoying program crashes. The last time I had to reboot from an error was over a year and a half ago, and since then I\'ve had hundreds of illegal operations that don\'t bug windows at all.

Maybe the newer windows OS\'s are different. *shrugs*

------------------------------
Xandria, I don\'t have access to a working CD burner. It sucks that Linux companies leave out minor details like instructions(like 1. YOU REQUIRE A CD BURNER), but I guess I should have known ahead of time, since every Linux program I\'ve encountered has been a pain(and so far I\'ve encounter 0 tech support for Linux/Windows programs.....other than these forums ).

Anyway, any tips for an install from DOS?

[lynx_lupo]

Lucky you!

And linux doesn\'t freeze. I know only of one distant in the past report of a red screen. But it\'s true that you have to make things work first...but then it\'s all plain music!

Read these two:
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Loopback-Root-FS.html
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/DOS-Win-to-Linux-HOWTO.html

[kronon]

About that question, if linux can live with a windows neighbour:

I have a linux gateway (a computer that I use so that my local network can get on the internet). It can see windows computers and interact with them. It even untherstands file sharing unther windows (the SAMBA protocol). My computers use my dns server on my server. I also have a laptop that runs on linux. It works great with windows computers.
So in short I can say that linux can live with windows.

Big note: Remeber how long it took for you to untherstand how to use windows. Hold on to that and think about doing that whole process over again. \"Real\" linux looks like does but has other programs (dir = ls = list in linux). There are other program that do thing visual for you, truh. But thats keeps you from learning from learning the real linux in the system and can become realy confusing.

Some distro\'s you can look at:
- mandrake
- suse
- slackware
- gentoo

from easy to more difficult.

I use gentoo btw. Because when you have set things up, it will do every thing for you in 2 command lines (emerge sync
emerge world).

I hope this gives you some answers

[Xandria]

kronon:  I currently have a couple gentoo installs on a few hard drives around here.  It is quite a fun distribution to try, because it basically teaches you about what Linux really is, because you basically have to start from scratch.  I also like the \"emerge\" feature; it makes things so easier than downloading a package, then trying to download all the dependent packages, etc.  However, I think it\'s a bit much for Linux newbies to digest all at once.

lynx_lupo:  Those links look very interesting; as soon as I get thet time to read them I will.  I just read about using Linux from a loopback file, and it all sounded very cool.  Thanks for the links!

[lynx_lupo]

Heh, no problem. Anything for the Liberation of the world from The Tyrant.

And the links are standard package HOW-TOs. Strange you haven\'t noticed them before.

[Kramy]

Hmm...I think I just discovered the difference between linux and windows.

Windows lets you delete important files - crashes are innevitable if you do.

Linux does not let you delete important files - keeps idiots from screwing up their OS.

------------------------------------

Linux is looking more and more like DOS. I don\'t want to learn all that gibberish, I just want a \"Windows\" that doesn\'t crash when I try to save .avi files.

Maybe I should just get windows XP. It\'s supposed to be more stable, and ideal for newer games - plus all the programs I already have will work on it.

-------------------------------------

Could you answer one question for me though?

Is there a reason to switch to Linux if you don\'t want to learn its language? All those HOWTO\'s say \"no\", basically, and I was under the impression it was just more stable than windows, not more like DOS.

[lynx_lupo]

As long as you\'re not root, it\'s near failsafe.

First answer this:have you ran the X server... basically, did you have a graphical interface? If you didn\'t then I understand the whole DOS thing. But do note that you\'ll probably have to learn some of it\'s commands...np, it comes with use...

[Axsyrus]

Originally posted by Kramy
Linux is looking more and more like DOS. I don\'t want to learn all that gibberish, I just want a \"Windows\" that doesn\'t crash when I try to save .avi files.

uhmm.. have you installed Linux already??
i personnaly think X-server looks way better than the crappy win xp gui, but that\'s just my opinion. and you don\'t have to do anything in command-line  mode if you just want to do simple stuff like watching movies etc.

[Kramy]

Every time I read a help file for Linux it makes things even more confusing.

--------------------------------
Installing your linux is simple! Just type the following:

***
60 lines of DOS gibberish
***

And there you have it, it\'s now installed. Now type this to log in:

***
4 lines of DOS gibberish
***

Now you\'ll be in a command prompt.....
--------------------------------

It would be so much nicer if it had instructions like this...

1. Download \"filename1.ext\", \"filename2.ext\", and \"filename3.ext\"
2. Open them in WinRar
3. Extract Files to any location(Ex. F:/Linux
4. Run \"setup.bat\" from dos and follow instructions.


Axsyrus: Make movies, not watch. Does Linux have free movie creation software?

[Xandria]

Kramy, some Linux setups (Suse, I mentioned, is one of them) which has a graphical setup program, and once installed will automatically use the graphical user interface that you choose.

There are several companies/groups trying to make Linux distributions for people like you, who don\'t need/want to learn all the Linux commands you need to use the command-line mode.

However, most of these easy Linux distributions require you to boot from an installation CD, since you can\'t run them from within Windows (none of them that I have found, anyway).  Your lack of a CD burner does make this a difficult problem.  You can buy box copies of Linux distributions for a moderate amount of cash (the Suse 9.0 personal edition is $40, but I believe that also enables you to call their tech support line for no extra cost); but it\'s sure a lot cheaper than the >$150 you\'ll pay for WinXP.  You could also as a friend with a good connection and CD burner to make you the first couple discs.


Axsyrus: X-server isn\'t a GUI; it\'s more of the basic framework for the GUI (I\'m not really sure how to describe it, exactly).  The GUI in Linux is commonly referred to as the \"Window Manager.\"  The earliest (and most simple) ones are twm, xdm, and so on.  Most people use the newer ones (which I agree, are very nice looking) such as Gnome or KDE.

EDIT: I also found this link while browsing Suse\'s website:

http://www.suse.com/us/private/products/suse_linux/i386/10_reasons.html

Just for those people who were asking what some of the advantages/features of Linux are

[Kramy]

Xandria, that was very helpful! Thanks for finding that for me. Now the only problem is getting it burned on a CD. I think I have a solution though.

a) download Suse Linux - shouldn\'t take long
b) Use USB to transfer downloaded files to friend\'s laptop
c) Use USB to transfer from laptop to friend\'s comp which has a CD Burner.

Too bad Cable is so slow around here, or my friend could download it himself.

[Rageburst]

I\'m not entirely sure getting a user-friendly unix OS is in your best interests. It might even hurt you in the long run.

I recommend getting Fedora. It\'s sponsored by Red Hat, and has automatic updates (Red Hat needs you to create an account and all that crap). After that, it\'s a matter of reading HOW-TOS and perhaps a book.

To script your firewall, go to netfilter.com and read read read. Once you\'ve caught on to the stuff, you\'ll probably really appreciate linux and all its free software.

I ban Dot net and other Microsoft products in favor of everything free. Did you know that I recently had to re-install windows, which wiped out my linux partition because it\'s dumb bootloader doesn\'t recognize it?

Anyway, when you really get going in linux, everything will become more fun. Did I say Microsoft sucks?

[Rageburst]

Originally posted by Kramy
Hmm...I think I just discovered the difference between linux and windows.

Windows lets you delete important files - crashes are innevitable if you do.

Linux does not let you delete important files - keeps idiots from screwing up their OS.

------------------------------------

Linux is looking more and more like DOS. I don\'t want to learn all that gibberish, I just want a \"Windows\" that doesn\'t crash when I try to save .avi files.

Maybe I should just get windows XP. It\'s supposed to be more stable, and ideal for newer games - plus all the programs I already have will work on it.

-------------------------------------

Could you answer one question for me though?

Is there a reason to switch to Linux if you don\'t want to learn its language? All those HOWTO\'s say \"no\", basically, and I was under the impression it was just more stable than windows, not more like DOS.

The difference btw linux and windows is this:
Linux: Everything is FREE... even saves millions with its opensource softwares!! Has killer apps like apache2 server. Scriptable firewall that\'ll actually hide your comp all the way.

Windows: not free. Full of annoying bugs. Copyright issues changing all the time messes up programs I own. Crashes more often than linux.... On the other hand, windows is a common platform for games... the few reasons people still use it. ZoneAlarm firewall (among other products) is inferior... doesn\'t hide you all the way.

[Kramy]

So what you\'re saying is that I should install a better windows BEFORE I install linux, or it could get messed up?

Windows is also the ideal newbie designer platform, since it has loads of not-so-great stuff that\'s free.

I\'m looking into SUSE, but first I want a new HD. All of mine are almost full, and there doesn\'t seem to be a point installing Linux if I don\'t have any apps for it.

Rageburst: Technically Windows is free(almost) if you get an old copy.

Windows 95 - 9.95
Windows 98 - 19.95
Windows ME - 29.95

Usually they can be found in the bargain bin at places like staples.