Ok I'm convinced, what next?

[saddlemagic]

I have gone around and around in my computer and have decided the base problem lies in Windows. I'm ready to convert this thing to a Linux OS, what do I do first?

This thing is a Pentium MMX, 233mHz, 96 meg RAM, 3 hard drives; 3gb, 4.3gb, 10.1gb each about half full. 32x CD-ROM, 56k modem, 1.44 Floppy, integrated video & 16 bit sound of some sort. The box was put together five years ago.

It's primary purpose is surfing the Internet, I like the Opera browser. Followed by processing digital photographs, IrfanView is my favorite graphics viewer/manipulator. And word processing, Corel suite 8, I only use the word processor. If this Ol'puter stays functional I will be happy with it for another five years, my only wish list item is a CD-RW.

I used to be a "PC Field Service Engineer" in the first half of the '90s, back when the 486-66 was the hottest processor out there and Win95 was called Chicago and only existed in dreams (nightmares?) I resigned my job the end of '94 and took up making saddles for a living. So, I do have some background in PC's, I did build and maintain my own but, I have no clue in the Linux world. Although I do learn fast.

Can anyone give me a hint as to what direction to go in? Funds are limited, Saddlers don't make lots of money and the birds eat most of that.

[Calum]

first step is: get a copy of linux. preferably on a CD. then stick it in yr drive and boot from it, following the easy onscreen prompts. get one from http://linuxiso.org if you have broadband or buy one mail order from a cheap mail order company such as www.yourlinux.co.uk (which is an English one, you need to find one in your country) and welcome to the bazaar!

[KernelPanic]

Yeah Calum has got it really. Unless you are a complete retard (which you are not) then you can learn linux. Mandrake is nice to start off with and SuSe make a version that you can use straight off the CD and it does not even touch you HDD(s). Never used it (SuSe Live) btu it could be good to give you an idea of the way things work before you install to HD. A comprehensive book helps but there a hordes of resources on the net and of course the  Linux/UNIX forums right here.

Just go ahead, teach youself with some on-line guidance. Be like a child explore, fall over, get up again, and then don't fall the next time.

[ July 16, 2002: Message edited by: Tux ]

[shuiend]

Suse live is really good for someone who wants to see how linux is. It adds about 100 megs of files to your HD if it can read it. As long as it is not ntfs it is fine. But it is kinda slow becauswe it runs entirely off the cd but it is useful to teach people about linux. and it comes with a ton of apps ready to use

[Master of Reality]

I think diving straight into Linux would be a semi-good idea. YOu will learn faster if it means that your computer is useless if you cant get it to work  

[saddlemagic]

I am typically not one to half-step. You know that saying, "Out of the frying pan, into the fire." Most often I skip the pan completely and just dive straight for the fire.

My angst revolves around, will I still be able to access the Internet through my current ISP? Will the data on my D: and E: drives be usable through Linux? Will my data get trashed? And, how long till I have my computer functional again?

As far as programs go I'm sure I'll find all the low cost/no cost apps that I can shake a stick at.

I have located a number of on-line dealers selling open scource CD's. Is there any flavor of Linux I should look for or avoid? Best I can figure the distribution CD's will cost as much as $20 with shipping and I'm up it the air as to which flavor would make less of a mess.

This upgrade will really stick me between two worlds. For my business I have a 100 mHz Pentium machine running Windows 3.1. I use maybe a dozen programs on it that run in DOS or Windows. I spent many hours building some custom forms and documents on that machine and they would take forever to tweek back into shape if I imported them to new programs. I know because I tried. So I just kept it like it was and I'm most happy with it. On that computer I can be word processing within thirty seconds of hitting the power switch. On this Win95 box I'm waiting on Windows for almost a minute and a half before I can even open a program.

I like my old DOS/Win3.1 machine, it does it's job well and never needs upgraded.

[rtgwbmsr]

quote:My angst revolves around, will I still be able to access the Internet through my current ISP?

Yes, most Linux installers (Definately Mandrake & Red Hat) auto-detect your internet connection. If it needs anything, you will be asked for it during the install process.

 

quote:
 Will the data on my D: and E: drives be usable through Linux?

Yes, in every way, shape and form.

 

quote:
Will my data get trashed?

No, not unless you reformat. Read every dialog box If it says "all data on hda1 will be erased" DO NOT click OK if you want to keep your data (Assuming Windows is already installed, hda1 will be your Windows partition). If you want really specific info, ask one of the Bobs. I'm not gteat when it comes to drives.

 

quote:
And, how long till I have my computer functional again?

The installation process takes about 20 mins.

Oh yeah. Stay away from Red Hat. It's great, but not for people who are new to Linux. You need to know terminal command to effectively use that OS.  

-Dustin

[ July 16, 2002: Message edited by: Dustin ]

[choasmaster]

better yet, go and buy a 50 dollar book, like the redhat 7.0 bible. its great. or move next to a solarise admin, that really helped my journay to unix./*i really like bsd*/

[choasmaster]

what i mean about the solarise admin, is find people who now what they doing, like a few people on this board, most notable voidmain. its easyeir that way

[choasmaster]

o and for wordprocessing, on the linux or win9x system, i would recommend OpenOffice.org's solultion

[saddlemagic]

A couple questions.

If given a choice between Mandrake or Red Hat, which would you choose?

What's the story with Debian GNU/Linux "Potato"?

[rtgwbmsr]

quote:Originally posted by Saddle Magic:
If given a choice between Mandrake or Red Hat, which would you choose?

I would choose Mandrake. It's much easier to use and configure if you don't know command-line commands.

[creedon]

Your machine sounds almost exactly like the first one I got Linux running on; I had more RAM, but I only had 2 HD's.  My reccomendation would be a dual- (multi-) boot system.  No offence, but if you jump into Linux, you'll be lost.  It isn't Windows, and it takes time to learn, give yourself some time to get your feet under you before you take the big plunge.  Having a secong OS on your box can save your butt when you make that inevitable mistake and Linux saya "Thats it!! I'm outta here!!"  It happened to me a LOT when I started, but I'm running Debian Woody now and I'm comfortable with it.

As far as how to get Linux, you CAN D/L most distros off the internet, but it can take a LONG time.  Check out e-bay; there's a fairly good selection of distros available, and you can usually find a fairly recent version of your chosen distro in a 3-CD boxed set for less than $20.00.

[saddlemagic]

Thank you, I have looked on eBay and checked around some of the various Internet sites selling different distros. By and large $15 should cover most any flavor, including the shipping cost. I am using dial-up Internet access, downloading would take forever.

I still want to read a bit more first but, with any luck by the time August rolls around one way or another some flavor of Linux will be running on my machine.

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by Saddle Magic:
Thank you, I have looked on eBay and checked around some of the various Internet sites selling different distros. By and large $15 should cover most any flavor, including the shipping cost. I am using dial-up Internet access, downloading would take forever.

I still want to read a bit more first but, with any luck by the time August rolls around one way or another some flavor of Linux will be running on my machine.

VERY cool!  It'll go a lot faster than you imagine, you'll be as confused as I am in no time flat! >JOKE<