First of all, thanks for the informative post. Actually, I already have an
old computer which I'm trying to install Linux on, so hardware is not my
problem, although I never got far enough with an installation to have sound
or be connected to the Internet, nor have I ever gotten a printer to work
.. but that's OK, I just want to learn the basics first so I can control
the system rather than having the system control me. To respond to a few of
your comments:
>Well I am not sure why you assume this? In fact you need nothing on your
>system
>to install Linux. In fact I always load from a clean drive with no
>partitions. Whic means
>No "WINDOWS"! Also most distros will even automatically set this up for you
I assume that because in my Mandrake manual, the section about "creating a
bootdisk" .. which I needed to do because I had wiped out Windows and
couldn't get the computer to boot from the CDROM .. Mandrake instructs me
that "the CDROM contains all the files needed to do so" .. really now?!?
and for "collecting information on your hardware" it instructs me to:
"right-click on the MY Computer icon, .." perhaps I'm missing something,
but I found it very frustrating to be told to use Windows to get the help I
needed. Incidentally, I did eventually get Mandrake installed, only to have
the automatic configuration assume that I want to be looking at a "Windows"
lookalike, only this time I have no clue where to start. Mandrake
documentation is poor for a beginner and I still say there needs to be a
distro for a "real" beginner who wants to learn the "operating system" ..
not more distributions which look like Windows.
>You can have the option of Dual boot and even load some version of LInux
>within Windows.
>Though this is not something I do myself. I have alwasy set aside pieces and
>built a Linux
>box. I do not hassle with Windows or dual boots.
Tried that too, but I couldn't install Windows after I wiped out the hard
drive and installed Linux. So I repartitioned and installed Windows again,
then Linux ..
>Next alot of times when setting up dual boot boxes you have a few things to
>deal with.
>Having shared access to data and some time applications can be a bit rough.
>Not
>always but this is a thing that can happen.
and as you might guess, that did indeed happen to me. By this time I was
totally lost and figured I just wasn't ready yet and better read some more.
Where does it tell me how to get to the "C" prompt from Linux when I have a
dual boot? What is the first thing a new Linux user should learn if they
get past the installation?
Thank you for listening and responding,
Brigitte
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