[htpw16]

Hello all,

Im thinking on installing Linux on my PC, yet have never used or installed it before. I have 2 Hard drives(drive C: 20GB and drive D: 60 GB). Drive D has Windows XP pro installed on it and I would like to install Linux on Drive C ( the empty 20 Gigs). Ive download 3 versions of Linux and Have burned the isos on CDs and are all ready to go (i have already matched the MD5sums).

1st Version: Slackware 9.1
2nd Version: RedHat 9.0 (Shrike)
3rd Version: Mandrake 9.2

Im drawn between these three and dont know which one to choose. So could you guys please suggest one and aid me on how to install Linux on that empty drive C. Ive been reading many threads and man does linux installation seem tough.

Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks

[hackeriLL]

I installed RH9 it seems to be a good choice. when you install be sure to use the GRUB bootloader and have boot disc's for both windows and Linux. LILO bootloader seems to conflict with windows more often

[twotugs]

If it was me, I'd put the Slackware away for a bit (or at least not start with it), and play with the RedHat and Mandrake. Installation isn't that tough; the default options are pretty common sense, as long as you know which drive to install it on. Play with one for awhile, break some things, then install the other one over it when you're ready to try something else. As far as I can tell, they're both pretty similar; Mandrake seems to install a little quicker.

If you're open to suggestions, I'd recommend trying Knoppix first. It can be run off a CD (without installing), and will give you an idea of what Linux is about. Plus, it has Frozen Bubble!!! (Mandrake has it, too, but I could never get it to work; I had to download & install it manually).

Good luck! Have fun!

[htpw16]

Wow, Knoppix sounds great I finished downloading it and burnt it. But could you explain it a little more or is there not much to it. Just boot from CD with Knoppix in the CD drive and Ill be Linux, boom, just like that. Or is there much more than meets the eye? Which Hard drive will it be accessing or does it not access any hard drives and you simply cant write anything.

Thanks

[twotugs]

Which Hard drive will it be accessing or does it not access any hard drives and you simply cant write anything.

Knoppix can access hard drives (it can read them, anyway), and it can write to them (but you have to change a setting, and I wouldn't do that). You can also save settings in Knoppix to your hard drive (mouse controls, web page bookmarks, etc.), and access them when you boot again later. But you can use Knoppix and not alter a thing on your computer.

If you have a swap file on one of your drives, I believe Knoppix will access it, but won't alter it.

To make the answer simple, if you use it with common sense and a degree of caution, it won't alter a thing on your computer.

You might want to read the FAQs from the KNoppix page:

http://www.knoppix.org/

[htpw16]

Does it take a long time to startup Knoppix from the CD? Just wondering cuz I wanna choose a good time to use it.

[lynch]

Of all the Live-on-CD distributions, Knoppix is the fastest to boot. It detects and configures your hardware very quickly. If you live in the States, I have found that, if you type knoppix lang=us , at the initial boot prompt you get 95% english. It only takes 3-4 minutes on most systems I've tried it on. It's also a great tool for testing the hardware on new builds or just systems that are acting cranky.
Twotugs is correct : it does all he says, but mainly it runs off your system's ram, accessing stuff from the CD when it's called for. You can install Knoppix to your hard drive if you like it enough; it based on Debian.
Just dont expect it to be very fast at loading things. A permanent Linux install is ALOT faster than running Koppix ( or any other Live-on-CD dist. ) from CD/ram.
HTH
lynch

[htpw16]

What are the other Live-on-CD Distributions? Also do any of you know of websites that show, visual images, of the actual installation process of any of the Linux distros? I ve checked the links in your sig lynch, especially the how to install (VERY GOOD), i just wanted to get visually prepared for the installation process.

Also Ive got a faint idea of what a swap file is but not in a good and comfortable way. Could you explain it a little better?

Thanks

[lynch]

You can find a big list of them here.
As far as "visual images" your best bet is to check the homepage of the Linux distro you choose. Mandrake has a good one. Go here and scroll down to the screenshots and click on the picture to enlarge it.
Swap file or swap partition = virtual memory. When more memory is called for than is physically available, the swap file/partition is acsessed and used like ram.
HTH
lynch