[Boo_Compaq]

I will be installing Slackware 9.1 on a brand new Maxtor 80GB SATA drive, and im wondering if that is even possible. Slack 9.1 uses the 2.4.22 kernel, and from some people, I hear it wont work, from others, I hear it will have some problems. If I cant install it on the SATA drive, then what could i do? I hear 2.6 isnt great, and that 2.4 is the better choice, but I do need the sata support.

Thanks

[I Fix 4 U]

Either you are going to have to load the SATA drivers at startup OR use a bootdisk e.g. floppy with the drivers on them to boot the kernel and then the OS. Used to be this way with SCSI

[tsunam]

or you could upgrade the kernel to a 2.6.X and boot that way...with it in there.

[I Fix 4 U]

if i could stick with 2.4 i'd stick with it, problems in both, 2.6 has worse ones.

[tsunam]

I've not had an problems with a 2.6 kernel since 2.6.1. Typically a kernel update will solve problems you have. I believe the main problem is that based on bios the sata drive takes precidence (unless both of yours are then whoever is primary, so you should need to put the MBR loader (grub or lilo) that should take care of some of the problems.

Secondary I've yet to have any problems with the 2.6 kernel. The difference between the 2.4 and 2.6 come down to a basis of new tested features and some that are only partially working (reisfs4 support currently is only partially working). Obiviously the 2.4 is rock hard stable, so its good if you have some legacy devices that are critical and you have to have to keep up... as long as you patch fixes to the kernel version you use...or update to the latest 2.4, that contain fixes to security holes.

[I Fix 4 U]

i'm lookin for stability you say that i should update to 2.4.x (latest) and install any needed patches? I'm also looking how to fix my mouse in 2.4 systems could someone help me (GO TO UBER MOUSE PROBLEMS THREAD).

[Whiteskin]

2.6 works fine for me. *shrug* I think the biggest problem with 2.6 for many people is that they can't get over the fact that there were underlying architecture changes. To them, that doesn't make sense. Devfs is depreciated on 2.6.x, which has a lot of people up in arms. Actually, I'm about ready to switch over to udev... seeing as how gentoo has a handy little guide prepared. http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/udev-guide.xml

[I Fix 4 U]

I don't know if i can handle the gentoo thing right now, so i'm using pre-setup system called Gentoo Navyn OS to mess with gentoo.