[Shaun M]

Hi, So I recently decided to try out Linux. I chose xubuntu. I have compaq presario c300 with intel celeron mcpu 420 @ 1.60GHz and 502 MB RAM.

I have tried using the LiveCd with demo mode (with option to install from there) and I tried the install within windows option.

It installs and works. But, the font is extremely large and the menus and windows get cut off the screen.

I googled this, and found out how to get to my user interface and the font was at 9 lol. I moved it to 6 and helped slightly. Ive searched around Linux forums and I'm just to confused right now.

Anyone seen this before? That could help me?

[Shaun M]

what other linux distro would you recomend for me?

[TerryNet]

what other linux distro would you recomend for me?

You haven't given us much (requirements, etc.) to go on, and I'm pretty new to Linux so I have only a little to offer.

As you probably know Kubuntu and Xubuntu are off the Ubuntu base, with different GUIs. I started with Ubuntu and tried Kubuntu because a friend likes the KDE interface. There are aspects of it I liked better than Ubuntu's Gnome, but with what I was trying to do I ran into too many speed bumps and road blocks with Kubuntu--I think it was rushed to release with insufficient developers. Am trying Xubuntu on a memory-challenged old laptop, and am not at all pleased with it.

So, with my limited experience, I suggest that you try Ubuntu.

[Shaun M]

Thank you for your response. I appreciate your time.

Well I have average XP experience and as of yesterday became interested in the linux os after realizing it is pretty solid ( from what ive read ) problem is I don't understand alot of the lingo and instead of taking the time to lookup every term I don't understand I tried to pick one and download it and google problems as I go. It didn't work lol. I work with photoshop cs3 alot. I do my fair share of browsing. But most of all, since I've been laid off, Ive become even more interested in learning how computers work/getting under the hood. I would like to learn about how to use command lines to execute programs without just clicking icons. ( I know xp can do this, but I want to learn a Linux Os.)

I also have an old hp pavilion i got working again. It has windows 98 and that was gonna be my tester for linux but I can't understand any of the install guides or how to use an alternative cd for that matter. Whenever I tried Xubuntu on the HP ( 15GB, 190RAM, Intel celeron 533MHZ - live cd boots in the "demo mode with option to install from there) but runs extremely slow which is when I realized it needed the alternative cd. (even when i tried installin live cd from windows it would tell me the disk was in use by another program while/after it was doing the checksums)

Thats when I tried xubuntu on my notebook and Am having that humungous/magnified issue lol. Would you be able to help guide me thru the Ubuntu then?

[Shaun M]

well actually, I just need help with the partition portion.

Is there a way I can test the alternative version like the live cd to see if i still have that magnified problem before i go partitioning anything?

[TerryNet]

I didn't want to partition, and still don't. Am using Wubi: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...isk/Wubi.shtml

Put the Wubi download and the iso for Ubuntu or Kubuntu or Xubuntu in the same folder. Run Wubi. The Linux is installed as a Windows application. When/if you don't want it, just go into Add/Remove Programs and "poof" it's all gone. This is how I got rid of Kubuntu after testing, and Ubuntu once when I messed it up so badly I could no longer get it to boot.

When you boot (or Restart) the default will be Windows; you'll have about 10 or 15 seconds to hit the down arrow key to select Ubuntu (or K. or X.) to boot it instead. I can see no disadvantage to this way except that you can't do the more complicated partitioning--separate partition for swap file, for data, etc.

Gimp (included in Ubuntu) is the free open source alternative to Photoshop. I played with it a little and it looks extremely powerful; too complicated for this beginner.

I mentioned my unhappiness with Xubuntu on my old laptop--128 meg memory and 400 Mhz CPU. On my todo list is to try Puppy Linux, Damn Small Linux, Gentoo and/or Slackware.