just downloaded Gentoo Iso. boots to root. at lest i think its the root. Im not familiar with linux. I can only liken it to a microsoft dos environment. i do not know how to get past this point to desktop environment. anybody out there familiar with 'Gentoo' commands? when it stops loading, the prompt reads, "livecd root #_" I dont know what to type to get me to the desktop.

I think you type startx or startkde . If you get a grey screen and nothing else then hit CTL-ALT-BKSPCE and that should get you back into linux command line mode.

If your a newbie to linux and you have no pressing need to compile your own linux then I suggest you try the Ubuntu or Kubuntu live cds they are much more noobie friendly then Gentoo

thanks!

Gentoo LiveCD is actually used to install Gentoo manually into your system. Definitely not suited for a new user.

I suggest you read the Gentoo handbook at www.gentoo.org before you even think of using it.

I know How to partition drives if thats what you mean. I am just not familiar with linux commands. install Gentoo onto the hard drive is exactly what I want to do! But i will check out that manual you mention. Thank you!

And further to Harishankars comments, the Gentoo CD is not a LiveCD in the sense of "trying out" Linux to see what it might look like.
There are several that fulfil this role - Knoppix is a great offering if you just want to "play" with Linux. The Mepis CD serves (or used to) as a live CD, and allows simple install to disk if you so wish. Ubuntu has separate live and install CD images, which I think is a poor decision by the build team.

My advice - try Knoppix. It has everything, and runs off the CD, so you can't (even accidently) trash your installed system.

Edit: Just saw the later post.
Gentoo isn't a great choice for a first Linux install - but if you are willing to try, you*MUST* read the handbook first. Then re-read it before starting the install.
O.K. - it's not a first install; I'll shutup.

i want to install to the hard drive. This is what im attempting to do! Im not interested in playing with it on the cd. I want to insall it.

I will do that, thank you.

my problem is, I just do not know many commands in Linux. I think Ill grab that manual!!

Yeah, installing Gentoo is more than just partitioning the drive. My suggestion? Print out the handbook and keep it as a handy reference during your installation (which is a step-by-step, command line process. You have to do *all* the work, including compiling a kernel - whether by manually configuring or choosing an autoconfigured one).

Again, I read the manual three times before I could undertstand it. You might do better, but don't hesitate to ask if you have any problems. There are some very knowledgeable Gentoo users on this forum.

THANX! you guys are probably going to get real sick of me! Im not gonna quit until I see a DESKTOP!!

While I've stopped using gentoo for various reasons, I wouldn't say that gentoo isn't a new-user OS. It takes a little getting used to, and usually a source of support, but frankly, if you want to be in control of your system, and really see a difference between windows and linux, and learn how the system works along the way, I think gentoo is a great way to start out.

I'll give you that perhaps suse, or red hat might be more user-friendly, but if they break, there's a much bigger series of steps to fix whatever's gone wrong.

If you know how to use freenode the #gentoo channel is usually stellar.

brief howto:

using the gentoo liveCD, before the chroot, type irssi to start the terminal irc client distributed on the disk

in the irssi window type /connect freenode
once connected (the client'll let you know)
set your nick with /nick nick and then /msg nickserv help to find out how to register it.

then /join #gentoo

begin by asking your questions, usually if youask if you can, may you'll be told no. JUST ASK QUESTIONS. in that channel you'll usually recieve a resonse