My Compaq Evo N800E wont read a Jacklab 1.0 DVD that I got from CheepLinux (they sent me 3 DVDs in total). He says that he got it to boot on an old dektop PC. My Toshiba sattelite wont read it either. Anyone had similar probs? Do I need to install Suse 10.** first? I may give up and try something else. I have a live Dyne:Bolic CD which runs (most of the time) on the Compaq although that can hang sometimes when booting. I have succesfully got the Synthesiser to work on that in conjunction with my Midi Keyboard. Maybe I need a new DVD drive! Does anyone have any ideas about other distros which support Rosegarden etc well and are easy to install?
Thanks for helping in advance.
Denzelthegnome

It's a bummer that your dvd drive is giving you fits. Jacklab is a good distro for audio work. Some other options:

1. Install opensuse and enable the packman repos. Most of the audio software is maintained by packman anyway, and they keep current versions of the software. OpenSuse also has a rt kernel in the standard opensuse repos.

2. Install ubuntustudio. The downside is that ubuntu studio doesn't keep up with current releases of audio software. http://ubuntustudio.org/

3. Install fedora and install the planet ccrma repos. http://ccrma.stanford.edu/planetccrma/software/

Hi Petespin,
Thanks for that good advice! I got a free version of Ubuntu (OPEN GEU) which came with a magazine and I got that to run on the CompaQ live from the disc, so I installed to HD - it runs v. well so I know it can happen! So I have emailed the guy at CheepLinux to see if he will take back Jacklab 1.0 and let me P/X it for Suse 10.**. Is it very easy to install the relevant packages? I guess after installing you the repos on Suse you end up with something v similar to JackLab? One of these days when I'm not so busy making a living I will have to get some training on 'proper' linux - how to use command lines etc. instead of just bumbling around like I do! Thanks once again. Denzelthegnome.

If you have ubuntu running, look for ubuntustudio-audio and ubuntustudio-plugins in synaptic (package manager). That will pull in a rt kernel, plus a bunch of audio programs and plugins. Here is the full list. This can get you going for now.

If you install OpenSuse, you can enable the packman repo and install the programs graphically from yast. Essentially, you can have Jacklab. The nice thing about the jacklab CD is that you can run the install, get a cup of coffee and then have a full audio workstation up and going.

Thanks again for that I will get sorted now for sure!
All the best.