Can anyone help me get started with Linux?
 

Hello, I'm really at wit's end here; I've successfully downloaded slackware-12.0-install-d1.torrent, *-d2.torrent, *-d3.torrent, *source-d4.torrent, *source-d5.torrent, *source-d6.torrent to a 20 gigabyte drive (I'm pretty sure that'll be enough space), but I don't know how to decompress the .torrent files, set up the CD-ROMs that will be necessary. I'm looking for a distro that will let me get to the Linux command-line; I've gotten a free Ubuntu disk, but there's no way there I can see to get beyond the GUI of Ubuntu. Like I said, I want to get to the command line, to learn C++, maybe Perl. Any help getting started would be much appreciated!
<philr61@yahoo.com>

You can't get beyond the GUI with Ubuntu? Have you tried pressing Ctrl + Alt + F1? You'll get all the CLI you want. Back to GUI is Alt + F7. And if you need a CLI only system, you need to make sure that you select that option during install.

As for burning any iso, you need to make sure that your burning application burns them AS ISO (also called "burn image" in some of those applications). Don't decompress anything and don't burn them as simple data cds.

Hello,

You do realize ".torrent" files are only meta-information used to help you download what you want from the BitTorrent filesharing-network, right?

If not, it's a last resort. First, it is not totally safe, no matter how they say they try to scrub the files...probably not a huge concern if you are running anti-virus software (though AV software froze FOR A LONG TIME in the middle of the download, while attempting to block the download, before the files even finished downloading). Second, it takes FOREVER for something like this...possibly days. The less people are sharing the files you are seeking, the longer it takes. Most people share music, and how much do you bet that people aren't willing to dedicate their computer upload link to files of that size, anyway? It would have took me 2 days even if it had not froze, going by the way the speeds were changing, even though I followed instructions found on the Internet to optimize.

I think http or ftp downloads are better, whether you will be downloading the CDs or the single DVD. Finding the DVD link is a pain in the but, but it's worth it if you have a DVD burner.

OK, it's a pain in the butt to find (though this makes the third time for me). Here is the page, with the MD5s or ASCs you need to check the integrity, links to ALL install files (CD and DVD), and info:

http://slackware.cs.utah.edu/pub/sla...ware-12.0-iso/

And here is the direct link to the ISO file for the DVD (if you can do a DVD):

http://slackware.cs.utah.edu/pub/sla...nstall-dvd.iso

And here is the MD5 sum direct link (it's just text):
http://slackware.cs.utah.edu/pub/sla...ll-dvd.iso.md5

If you don't have or know how to use "md5sums" for Windows, look it up on the Internet. I am not at my home computer right now. But you need to save it to somewhere easy to type on the Windows command-line, without spaces, to make it easy to use. Like directly under your "C:\" directory is a good place.

(I am inferring you are on Windows right now, trying to install Linux. Am I wrong?)

Download the ISO, run "md5sums" on it (you have to use a particular option, or "flag", to make sure your command-line window doesn't close the second it finishes running), and compare the result to the string of characters in the text file. If they match, the file has not been tampered with nor damaged during download.

If you are doing CDs, you obviously want to check the integrity of each one before you burn it.

Then, hike it on over to the http://www.slackbook.org website for the docs.
I'm assuming you know how to burn an ISO on Windows and have some software. If not, I recommend CDBurnerXP Pro, which is free. Actually, it seems they took off the "Pro" part (probably makes people think of a paid version). Here is the website: http://cdburnerxp.se/
There are lots of free programs that will claim to let you burn ISOs, the trouble is they are really "trial" versions, because they put a limit on the filesize, so you can't burn anything remotely useful with them (like an operating system). However, CDBurnerXP does not have a limit. And it has a helpful user community, even though it is not open-source. Isn't that nice?

download a program called utorrent (google it) for windows.
open the .torrent file with it. it will then start to download.
depending on the torrent you selected (ie DVD or CDs), looks like CDs because you have many torrents. but they will be .iso files. you will then a program like Nero (you can probably dl the trial) to burn the discs.
Very easy so far.
Once you got the cds burnt, insert disc 1 and boot from it (you may have to change the boot settings in the BIOS). if you arent familiar with that i can help
Otherwise boot from disc and the install will continue.
the continue will be a pretty GUI, not text version. and it will help partition your hd to dual boot if you want.
I dont use ubuntu but it cant be much different from opensuse
if you dont like ubuntu try opensuse 10.3. they really got things right.
hope that helps you get on the right track.

might want to try burn4free too if nero is too crazy to deal with. i found it much easier but it lacks all those super options to fully customize things... but it's good for just burning normally

Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal
use "sudo su -" for root access.
Or like jay73 said.

Booting directly into the GUI is irritating me, too (I have to use Red Hat in my UNIX class). I prefer to boot to command-line and type "startx" when I want the GUI.

Look in your Documentation for X Windows, it will tell you which .rc file where the "startx" command was listed by default (I have a bad memory for specifics)...all you have to do is remove that line that says "startx" and you will [edit]not[/edit] be booted to GUI.

you only need the first 2 slackware cds to install it