OK, I'm an XP user ready to cross the threshold, but I would rather have a dual-boot since the classes I am taking are Windows oriented. I am using a Compaq Presario 7000Z with an Athlon 1.2 processor and 80GB. Been looking at Mandrake and Red Hat but not yet sure which to install. Plan on building another computer around Christmas (or sooner) dedicated exclusively to Linux. Until then this is the box I want to experiment on.

So I'm looking for anyone that has been through this and can relate and also any other help or advice that can be given. Starting with opinions of these two OS's.

Once I make a choice I will post my decision and post my progress as I go. I hear that Linux users are the elite and welcome newbies with open arms (as long as they are not fakes). Well, my goal is to build, repair, and support Linux based computers for the home and small office. I do believe that one day Linux will replace Windows in the near future. So I think that tells you I'm in it for the long haul.

If I don't get to say it when I post, I just want you all to know that any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

theCHOSEN1

ok, here we go!!! congrats on chosing linux!

first of all, mandrake and redhat are both very easy to use but have very different feels: depending on your needs, u should make your decison

mandrake is very user-friendly and very easy for those to make the switch from windows to linux: lots and lots of userfriendly (and pretty well-developed) os and hardware tools but my biggest gripe is just its feeling of being a newbie "childish" distro and the fact that it doesn't automatically install many of the libraries needed to install programs; in other words, very easy to learn and use

as for redhat, i definitely love the feel, a very professional feel, but the biggest gripe of most people is it's way of doing things: that is, it does many things similar to the way that m$ does things (most of us here bash windows) both in business ways and software ways (it even has its own add/remove programs utility); other than that, it is a very "cool" distro that has enough advanced features for those who are willing to learn them and decent user tools (but don't depend on them); the only reason i don't use it much is because it doesn't support my sound card


advice: learn about partitions, get good partitioning software (partition magic is the best IMO), do some background reading on the way linux does things; learn some basic commands and u should be set (this is the way i got started with linux)

i started with redhat with a very good footing: if u can, download and read the redhat9 install manual, it has some very good information, especially the appendicies

oh, and some more advice, make sure you have compatible hardware so that u won't have to pull out your hair trying to figure out how to get them to work


and now, make your decision and have fun with linux!

hi

mandrake would probably be a good choice for windows migrants. you have a good start so it should be easy enough. dual boot for sometime and post your questions here. the mandrake website has loads of documentation.

please try going thru the docs or search in google.com/linux before posting a question

many of the people here are very helpful but try experimenting with your linux system and ask your questions here only if you have no idea on what to do

welcome to linux

Either Red Hat or Mandrake are good candidates - I prefer Mandrake though.

The first thing to ensure when setting up a dual boot is that you have got some unpartitioned free space at the end of your drive for Linux.

When youve got that simply set your comp to boot fropm the cd rom drive and put in your 1st RH or Mandrake cd rom and boot

The crucial part of the install is the partitioning section - for starters its easiest to let Linux install itself into the free space automatically - ie you dont want to manualy partition

Also - install either LILO or GRUB to the MBR

Make a boot disk if possible aswell

You can find out further information on Red Hat and Mandrake at Distrowatch.

Click here to go to Distrowatch

Id suggest mandrake... its hella easy to install /w its partitioning tools.. with an 80 gig HD .. if its quite empty youll have plenty of space. I was a noob with windows ME and a 80 gig hd.. one day i got an idea.. download linux! so i downloaded it over the night and in the morning it was finished. If you download it then youll need to make a boot disk with the harddrive image from rawwrite.exe ... if you buy CD then you can try to boot it directly. If it doesnt work then make a boot floppy with the CD image instead of hard drive image and the rest is simple. . . backup all your important data though.. the hard drive tools for mandrake make it simple.. theres just a slider to choose how much space in both partitions... give the linux partition quite some space for the swap memory and downloads... I'd say 1/2+ depending on how much stuff you got on your windows partition. Then after that configure your URPMI database .. and http://plf.zarb.org/~nanardon/urpmiweb.php [easy URPMI ...] go to RPM drake and you can download all the stuff you want and it automatically configures it and stuff.. really great and easy.. then youll probably want to do a mix of downloadings things for your linux/chosing GUIs like kde/gnome or blackbox or enlightenment or fluxbox .... theres lotsa choices but i'd say KDE for noobs then maybe switch to blackbox and dont be afraid to get your hands dirty

OK, from what I'm hearing so far I've decided to go with the Mandrake distro. I will order the CD's from their website and join the club in order to support the development process. I believe in rewarding hard and justifiable work. Are there any special downloads, drivers, patches, programs, or other vital information that I should be aware of? Or maybe some suggested reading material? Not sure how long exactly it will take to be delivered but until then I can prep a little with a good start-up Linux book.

Thanks for the opinions. I will keep the progress reports flowing.

why limit urself to just those 2 distro's.?
http://www.linux.org/dist/index.html

i wud love to try debian (i tried, but had problems installing cos of my nvidia card - but that was a long time ago, b4 i knew anything bout how linux works), ive heard good stuff about "elx linux" too, mainly cos of its ease of use and support for rpm and deb packages.

if ur h/w is supported, it helps a lot - im using redhat right now till i get a good feel, and can install debian.

increase ur options to ... elx/redhat/mandrake/debian/slackware/yoper

just go thro the distros on that list, and select one which u think would be fun to try out.

as for docs online - try this -
http://tldp.org/

hehe - i just saw this yday after 3 months of linux use ... bit late, but i wasnt lookin at much docs till now.

hi

there is nothing too much special. mandrake has some good stuff in it. worth checking out. redhat is popular and debian is for someone who likes to get to the internals of their system.

just hand out in the forums or read the tldp.org or mandrake.org docs. search google for some other questions and in case you are struck just post a message here with the relevant information. good luck

regards
rahul sundaram

also check out the link in my sig for more information on linux.
good luck!

You should also configure your URPMI database once you get linux... its relaly helpful

Thanks for all the advice, I think I'll do a little more research before I commit to one. The only problem is time between school, work, and family. But I'll let you guys know which one I choose.

okay... you are the one!!