Hello,
I'm a complete Linux Newbie and I hope my question does not annoy anyone:
I want to install Mandrake 10.0 -I figure that my easiest solution is to create an ISO. While I know that the ISO isn't available yet for Mandrake 10.0 I have heard that there is a way to downloan the "Mandrakelinux 10.0 Official for i586 and higher" (mandrakelinux.com/en/ftp.php3#586) and to convert it to an ISO.
I hope that this is not an illegal/unethical method of getting Mandrake 10 -remember I'm a complete Newbie.
I was hoping that someone could give me step-by-step instructions on how to download then convert " Mandrakelinux 10.0 Official for i586 and higher" to ISO.
I currently have Nero for burning software and am running windows XP Pro (NTFS on both of my drives). I have Partition Magic -do I need to create a Linux partition to install Mandrake -and will it read files from my NTFS partitions?)
Sorry if this has been asked a million times : I actually did do a search -but I'm so completely new to this that I'm usure what threads would apply to me.
Thanks so much for any help you can offer.
Please feel free to offer any 'general' advice to a Linux Newbie that you think appropriate.
Current system details to follow (in case it affects my situation).
-Yours,
522.
522's PC Deets.:
*CPU: --P4 1.8
*MOBO: --MSI MS6558
*CHIPSET:--SiS 645.
*BIOS: --Award Modular v6.00PG
*OS: --WinXPpro sp1 (all critical updates to date)
*MEMORY:--slot 1: 512; --slot 2: 512
*HDD: --C: 60G WDx7200 --M: 80G WDx7200
*VIDEO: --GeForce4 Ti4600
*SOUND: --Creative Audigy Platinum

When you install, make sure you install the developmental packages (you need to do the "advanced or expert install) and kernel-source as you need a non-open source module for full use of your video cards. Install mc if available in the packages.

The Mandrake install will allow you to re-size your NTFS. Search the board for Partition Magic horror stories. Linux can read NTFS but writing on it from Linux is dangerous and can destroy it, so if you want something both Linux and Windows can safely read/write on, make a fat32 filesystem for that.

Preparing to install Linux:
# Choosing a Linux Distribution:
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Linux Distribution
Reasons to Choose or Not Choose Linux
LWN distro list
elinux Linux Distributions
# Freeware tools for partitioning/resizing hard drive partitions:
Any Linux Live CD usually have fdisk, cfdisk and other tools available
Ranish Partition Manager
# Understanding Linux Filesystem layout:
Directory Navigation Help File
Filesystems, Directories, and Devices Help File
Proper Filesystem Layout
Advanced filesystem implementor's guide (requires registration)

Do I buy a boxed source, download off the internet or buy some cheap CDs?
It's your choice! If you decide to download, I suggest that you check the md5sums on the Linux ISO Images and make sure you know how to burn ISOs in Windows to install Linux
# Cheap CDs
AlmostFreeLinux
Discount Linux CDs
Linux Central
Cheapbytes
TuxCDs
ComputerHelperGuy
CheapISO
Os Heaven

# Mandrake links
Mandrake home page
Mandrake Users website
Easy urpmi config for Mandrake
urpmi mini-HOWTO
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Urpmi But Never Dared Asking Before
Maximum RPM
rpmfind
You didn't install the developmental packages? As root, command:
urpmi gcc
An Introduction to the Midnight Commander. You can install it by commanding:
urpmi mc
Midnight Commander home page

Thanks for the reply and the links. I've yet to through all of them but found the "http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html" especially useful(l).
I'm looking forward to going through the rest of them.
Yours,
522.

Amazing! That seems to be the most ignored link (seen in many sigs) on the board.

Thanks for reading it.

if u want to download the ISO u could download the bittorrent at http://supernova.org/

There are four official .iso here.

Many Thanks.
I'm really digging through "fancypiper's" link suggestions right now and finding *tons(tonnes)* of cool info.
I also really appreciate your links, "heema", and "bluewall21" -very helpfull.
Good to find a resource like www.linuxquestions.org to help with my Linux growing pains.
Yours,
522.
(edit: grammatical issue)

Sorry to hijack your thread but... I have the mdk 10 official iso's.

How can I burn them all to a dvd and make it bootable?

I tried extracting all the files to a folder and burning it to dvd but it won't boot.

Thanks in advance

Don't extract and burn what you download (<something>.iso) as a CD IMAGE!.

Yeah I have the 4 cd iso's

Is it possible to merge these into 1 iso so that I can burn it to dvd? Or is there another method?

Thanks

bluewall, that link is blocked by password
I'm really confused about all of this, completely confused! lol
I think I'm just going to have to wait a few weeks for the official release of the ISO and try then.

Yeah, it got PSed. If you want them, get them here. It may be off quite often, however.

Please post if downloading from mirror supplied by me

darn your server is down right now
I will be DLing from you when the server is working

To burn or write ISO images to CDs. In your CD software, select ISO image. Then set the speed. I like to set the speed to the lowest value the CD-R drive has. The reason for this is it makes a near perfect write. Going at the maximum speed of the CD-R drive can go, creates a lot of distortion of the pits and it will not be very reliable when it comes time to install LINUX.

In Partition Magic, all you need to do is make an unformatted partition. LINUX will then take it from there. I suggest backing up before using Partition Magic.

SIS chipsets are worthless piece of junk. SIS is not great supporting their hardware. You are going to have more problems than someone with VIA, Nvidia, or INTEL chipsets.

Try Mandrake 9.2 for now or Knoppix.