Hi, I am incredibly new to Linux. I've been using MSDOS and Windows since MSDOS 5 and Windows 3.0 and I am fairly good with computer (I'd like to think).

Anyway I bought a new desktop and my old one had nowhere to go, so I plugged it into my TV via the graphics card TV out and use it for watching movies on the big TV.

Anyway I know all about Linux and its success over windows in stability etc, so I thought why not try it!

Anyway I was recommended Slackware, so I downloaded it and burnt the CD's and thought I was ready to go. I installed it following a walkthrough I googled and all was well. I got the mouse wheel working too.

Anyways there is a LOT of programs that I installed by using the defaults. I wanted a minimal instal, something that ran a GUI and movies/music, and that supported my graphics card's TV out. I also need it to access the internet and my home wired network.

SO I thought I would try and be smart and remove some things I didnt think I needed. And there was my trouble. I've reinstalled 4 times today (its really fast!) and I have called it quits for tonight.

Finally, my question: What can I safely NOT install from each of the software sets ( slackware.com/install/softwaresets.php )? Once again, I need networking, graphics card drivers, and not much else.

I would really appriciate the help, and sorry for waffling on.

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Just select the x-user distribution set and then , after the install get your favorite wm. And, one more thing: good to see another person moving to linux. Just don't be afraid, be persistent and have no fear of questions.
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Edit: OH CRAP. I just babbled about the BSD installer. I'll leave it here though. Someone might notice. Just take the newbie mode, and read the descriptions. Say no to any package you do not need.

Newbie mode. Now there is something I have not tried. The walkthrough I read said it was tedious... I'll try that in the morning. I'm just off to bed now. Thank you for the quick reply.

I just wanted to add also, I dont want to just set this up and run it, I am interested with learning the workings of it later down the line, so thats why I went with slackware, I heard it was good to learn on.

Good thinking! Keep it up! Newbie mode is the long way, tho. You can also take the expert mode, but in your case newbie will be the best, as there are descriptions there and you don't have to know all the needed software by name... Keep up the way of thinking! Remember: the first 10 days will be tough, but I'm impressed that someone new tries a real distro, not say this sh!tty Mandrake or The D4mned FC4.

Yessir, if you want to know what's going on under the hood, it is.
Remember, tho: you will need to leanr the commands, layout, graphical environment the _forced way_. I learned that this way too, so no fear. As I said, ask when you need. I'm a slackware user, so if you have a question you are afraid/do not want to ask on LQ, mail me at binjajer_at_gmail.com

You may want to exclude E, KDEI, T, TCL, Y. Obviously, GNOME is no longer there since 10.2. After which you can go into each category and remove additional software. There are packages like command line cd players, mp3 players etc.

If you want automated minimal install, you can look here:
http://www.slackbook.org/html/book.h...THODS-BOOTDISK

Look at the section 18.4 for tagfiles.

However, you will have to learn which packages are required to create custom tagfiles.

Tux,

Ah thank you so much. Newbie mode is exactly what I needed! It is taking me a while to ge tthrough, but its helping learn about what it does.

Cheers guys.