Red Hat 8 and XFree 86

croths · 09-01-2003, 12:29 PM

I thought I'd love to change from Windows 98SE to Linux but the more I research it the scarier it looks

I have 2 CD's of Red Hat 8 that came with "Linux for Dummies", will XFree86 be part of this distro or do I have to download it ?
I've been trying hard to see if my display driver is compatable. I've searched this forum as well as the XFree86 site and see all manners of Rage titles but never exactly the name I have:-
Rage II+ (English)(DirectX)
Exactly how it is titled under Device Manager, no 'DVD' or '3D' as I've seen.
My computer is 5 years old and so I have been trying to make sure everything is compatable, the installation is sounding more and more scary.

Thanks for any help.

Maureen.

rahulsundaram · 09-01-2003, 12:43 PM

hi

it is very likely the your dummies redhat cd contains xfree86. there is nothing scary about the redhat installation. please take time to read teh redhat installation docs at redhat.com for more specific information.

hardware.redhat.com/hcl has a database of compatible devices. it is likely that yours is supported.

if you still have doubts ask your friend to do it or try a more newbie distro like mandrake or a live demonstration cd like knoppix. if you have specific issues you couldnt find clarified through docs post back

regards
rahul sundaram

croths · 09-01-2003, 01:20 PM

Hi,

Thanks for the help. I did try the knoppix live demonstration cd and found it fantastic!!! I have also printed out the documentation on the Red Hat Cd's, haven't read it all yet i must admit. It's all sllow going as it's all so techy and I have to re-read some parts. last night I sat and read a, supossed, dumbed down explanation on partitioning and preparing to install Red Hat. Dumbed down??? I still had trouble

But I will carry on, for now. Anything to be shot of Windows!!
I'm sure I'll be back with more questions

Thanks again.
Oh, and thanks for the tip on Mandrake. Red Hat isn't my final choice, just what came with the book.

Maureen.

rahulsundaram · 09-01-2003, 01:49 PM

hi

ok. i know you do have a learning curve because unix has a very different core and culture compared to windows but you will learn eventually if you dont despair. mandrake has a more easier setup for dual boot with auto paritioning and all that but redhat would do just fine once you manage to install it correctly.

if you need a better explanation of a particular concepts just do a post and i will try to help. of course read the docs first

regards
rahul sundaram

rahulsundaram · 09-01-2003, 01:55 PM

hi

me again. in case you didnt know knoppix can be used to install linux if you run knx-hdinstall from the terminal as root user. you need around 3 gb answer a few simple questions and wait for the 20 mins to finish but its easy enough. knoppix.net has the necessary information

regards
rahul sundaram

croths · 09-01-2003, 02:37 PM

Thanks awfully for your help.
That was going to be one of my future questions, about if Knoppix could be a proper install. I think I might consider that.
As for the duel boot, another future question.
I have two hard drives giving me a grand total of 7 gigs!! I wasn't sure if I have enough room for both. In a way I don't think I want it either, might as well jump in the deep end and be forced to adapt. But everywhere I read it talks about installing and duel boot, I have not found, yet, any good instructions on what to do to prepar my machine. I'm presuming I have to take windows right out before. Anyway, thank so much for the help.

rahulsundaram · 09-01-2003, 03:39 PM

hi

you dont have to take windows out at all. you just need some free webspace. linux can be installed over multiple partitions and this in fact the recommended method but for a basic install. i would suggest 3 partitions

/home - 200 mb
swap partition - double the physical memory (RAM) is recommended. 128 MB is good enough usually
/root - rest of space

you either delete one of your free partitions to leave out space for linux or resize them using fips or ranish parition manager

www.ranish.com

a total of 2-3gb would accomodate whatever you want.

redhat comes with a lot of stuff but you cut down to the necessary by using the custom installation option. this can be a bit difficult.

there a huge number of details howtos available from tldp.org

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Install-Strategies/index.html

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/DOS-Win-to-Linux-HOWTO.html
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux+Windows-HOWTO/index.html

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Pre-Installati...ist/index.html
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Installation-HOWTO/index.html

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux+Win95/index.html
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Linux+WinNT.html

if you have specific questions just ask

croths · 09-01-2003, 04:50 PM

Fantastic links!!!!
Thanks so much, now I have lots to read.
I'm glad I mentioned the Windows bit, nice to know I don't have such a dreadful job ahead of me.
I'm taking my time and reading things carefully but I'll be here again, maybe as soon as tomorrow

Thanks again.

Maureen.

rahulsundaram · 09-01-2003, 04:55 PM

hi

welcome. you dont really have to read the whole lot but you will much more comfortable with knowing exactly whats happening and trust me thats going to help someday or the other. have a nice time. i really suggest that you try installing knoppix once you get some freespace if you got the cd with you. redhat 8 is geting a bit old. knoppix 3.2 would work better if you dont mind knowing a little bit of the command line. its based on debian and it works just great

regards
rahul sundaram