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Old 04-07-2006, 12:32 PM   #1
rhomp2002
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Registered: Apr 2006
Location: jamaica, ny
Distribution: ubuntu, sabayon, slackware, bluewhite64, wolvix
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Cool Total newbie to Linux


I am a total newbie to Linux. I have used Windows XP for a couple of years and it is OK but I just don't trust MSN as far as I can throw them.

Older and slower these days on PC's. Over 40 years on mainframe computers and find it interesting to see how different the PC world is.

I am trying to figure out how to put Linux on my computer and not lose what I already have. I am using AMD64 Athlon and have about 85GB available. Should not have space problems. Just want to make sure that I don't lose the Windows XP that is now working while I check out the Linux stuff. Any help appreciated in that regard.

Thanks. Looking forward to trying out my wings on this stuff ASAP.
 
Old 04-07-2006, 12:49 PM   #2
weibullguy
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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Distribution: Slackware 14.2
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Try a live distro like Knoppix or Kororaa. It runs from a CD and you don't have to install anything. You can just "check out the Linux stuff." Also check out www.distrowatch.com.
 
Old 04-07-2006, 01:01 PM   #3
rickh
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Registered: May 2004
Location: Albuquerque, NM USA
Distribution: Debian-Lenny/Sid 32/64 Desktop: Generic AMD64-EVGA 680i Laptop: Generic Intel SIS-AC97
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Debian...A Sales Pitch
 
Old 04-07-2006, 07:39 PM   #4
weibullguy
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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Distribution: Slackware 14.2
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Rep: Reputation: 261Reputation: 261Reputation: 261
Quote:
I am trying to figure out how to put Linux on my computer and not lose what I already have.
I guess I wasn't paying attention when I posted my original reply. Maybe I shoulda been workin' instead of surfin'. You could still go for the live CD and not install anything, but if you know you want to install something...

I'd throw my support behind Debian too. But, judging from your experience with mainframes, I'd guess the command line doesn't scare you and there's a chance you've worked with Unix. Something like Gentoo might interest you as well. It's very configurable and pretty easy to install over the net, but gives you hours (which turn into days, weeks, and months) of tinkering fun.

Then there's Fedora, Scientific, and other Red Hat based distros. They install with a GUI installer like WinXP. Good newbie distros 'cause they do alot of the management right out of the box, but still give you more flexibility and control than WinXP.

Yeah, 85GB is plenty of space for a Linux install. I have a PC with 28GB total HDD space and have three Linux distros on it. One of the hard drives is only 6GB. There's tons of info here and elsewhere about dual bootig Linux and Windows. As long as Windows is installed first, you're good to go. You may have to edit some config files to get GRUB/LILO to boot WinXP after your Linux install, but typically nothing more than that.

Good luck and have fun. Hope to see you around here in the future.
 
Old 04-07-2006, 07:56 PM   #5
2damncommon
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Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Calif, USA
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Quote:
I am trying to figure out how to put Linux on my computer and not lose what I already have. I am using AMD64 Athlon and have about 85GB available.
If your current hard drive is one big partition you will need to resize it to be able to install Linux. Another choice is a second hard drive so that your XP drive is not touched. Another choice but more expensive is using VMware to install Linux while running Windows.
Live CD is a great way to check things out.
 
  


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