Slackware
 

Just downloaded Slackware. I want to put it on my other laptop. I never used Slackware before. Can I boot and install from a usb stick? I don't have any dvds here now.

Refer to Alien Bob's Wiki:

http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...ckware:usbboot

Yes you can boot and install from a USB stick. The USB installer is a network installation method, though. That means you'll need an internet connection in order to download the necessary packages.

You can find USB installers here:

ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-<VERSION>/usb-and-pxe-installers/
OR
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware64-<VERSION>/usb-and-pxe-installers/

Where <VERSION> corresponds to the Slackware version you wish to install.

The text file directions (in my opinion) are generally enough to install Slackware.

And if you look carefully in the folder mentioned by TommyC7 you'll find there is a little script that will make the USB stick for you.

Have a read through to see what it can do.

Not true at all, the OP can simply use the repository from the DVD, using AlienBob's script to create an USB stick with packages on it, or just loop-mount the ISO from an existing partition.

I know that Slackware is supposed to be difficult to install.

It isn't.

Why, the first day I installed it (v. 10.0), my first foray into Linux, I installed it three times!

Mostly because I didn't take my time and read the instructions as I went through the installation screens.

I know that the install is supposed to be difficult--it isn't. I think that reputation comes because Slackware does not offer to automatically partition the drive for you. It will expect you partition the drive yourself. I found cfdisk to be friendlier than fdisk for this purpose (I still find cfdisk friendlier than fdisk.)

I have also never had any luck installing LiLo automatically, whereas Slackware's "Expert" LiLo install has never failed me, as long as I didn't mess up a step.

Since then, I wandered in the wilderness of other distributions, but have always come back to Slack.

Good luck and welcome to Slackware. You will find it worth your while.

Use AlienBob's how to and you will have a full install usb stick complete with packages. It's actually very simple and incredibly handy as opposed to burning DVD's.

Not true if you simply add the packages to your USB stick. I wrote a little HOWTO here:

http://www.microlinux.fr/slackware/L...-Install-HOWTO

It's in French, but the Linux bits are universal.

In addition to the above useful posts about how to install Slackware via USB make sure you read the book as well as it provides an excellent overview of the installation process and helpful tips on system administration.

http://www.slackbook.org/

The Slackware Documentation Project is another good site.

http://docs.slackware.com/

Have fun! :)