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mdubs 10-05-2006 03:19 PM

Tried Ubuntu, does Suse work better?
 
I am not trying to start a distro preference argument. I downloaded Suse 10.1 via a torrent and while I was waiting for that to finish, I downloaded Ubuntu.

I tried Ubuntu first because it was less intimidating with only one CD. The installer has crashed and I am somewhat frustrated with it.

My question is: Has anyone had experience with both distro's and found that one is better/easier for a noob?

Any comments are appreciated.

pljvaldez 10-05-2006 03:36 PM

The answer: it depends. I've had success with both and failure with both. Most of the time it depends on what type of hardware you're trying to install on. Some pieces of hardware give some distros more trouble than others because of whatever precompiled kernel the installer uses.

As to your question, the better one is pure Debian (although maybe not for a newbie). :D

mdubs 10-05-2006 03:54 PM

I am installing to an IBM T41p. My wife threw a fit about me wanting to install it to our PC fearing I would destroy it.

Newbie friendly is somewhat of a priority so that I don't toast Windows. I know this is a crime :tisk: but I have a lot of important data for school on Windows and I need to keep that until I figure out how to get some of my Windows apps to run on Linux.

Once I get one of these to work on this laptop you all will see a lot more from me trying to get stuff ported over to Linux. :D

Any other help is still appreciated.

pljvaldez 10-05-2006 04:11 PM

Everywhere I google (linux-on-laptops and tuxmobil), it seems Ubuntu should install pretty easily on the thing. You can try booting the installer with the linux noacpi at the boot: prompt. Maybe that will help.

I would backup everything important to CD or external HD. Then defrag windows (make sure to disable the virtual memory and hibernate functions before you do that or you'll have some unmovable files). Then boot a GParted LiveCD and shrink the Windows partition. You should only need about 5GB for a bloated distro like Suse. So 10GB would give you a lot of room...

Micro420 10-05-2006 06:34 PM

I have used both Ubuntu and SuSE 10.1. I personally like Kubuntu/Ubuntu better.

What I discovered with SuSE 10.1 was that the automatic updater is broken. I think it's called Zen Updater. Even on the OpenSuSE.org website, they acknowledged this is a bug, but they just recently crossed it off so maybe it is fixed. THey recommended using the yast update, which worked perfectly in SuSE 10.0. I don't know why they switched to Zen updater.

I still run into dependency hell problems with SuSE, or any RPM based distro for that matter. Plus you have go around searching for repositories via google that keep changing and changing. Not the case with Ubuntu. The repositories are fixed and they have almost every package on those repositories. Just use the 'apt-get' feature and you automatically install your software.

SuSE is 6-CD's, or 1DVD. That's huge! I don't need and use everything on it. Ubuntu is 1CD. Nice and small and grab only what you need as you get more familiar with it. Saves you time and bandwidth. plus, the CD is a LiveCD. Try before you install.

I don't know why your Ubuntu did not work, but try booting it into the safe mode with minimum graphics, or noapci as suggested. Alternatively, you can get the Ubuntu Alternate install CD which has some features such as text-based installation and RAID features. Try both Ubuntu and SuSE, and backup your data just in case! ;)

mdubs 10-06-2006 03:34 AM

OK, things have gone from bad to worse. I got home from work and decided to try this all again.

It seems that somehow ubuntu is attempting to kill windows any way that it can! I tried to use some defragmenting software and partitioning software that I installed on windows before attempting the ubuntu install and neither one will work anymore.

Perfectdisk is a defragmenting app and it is spitting back something about a file not being located where it is supposed to be. Same problem with Partition Magic. Tried reinstalling both and it still won't work.

I went back to ubuntu and tried to modify the partition for the install because I found that the primary drive that I made for ubuntu was formatted as NTFS. When I got to the partitioning phase of the install, it showed that the entire drive was unallocated. If I attempt to modify this in any way it tells me that I will lose all data on the HD.

To make matters worse, I am now back in windows and it is starting to act like it wants to commit suicide. I am now in the process of backing up all of my important data that I can find and then I guess the only option is to let ubuntu do whatever it wants.

I am going to back up the data and then get some sleep so if anyone has any great epiphonies in the next six hours or so, feel free to jot them down so that I can try them before I take the plunge.

P.S. The reason eliminating windows is so scary is that I bought this box off of ebay and I do not have a windows install disk to use if ubuntu still does not work. I will be sleeping with my fingers crossed.

hellie 10-06-2006 09:56 AM

I tried to install Ubunto this week and could not install it. I got a new disc and then it seemed to install. I am a Newbie but decided on SUSE 10.1 Enterprise Desktop for $50 a year thats fine plus I get support. Its brilliant. As I work from home its excellent. I also need Citrix which is preinstalled and I could not see it on Ubunto. As Aa newbieI did want the worry of installing it as we use it on on our intranet. Its all personal preference. I do want to try other distros but for now I am learning with SUSE.

I did read in another forum that the latest Ubunto installer is rather buggy, if this helps.

Helen

Micro420 10-07-2006 03:36 AM

mdubs, I think you are doing something incorrect with the formatting and partitioning with Windows and Ubuntu. The Ubuntu CD has its own partitioning software called GPartition. It's graphical and should be easy to use. Windows and Ubuntu CAN co-exist. I've done it on numerous machines and I do it on the machine I use at home.

You should mirror the hard drive before doing anything you are unsure of. I personally use Acronis TrueImage and when I fudge something up, I just restore and all is back to normal.

EclipseAgent 10-07-2006 10:24 AM

I use both Ubuntu/Kubuntu Drapper and have been with SuSE for a while, and I still prefer SuSE (Maybe it is because I am a Novell fan.. :P WAR NETWARE)..

I understand the "Zen Updater" ships broken in 10.1, and has a few bugs even after the "10.1 Yast / Rug" fixes, but over all I like the distro better, and I think it looks better too.

As for the Dual Boot "Windows / Ubuntu" Of course it'll work, I actually quad boot some of my machines.

Micro420 10-07-2006 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EclipseAgent
I use both Ubuntu/Kubuntu Drapper and have been with SuSE for a while, and I still prefer SuSE (Maybe it is because I am a Novell fan.. :P WAR NETWARE)..

I understand the "Zen Updater" ships broken in 10.1, and has a few bugs even after the "10.1 Yast / Rug" fixes, but over all I like the distro better, and I think it looks better too.

As for the Dual Boot "Windows / Ubuntu" Of course it'll work, I actually quad boot some of my machines.

Definitely SuSE is nice eye candy. Their KDE theme, fonts, and desktop look really nice! My main frustration is with any RPM based distro, including SuSE. I ALWAYS run into dependency problems and am constantly having to search for new repositories or correct versions of dependencies. This gets really annoying and frustrating. How do you people cope with this stuff? LOL

EclipseAgent 10-07-2006 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micro420
Definitely SuSE is nice eye candy. Their KDE theme, fonts, and desktop look really nice! My main frustration is with any RPM based distro, including SuSE. I ALWAYS run into dependency problems and am constantly having to search for new repositories or correct versions of dependencies. This gets really annoying and frustrating. How do you people cope with this stuff? LOL

Make sure I know what I am installing, and make sure I have most of the dependincies and the common packages that have some of the most common dependincy issues..

But yeah.. I really like RPM based comparied to debian based..

mdubs 10-09-2006 08:32 AM

Windows is now gone
 
Hello all!

I would like to thank all of you for your comments. Windows did finally commit suicide after I got all of my data backed up so I just started clean with ubuntu. I used the alternate CD and everything went off without a hitch. The only hard part about the install was trying to remember my WEP key for my wireless.

I have been looking at some screenshots of SuSE and I like it but I think the simplicity of ubuntu is what I need for now. I like the interface of Linux but I need a little time to get accustomed to how things work so I will stick with the simple distro for now.

Thanks again all! You may now go on discussing which is your favorite distro :D


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