Decided to try Debian some guidance required
 

Hi
I Have been using Linux for past 4 years. Started out with UMSDOS capable distros, especially mini distros like mulinux, dragon linux etc.
This was also due to the Pc config which I had earlier with a 4 g HDD and 16mb RAM.

I am using Slack 9.1 currently and never thought of trying any other distro
because of following reasons
1. Slack allowed me to boot thru DOS thru LOADLIN and I never used any MBR bootloader.
2. I was not sure whether other distros allowed the same way of booting as mentioned in 1 above.
3 Also there was the fear of LILO writing to MBR and my MBR getting corrupted as I have Win98 which other members of my family use.

Finally I decided to use LILO and this is what I currently use.
I use Linux mainly for learning the fundamentals and programming for fun.

Celeron 500
64mb RAM
40 g HDD
52x ASUS cd drive
1.44FDD
Win 98/slack91
Dlink 56K modem

I have decided finally
I want to try some other distro. After reading many posts and other material and of course googling I finally have decided to install debian.
Please guide me on the following based on the following points
1. I have 7 cds of Debian Woody 3.0r2
2. I dont have a bootable CD rom drive
3. I have tried knoppix after booting to floppy
4. I do not have a fast internet connection
5. I do not use my PC (at home) for any production work and it is only learning and personal work which is done on my PC
6. I have read sarge is going to be stable and released in Sept (I do not want to wait)
7. upgrades as latest of the latest software is not a real necessity unless I really require it
Considering the above how do I proceed
1. Will debian automatically install on the existing partiotion of slack91 an what about Lilo and will it affect my Win98 install?
2. After installing woody if I want to upgrade a single software is it possible?
3. Also I have FC2 test1 Cd should I try those instead of debian. I am used to configuring a system myself rather than the system doing everything.

Thanks
Ninad

Thanks and Regards

You should not have to worry about lilo that part of the install is easy, the installer will automatically make a boot menu with Debian & windows in it. You should know how to partition your hard drive and you will want to have a list of all the hardware in your computer that will need kernel drivers, sound, network, chipset, etc. You can upgrade to Sarge or Sid very easily, so there is no need to wait.

To get started there are floppy images on the first woody CD, and a program to write them under windows. You will want to take a look at all the readme and text files on the woody cd.

After the installation is over all the help files you will need are under /usr/share/doc/

good luck you have chosen and excellent distribution.

debian.org > documentation > manuals
look for installation with floppies.

Configuration/Installation: see sections 9 and 10
http://osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2016

Configuration and Tips
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?res...review-debian2
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?res...review-debian3