hi,

just to make things clear, this is a windows user speaking

now that that's done - i've been trying to try (or to use maybe) linux for quite some time now but i never found any distribution good for me (lol). then i found the knoppix/morphix project and was exited to check it out. i've been toying with it for some days now and i really like it. the things you can with linux are just amazing, not to mention kde which is like a a completely new step for customizing things. anywaaaay, i stumbled across libranet and read some review and from what i read i think i'll like it. the features also seem up to date.
the thing i really want to know is if it will work on my pc. sure it will work you'll say, but i mean _really_ work. i primarly use my pc for gaming and i know linux is not the best os for that, but i've checked and all the games i play run natively (q1, q2, q3 and i know for sure d3 as well will) so i don't really care about other games although i will have a dual boot (winxp) just in case there's a game i might want to try and doesn't work in linux.
now to my question - can someone assure me that this WILL work without any problems on libranet?

athlon 2600+
epox 8rda+ (nforce2 + want to use the audio too)
radeon 9800pro

i've read many forums about radeon and nforce issues so that's why i'm concerned. i don't mind having to spend a whole week to set it up, but i really need to know if it will run as good as it runs on winxp or should i say, without any lockups, artifacts,... morphix seems to run fine (audio runs good) but i have 60 hz no matter what and can only choose 3 resolutions. because libranet and morphix are both based on debian that's why i ask

someone might jump in and recommend a more "windows friendly distro". well all i can say is that i want to try linux and not some windows wannabe. sure it would probably make things easier for me, but i really want to try it. afaik libranet is not a hardcore linux distro and seems like a (gui person) friendly distro

btw: just for pure curiosity: i use no mouse accel in win and games and morphix has this nice little accel set which i like, but if i have set accel in linux, does that mean there's also accel in games (for windows that would be true).

please, feel free to answer as i am really exited to hopefully start using libranet but before i go in those waters i must know the things mentioned above

thanks

edit: i just noticed that libranet 2.8.1 is avalible to download as free trial. does it have ANY restrictions to the payable 2.8.1 version or is it completely the same? don't get me wrong, i will buy it if it turns out to work as it should to support the authors, but i would like to first try the exact same copy to test it.

crematory: have u checked out libranets site. they have awesome help howtos. however help is almost the same here.

Nope, it is not restricted. The Libranet people just ask you to purchase it when you like it...

The only problem you might have is that ATI drivers are not that great for accelerated 3D. http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/Linux_390.html nVidia provides better driver supports for Linux, and does make 3D acceration work on all their cards.

uteck; thanks for that heads up on ATI

You can actually do a hard drive install of knoppix. I don't know how but I mean, if knoppix works, go with it.

I mean 2.8.1 is good ( I use it) but knoppix is likely to be more up-to-date and in both case, you'll use debian repositories to keep it updated going forward.

When Libranet 3.0 is out, I am pretty sure it'll be top quality so you can then install that.

Your other Knoppix option is actually MEPIS, which is supposed to be even more friendly.

ATI drivers are hard to make work, starting with coming in RPM format so you have to convert them using alien for all your DEB based distros, then getting more complex from there:> That said, you can get them to work and your estimate of a week is probably accurate depending on how much time you actually spend during that week. Note: Everything here got much easier after I recompiled my kernel, very easy with adminmenu (uteck helped me alot with this stuff).

I didn't get the question about mouse accel in Linux carrying over to Windows... anything you do in one OS on a dual boot machine isn't going to affect the other OS with the exception of messing with the master boot record, writing a file to a shared memory location, etc.

Try out Libranet, it's not that hard if everything installs fine, and if it doesn't they have very active forums at libranet.com. Yes you are supposed to pay for it, it is not free, but they are now allowing unlimited evaluation of the most up to date version (used to be you could download the next to newest version for free, still can I would suppose, but there was no valid way of getting the newest version without paying).

There are some great lists of sites about gaming in linux. Start with http://www.linuxgaming.net/, they seem to be in the middle of a revamp, but the old site is archived and the forums are still going. You can probably get a good list of other sites from the forums.

ATI on there website just put up new drivers 8-5-2004 al you need to know is your version of xfree86
smuggly

Libranet has great Web forums and they also have an Email based forum. In addition to that, some people here can help, and also I know of people at Extreme Tech that know Libranet and can help out. Formal paid support of Libranet is excellent. Forum support though is pretty good, too.

If you have had good results with Morphix and Knoppix, you ought to have good results with Libranet, too. The advantage of Libranet over the others is that the installation program is more flexible. One possible disadvantage is that the existing 2.8.1 software is getting dated. As long as you succeed in installing with your hardware, that won't be a disadvantage for long because Libranet has the best upgrade software in the business. You can select the Packages tab from the Libranet Xadminmenu program and upgrade your entire system in a few clicks!

Hey Thanx For The Input,I just got 2.81.Ill see if its better than 2.7,I,m Concerned about my new system[Thars what all this playing around w2.7 has been for] I really am hooked on libranet/linux the possibilities leaves windows in the dust.just my radeon 9200 worries me,i read the ati drivers for xfree86 4.3.0 look ok.i,m gonna go for it this weekend as soon as i p/up my new harddrive.So i,ll most likly be back talkin to everyone,thanx again.