I've had it with Windows, what distro should I choose?
 

Ok, enough of Windows. Once again, I downloaded one of their "Service Pack Updates" and now my computer is all jacked up. Running definately slower, and every time I reboot, it has to recover registry information. Not to mention, since installing the updates, it now regularly locks up on me. So I am done with XP now.

But what distro should I choose? Here is my system...

AMD64 3000+
1GB Corsair DDR400
Gigabyte K8VNXP MOBO
Plextor 8x DVD Burner
MSI 16x DVD Drive
Logitech MX700 DUO Keyboard/Mouse Combo
Nvidia MX440 DDR64 8xAGP

I want a distro that will take full advantage of the 64bit processor. I am a relative newbie, and dont know too much about linux. But I think I pick up on things relatively quickly. I don't mind going out and buying a book or two and reading.

I know a lot of people recommend Mandrake/Redhat for newbies. Thats ok, but I think I would rather learn the hard stuff from the get-go. I was thinking either Gentoo or Debian. I think you people reading understand where I am coming from. So I will look forward to your answers.

Thanks!

Hi kjoy,
I did a very similar thing. So I thought I would share some of my experiences with you:

1) You are right: Dont go with redhat! I dont know about mandrake. Redhat was a bitch to install on my amd64 and it ran sloooow. Gentoo is so much better as far as speed is concerned and I got my hardware working (no, it did not work in fedora). Only had some problems with my network.

2) Be aware that Gentoo does not come with many tools to make a newbie's life easier. If you really feel like learning, this is the way to go. I started with slackware and it really helped me later on.

3) You are lucky to have a nvidia graphics card, because ati's drivers suck. And they dont have a 64bit version.

4) Don't buy books. Online information is better most of the times and there is tons of it.

I keep my fingers crossed for you,
- drowstar

Does Slackware make a 64bit version? I guess which do you recommend then as my best bet? Should I just go with Gentoo? I am looking for a Kinko's to print off that 100 page help guide that they have...I figure that would be a good place to start my reading.

But if you think something else would be my best bet, please let me know. I am not quite sure yet what my final decision will be. But I need to do something soon 'cause my Windows keeps locking up on me.

PS -- saw your from Germany...where about? I just moved back to the states from Wiesbaden...


-KJoy

i would probably try mandrake.

I was thinking about going with Mandrake, but I can't find the area to download the 64-bit version. Maybe if you can give me a hyperlink for it...

On the same note though, I am not sure if I want to start out with Mandrake because a lot of people say it isn't really "Linux/Unix" like. I understand that it is good for newbies, but if I am going to learn Linux, I want to LEARN Linux.

Also, from my understanding, isn't there a lot of dependency issues with Mandrake? If so, I would rather not have to worry about that.

I don't know...I am kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place with deciding what distro to use. It's like should I go with one that is made for newbies, or go with a more rock-solid distro, which is probably more difficult, but in the end I will come out ahead. Any input would be nice. What does everyeone recommend as for as 64bit linux goes. What are my options anyways. Which 64bit distros are there?

-KJoy

try this link
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...4,00.html#1537

One of the answers it gives regarding the Q u asked is
AMD designed its AMD64 technology to run all x86-based operating systems, including 32-bit versions of Microsoft® Windows®, Linux, and Solaris. Several Linux developers support AMD64 with native 64-bit operating systems, and Microsoft delivered beta releases of 64-bit versions of Windows for both servers and desktops in mid-2003. Microsoft has announced its plans to deliver AMD64 operating systems for desktop/mobile PCs and servers in the second half of 2004. AMD expects the AMD Opteron processor will support all major operating systems, including Red Hat, UnitedLinux, MandrakeSoft and Wasabi Systems (NetBSD).

But it also has some questions answered that may be of help to u :)

So far, I think its Mandrake, Gentoo, and Debian for the AMD64 (unless you want to use FreeBSD...)

Mandrake's betas for amd64 are listed here: http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/100amd64beta.php3

If you float around the mirrors, you might find "Official"

well if ur a complete dum dum on linux, try out Mandrake or SuSE. after ur more familiar after a month or so, go for Slackware, Debian or Gentoo ( choose this ;) ). Gentoo isnt really a newbie os, but if u enjoy sitting in front of a terminal at full screen for a while, using links to find out how where to go next, go for gentoo.

I don't think Slack has a 64-bit version. Can't find it on the site anywhere. Suse's site is circular. Don't be looking there for any easy answers (Google will be your friend on Suse, I guess)

It really makes no sense to quit windows if you are having hardware problems, i.e., your memory is timed too high, you have a bad stick or marginal, etc.

Registry issues like that are indicative of memory problems or other hardware issues. You'll have the same problems with Linux only it will manifest itself in other ways.

There's nothing wrong with Redhat. I've heard it holds 70% of the linux user base. Can't go wrong if 70% of the users want it.

As far as linux goes, well it is not a desktop OS for newbies. If you don't know much about it you are going to suffer badly and it is best that you take your transition slowly but first resolve your hardware problem.

If you applied a service pack and you went bezerker you should try to resolve that instead of dealing with a whole new OS with its own HUGE number of issues especially centered around hardware (nics, video, sound, and not to mention all the other stuff you just can't use hardware-wise) and the fact that the software selection is so utterly rare.

The real question is why do you use your computer? You are using games? If so, you can just about call it quits then because games are just not there under linux. You are using productivity apps? Why are you using a gforce mx card with an outstanding athlon processor, mobo, and all that ram? You using your dvd burner for some specific purpose? If you are, you'll be amazed at all the walls you'll encounter under linux with burning and playing back dvds.

There are no solid distros that work with all software and hardware. Distros can and will break programs and drivers. Updated kernels can and will hose your video, often.

I use linux alot but there just are some things you can't do with it and the responsibility for alot of linux is passed like the proverbial buck. If you are interested in linux for the sake of knowing linux and learning the ins and outs then that's fine but you are in for quite a shock if you are actually thinking about using it for more then productivity apps and internet.

I'd try Knoppix Live CD to see how you like Linux in general. After you've affirmed that this is the way you want to go, go to distrowatch.com for information on the various distros. Don't get locked into the mindset that you want to use a specific one; be ready to switch from distro to distro to see which one suits you best.

I would recommend Suse 9.1. it is a ix86 and a amd64 distro all in one. they got easy to install nvidia drivers etc. i think you would like it. but since you do want to start off with a harder distro, i would recommend slackware (has an installer unlike gentoo but doesnt have a 64 bit version). i still havent gotten around to trying gentoo, i take a look at the install guide then decide to leave it for another time ;) I hope you have a plesant experience converting to the light side. :D

My preference, is Mandrake.
They have a 64bit version that is set and ready to run. It is not freely downloadable. They sell it. But I assume that if you are (or become) a member of the Mandrake club, it is probably available for little or no money (you will have to check on this). Members get first dibs on all the good things that happens with this distro.
This distro contains just about everything that you may need. So it makes it possible for you to either do things the hard way, or the easy way. Whichever you prefer. You will have access to all the tools needed to try whatever project you want to tackle. You can use the nice GUI, or just go in text mode to do your work. The whole choice is yours!

If you decide to use a distro that has limited capabilities, then you get boxed in whithin that framework. Your choices are limited, and you are stuck and that little box. This is why I prefer Mandrake, it offers a big box for you to move around in, and make a lot of choices.

If SuSe makes a version for 64bit, that would also be a good candidate for what you are looking for. But that distro is also a payware. You gotta pay to get it.

Slackware is a fine distro. But they don't and won't for quite some time, make a version for 64bit systems. Slack is very slow on updates, and new versions, and compared to other distros, it is more oriented to do things the primitive way, mainly manually. Personally, I don't have time to go chasing for missing tarball files, all over the internet, to make a compile successful. This statement also applies to Vector-Linux, which is also based on Slackware (Slack works better than Vector-Linux).
Red-Hat has gone commercial. It is also payware, and since they are concentrating on industrial customers, they have removed a lot of the bells and whistles that used to be in their free versions.
Fedora will always remain in beta mode. It is the test bed for RedHat. If you want stability in your operating system, this would not be the right choice. The user gets to be the guinea pig for RH, to see what works or not in Fedora. Then RH picks the best things and puts it in their commercial version of RedHat.
Debian is a very stable distro, and far from being on the bleeding edge. Deb is also slow in updates and new versions. Many other distros are based on Debian. But I don't think that you will see in the very near future, a 64 bit version of this distro. Deb has a wonderful package manager to update your system and files, and packages. It is non commercial, and has no industrial affeliates.

Also, as was stated in an above post, I would really try to resolve my problems with the Win*. You have the option to remove those updates that you did, to see if it cures your problem. Then you could try installing them one-at-a-time to see which one caused the problem.

Hope that this information is helpful. :)

Problem resolved...
 

Oddly enough...turns out my problem is bad RAM. Just seems to have gone bad at the exact same time I did the Windows updates. Murphy's law I guess...

Strangest RAM issue I have ever seen though. I have to 512MB sticks of Corsair RAM. If I have both in at the same time, the system locks up. But if I just have one of them in, regardless of which one, the system runs fine. VERY strange. I have never seen an issue like that before.

Any recommendations on a program to test RAM? I was thinking that maybe they are having a communication problem between the two sticks. I don't believe it is a problem with the MOBO because I tried running the sticks in both RAM BANK1 and BANK2 as well as BANK1 and BANK3.

Any input on this matter?

ONEderer...also, thank you VERY much for your detailed response. It was a great help. I think I am going to look into joining the Mandrake club to take advantage of their 64bit system.

Best regards,
KJoy

If you are going to pay money anyways you might as well buy SuSE's 64-bit distro...it comes with a lot more programs already on the discs and has YaST which i have never seen any other distro even come close to...it is a good distro from learning but when you get completely stuck and need a way out SuSE w/ the help of YaST will just do it for you...but only if you "ask".