Having overcome the major hurdles I 've been struggling with,ready to hopefully and finaly start working with Linux
and put Windows on the backburner.Great thing about Linux is that you really don't need a ton of drive space as you do with Windows[which now has dibbs over 65% of a 30Gb Hdd]since most of your needed apps are already there!Two things I need now are a good modem [Anybody interested in a Viking Winmodem(just kidding)?],and support for the SbLive!PCI512-Good card with great software but unsupported(darnitall!).
Lastly-I'd like any information about USB support- If it exists at all for Linux. I've an Intel cam and zip250 and it'd sure be nice to access these two devices with Linux-Then I could chuck Windows FOREVER!Any good modem suggestions would be appreciated.

You might want to check this site: http://www.linux-usb.org/USB-guide/book1.html , it I think has some good info on USB and Linux.

any externel modem is a good one to choose, although it probably a good idea to go for a us robotics or 3 com one. they're more expensive but tend to be easier to set up.

since 2.2.17 there has been usb support in the kernel although it wasn;t until 2.4 that it has been any good.

the camera might work but im not sure, don;t think there is any software under linux that supports it but have a look around youself.

the zip drive might work but im doubtful. try looking thorough the how-tos on LDP escpecially the supported harware list. if it works it should be there or should give you a webpage to go to to get it to work.

i thought that soundcard was supported. you sure you got the name right? there was a sb card called the pci 512 and there is the ol' sb live!. the pci 512 is supported with a recompile of the kernel. check /usr/src/linux/Documentation/sound and look for your card there. the sb live cards are kind of supported in the kernel i think but creative were supposed to be making drivers for linux. its still alpha code i think though

hope that helped

Alex

yeah it's sb live! the newest card,it's still a 512 though.Can't get that thing working at all. I upgraded to Mandrake 7 this weekend but chucked it fot 6.5 since I'm not very happy with it-And no the usb still doesn't work,even though 7.0 asks to start it.Nothing.There's six disks with 7.0 and one of them has sound drivers,and I don't have a clue beyond whatever instructions are already there how to install them.
Question-
What in the world does 'recompiling a kernel' mean exactly?
The only thing I know about compiling anything is first writing something and then compiling,and then making,and then building and then having an executable program.
Obviously that's not what kernel compiling is,but it'd be nice if someone explained it,since linux mentions it repeadedly but gives no clue as to hoe to actually do it.
But versions always create a directory named /disk,which I know is the zip drive,but I can never mount it from /home
and from /root it's empty.Startup warns that it's the wrong fs type and fails it anyway so I really don't expect it to work. I just want to print and hear,and these two things I can't seem to get going at all.
I tried a coupla sites and e-mailed one about the sound problem but y'know,really,I don't intend to spend too much time searching endlessy for drivers-That's a bit much for me.
Anyway thanks.

Recompiling the kernel is not a biggie once you get use to it, but I would recommend reading the Kernel HowTo at http://www.linuxdoc.org for all your questions concerning compiling a new kernel.

Oh and your zip drive if its parallel or internal should work, there are zip howto's at http://www.linuxdoc.org as well to get it working with step by step instructions.

sorry if i',m posting in the wrong place

On Sun, 15 Apr 2001, Evan Johns wrote:

> I have linux 2.4 SuSE 7.1 ready to install
>
> I KNOW my current internal modem will not work
>
> So i have bought an external:
>
> DIAMOND SupraExpress 56ePRO
>
> Some one has told me that this Modem is an exception IE an external win modem and will not work under Linux.
>
> I need to know from an expert. Will it work.
>
> >From 20 years in this business I know that GOOD information is better than fiddling pointlessly with settings to get something to work.
>
> Thank
>
> Evan

Checked out that USB how-to- (And to think someone said you don't need to be a patient hack to want to run Linux!)Let me tell you-I've still got the oldest kernels and all the man pages for Linux,given to me three years ago-That's right.I'm talking DOSLINUX 2.0, minilinux, and MCC 1.0-I have yet to successfully install any of this stuff-I just haven't had the time. I just say this to point out that looking at this how-to reminds me of the man pages from some of these older versions-HUGE thick booklets 3 or 400 pages. I got a hell of a chuckle outta looking at this site!
Thanks!

I really appreciate your patience with me for real.I'm what you might call a 'web-whiner'-get frustrated real quick,esp with inconsistencies in things.But you've been a champ dude.
As far as progress goes,I'm still working at it.Let you know what happens once I get this modem set up[Hopefully I'll be surfin with Netscape!].
Peace.