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Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?

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Old 09-04-2004, 01:17 PM   #1
luiwo
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Registered: Sep 2004
Distribution: Slackware 10
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A new concept for install


I have a concept. I am not a programmer and couldn't make this work but I put it out there as an idea.

I have found the problem with install is two main things. One setting up a hard drive that already has windows on it to make room for Linux. The second problem is people want hardware that works in Windows to work in Linux. I don't address the first issue more than this:

Problem one:
There are three options, install a new drive or use software to re-partition and move windows or reinstall, configuring the drive to have extra space. Right here is where computer makers around the world, the big ones, can do this. Leave space on these massive drives and do not fill them with windows all the way. In fact make another drive on it and format it as fat32 or NTFS, That way the consumer gets the extra space for storage or whatever and if someone wants to install a dual boot system, they just take out the "extra drive" Windows is never bothered. Making mighty MS happy because the system shipped with full windows but it is easy enough for people or software to reconfigure if the user chooses. If there was an install program that analyzed the drive and based on the space needed for linux, created that space while “moving” windows. That would be great. I think this may exist but I never looked into it. Again I stress, this isn't what this post is about, it is just issue one in an install. The bottom line is even with graphical installers partitioning a hard drive is very daunting to a new user especially with no real skills in computers. The partitioning though goes with part two below...

Problem two:
The second problem is people want the things that work in Windows to work in Linux. Not software per say but the devices, I have a web cam, works in Windows, doesn't work in Linux.

Here is where programming comes in. There was software out there called AIDA32. It is made by Tamas Miklos. The web site is closed and I am not sure of what has become of them. This though is irrelevant in a way. The point is there is software, run under windows that will tell me what I run on my system. Here is the output: (the ##### has been removed by me)

Computer
Operating System Microsoft Windows 98 SE
OS Service Pack None
Internet Explorer 6.0.2800.1106 (IE 6.0 SP1)
Computer Name #######
User Name #######

Motherboard
CPU Type AMD Athlon, 800 MHz (4 x 200)
Motherboard Name Asus K7V (5 PCI, 1 AGP Pro, 1 AMR, 3 DIMM)
Motherboard Chipset VIA VT8371 Apollo KX133
System Memory 512 MB (SDRAM)
BIOS Type Award Medallion (05/12/00)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM2)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display
Video Adapter Trident 3DImage 9750 Linear Accelerated for
AGP (v6.20.6944h) (4 MB)
3D Accelerator Trident 3DImage 975

Multimedia
Audio Adapter Creative SB PCI128 (Ensoniq ES5880) Sound
Card

Storage
Disk Drive GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE47
Optical Drive LITE-ON CD-RW SOHR-5238S
Optical Drive MT1316B BDV212B (12x/40x DVD-ROM)

Partitions
C: (FAT32) 19992 MB (2780 MB free)

Input
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural
Keyboard
Mouse PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port

Network
Primary IP Address ############
Primary MAC Address ############
Network Adapter Network Everywhere Fast Ethernet
Adapter(NC100 v2) NDIS5 Driver (#########)
Network Adapter PPP Adapter.

Peripherals
USB Device Micro WebCam


That is what I have on my system.

I envision going to a website and your system is scanned for hardware, giving a output like that above. The site then tells you your system is 100% Linux compatible. Or you system is 85% Linux compatible. Here are the problems... It seems the web cam will not be recognized, If you want this is what you need to do....

Once you say OK, Imagine taking that information, accessing a database that will pre-configure the kernel, the modules, and the support I need for my system, On the server it puts it all together and gives me the ISO image I need to burn to set it up ready to go.
I download this ISO, burn it and I have a functioning tight system, no more hundreds of entries in /dev, no more 386 optimized kernels on my 686 etc. After install, I can access the software archives via the Net again, KDE, GNOME, fill in the blank and add what I need or want for my system.

In a nutshell, you want to try Linux, or want the best configuration for your system, Go to this web site, The hardware scan is run, You get compatibility issues addressed and you know what will work or not. Then if all is OK with you, you get a custom made ISO for your system, Download it, burn it, run it. Top-notch performance ease of installation...
 
Old 09-05-2004, 04:28 AM   #2
zatriz
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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, Wa
Distribution: Fedora,Trustix,Debian
Posts: 290

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And would you be willing to pay for this service, cause its going to take some massive man hours to do the second.

As for the first mandrake makes is very easy to resize partitions and install linux.
 
  


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