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the 5610B works perfectly with linux... the reason you're having so much trouble is that the mandrake distribution doesn't support that modem... this is why you had to go to the USR website and download the drivers in the rpm file... if you would have installed, for example, slackware linux, then the modem installation would be completely automatic... most other distros would also install the 5610B automatically...
you don't have to remove your windows or anything like that to install another distro... don't worry...
slackware's installer isn't really hard, in fact in some ways it's easier than mandrake... it's just that since it's text-based it tends to scare-away a lot of people... the upside for you is that slackware should set your-modem-up with no problems...
on slackware you configure everything with a text editor, you don't have anything like the mandrake control center or anything like that... having said that, you have nothing to lose... i'd say go for it...
of course before you go for it you need to read the instructions carefully:
also, their might be some other redhat-based distro out there with gui tools like mandrake but with built-in support for your modem (suse perhaps?)... i'm gonna do some research and i'll get back to you on that...
I had already ordered Slackware 9.1. I will stick with Slackware 9.1.
I hope this distro works with the 5610B Modem.
Like I said, and youve been very helpful, to explain the partitioning part. As it does not explain how to do it with Windows already installed.
Just please explain step by step on this part and also which COM port should I select when it comes to that part? Examples would be a plus!!!!
I still have my notes on the Mandrake install, but thats different because It explains how to install it next to Windows. I know how many MB of Swap/RooT/Home to use comparing with the Mandrake examples. (BTW, how many partitions do I have to create?? Root and Usr or one more for Home???????)
But like you said, Slackware is a bit different text wise.
So please I would appreciate the steps. I SURE HOPE THIS WORKS WITH THIS MODEM. If so, do I still need to install the drivers which are on the floppy (the rpm file) or will work automatically?
I have read and printed out the Slackware manual partitioning part. It makes sense. But still having trouble with the layout mode. Is cfdisk better than Fdisk?
Please explain the steps.
I know by now that there should be "/" "swap" "home" but the problem is, the layout and the selections are quite different in Mandrake. So I need some assistance there.
Uninstalling Mandrake. What Boot disc should I use? because theres 4 that I downloaded. Will this delete the Linux Partition drives as well?
For "/" and "swap" what Partitions do I have create when Windows is installed? Ext or Primary?
Ok great!!!! Thats good news. I dont have the Cds yet, but there on there way. For now, I want to get prepared. At least on hard part.
Do you mean that I will have to delete the mandrake partitions with the built-in Fdisk or Cdisk?? Or, will it automatically partition the whole process for me?
Now,
For "/" and "swap" what Partitions do I have to create when Windows is installed? Ext or Primary?
I says to create at least two partitions Root and Swap. It all makes sense to me except that the fact that its layout is confusing and the selctions. But it pretty much makes sense.
Couple of things that Im confused about here:
1. What do they mean by Partition Number???
2. And what should I put for Cylinder size??
I have about 35.0GB of free space on my Windows Partition with NTFS. So, what will I have to put under partition number, first cylinder, or last cylinder. And what do I have to choose? Extended or Primary when creating Root and Swap????
Like I said, examples are a REALLY GREAT help for me.
you don't need to create any partitions, they are already created... you created them when you installed mandrake... just use those... and you should never need to specify the cylinders anyway...
/dev/hda = primary master
/dev/hdb = primary slave
/dev/hdc = secondary master
/dev/hdd = secondary slave
/dev/hda1 = the first partition on the primary master
/dev/hda2 = the second partition on the primary master
/dev/hda3 = the third partition on the primary master
So your saying that the Slackware will overwrite its data onto the Mandrake Partitions, am I correct?
So, when I pop in the CD, what should I select in the Partioning part? Is there like a selection were it I could select "Skip"??? When the Cd loads there is a command prompt. What will I have to type inorder to bypass the Partitioning part of the installation if theres no need to Partition anyway?
And what COM port should I select when It comes to that part? Or will I need to install the drivers for that to from the floppy?
What you wrote down above, do I need to know those when I install?
the slackware installer doesn't have partitioning options anyway, as it expects you to do have done the partitioning before running "setup"... however, it WILL format the linux partitions... when it asks you for what filesystem you want to use, go with the default, reiserfs...
when you boot the slackware cd, you'll get a boot prompt, just hit enter, it'll load the default kernel... after it finishes loading, it'll drop you to a command line (shell)... there just type "setup" and hit enter, it'll take you right into the installer...
you don't need to use partitioning tools like "cfdsik" or whatever because YOU ALREADY PARTITIONED.
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