Installing Linux
 

Ok, I just downloaded RedHat Linux 9

shrike-i386-disc1.iso
shrike-i386-disc2.iso
shrike-i386-disc3.iso

I need help burning these files to a cd(i got nero, do i just burn each iso file to a cd?).
I'm using Windows 98 SE and I want to use RedHat also.
I got a 8gb hardrive split into two and one is my backup drive.
My c drive is like 6+ gb and my d drive is 2+gb(sorry on a friends pc right now) I have prob about 3+gb free space and that what i want to put Linux on.

With Nero Burning Rom:
----------------------
Open Nero.
Close the wizard if it is started automatically.
Go to "File"
then to "Burn Image...".
In the next dialog, click on "Image Files (*.nrg)" and select "All files
(*.*)".
Choose the .iso file and accept.
In the following dialog make sure:
- Type of Image is: Data Mode 1
- Block size: 2048
- Image header: 0
- Image trailer: 0
- All the checkboxes are unactive.
Click "OK".
In the next dialog check that the "write" and "finalize" option are active.
Click on "Write".
(Thanks Antonio Asensi)

that should work. your setup should work also. i wouldn't do a full install, it might eat up more space then what you want it to. just take your time and select what you think is neccesary and then add things later as you need/want them.

cheers.

thx for that info.

Now how do I install Linux? Do I have to uninstall Windows to make another partition drive?

no, just drop the cd in your drive, make sure that your bios is set to boot from the cd before the hd. then when the partitioning wizard comes up, it won't kill windows unless you tell it to, tell it where to install linux, the free space.

just take your time, if your not sure don't initialize and then come back for more questions.

cheers.

If you've got any important information, you should always back it up, there's always a chance of losing it, and if it's something you cannot live without that would sure be sad to lose it.

Backups are something that everyone suggests but nobody does. Knowing this, backup at the very least the files you truly "require" and then if you lose things, you'll always have the backups of those truly important files.

COol

My computer is 2 old to boot from the cd drive(unless the cd auto boots itself)....
So I dont need to make an other drive to install Linux? I can install it in drive c with windows?!?!


BTW I got a back up drive MasterC :)

Sort of. During the install it will ask if you want to install to the free space on your existing partition (C:) if you choose yes, you won't have any free space left in windoze if it even boots at all (that's where the chance comes in, hopefully you backed up in case the worst case happens). What it will do is determine the amount of free space, and do it's best to resize your partiition to use up all the free space. It's not really installing along side windoze as much as it's resizing windoze and installing itself cleanly.

HTH

Cool

Would it just be easyer to just KILL windows altogether and just use Linux(if it doesn't work I got the Windows 98 se install cd near by)?

Only problem with that is I have Windows Text Files backed up on my back up drive.........

It might be, but on the other hand you can always zap linux if it's not for you and not even have to reinstall afterwards if you keep the space windoze is already taking up.

Here's the checklist:
1. Backup/remove necessary files.
2. Scandisk.
3. Defrag
4. Install, and hope things don't get dorked, if they do it's really no loss since you did step 1 first.

Basically that's it. As long as you're prepared for failure, anything else is good right ;) Expect failure, but most people will say, "you'll be ok" because most of the time you are. But don't trust that, it's way too easy for me to say "yeah, dump your windoze partition and go all out with linux". Do what you need to, we are just here to guide you when trouble arises ;)

Cool

follow what the masterc says, it's good advice.

one more thing, just take your time. if you can save those text files that would be good. if they are just .txt files linux will be able to open them up for you. if they are .doc files then open office will be able to do it for you.

cheers.

ok, i used nero to burn those iso files to cds......

How do I run the cd?

With my Windows 98 SE cd I had to type e:/ setup.exe in dos mode.........

also the cd doesn't auto boot itself, or auto run...........

What is the setup files name? an how do i run it?



PLZ help

startup your pc, put in your linux cd 1, restart the computer (with cd still in the drive)

but i think you said your pc won't boot from cd? try going into your bios, when manufacturers logo comes up, press F1 or Del and search through it until u see a bootup sequence that probably looks like

Floppy 3.5"
IDE (harddrive)
CDrom
(something else)

move CD up to the top spot, but if u don't find this, create a boot disk

startup windows and put cd 1 in your drive then go into dos and do the following (from Redhat website) *change "d" to your cd drive letter

C:\> d:
D:\> cd \dosutils
D:\dosutils> rawrite
Enter disk image source file name: ..\images\bootdisk.img
Enter target diskette drive: a:
Please insert a formatted diskette into drive A: and
press --ENTER-- : [Enter]
D:\dosutils>

then keept that floppy in the drive and keep teh cd in the drive, restart, and u should be off



***piece of advice when using linux FORGET WINDOWS, linux is a brand new thing, so forget about .exe files and such, the best way to approach it in my opinion is to keep windows in the very back of your mind but NEVER let it take over u when u start using linux even though they seem very similar

About the start up floppy. Do i make a Windows 98 SE boot floppy(cant think of what they are called)?

well, u should make a win98 boot floppy in case for some reason u can't get back into it, but u won't need it to install linux

what u are making is a disk that will tell your pc to look for bootable information on the linux cd