Learning Linux, need help picking out Distro.
 

Hello, I am new here and not really sure how to ask this, so I'll just say it. I want to start learning linux, seeing as I'm going to college for IT and I also want to. I want to know what Distro I should use, or an order of them (like from easy to hard). I also need a guide to get that distro dual boot with windows 7. I am also using a laptop, I don't know if that will matter or not.

I need overall help with linux I am so confused on what to do and how to do it and such.

I thank you in advance for taking your time reading it, and also replying if you do.

Keep reminding yourself: Linux is not difficult. It's just different.

I've never used Mint, but I've heard it described as Ubuntu done right. It may be one of the easiest.

I have also used CentOS, Suse, Ubuntu. and Debian, and didn't find them particularly difficult, but that was after three years as a Slacker.

I prefer Debian to Ubuntu; the reason I'm using Ubuntu on two boxes is that they came with Ubuntu from the factory and the wireless works.

I've fought the wireless wars before and I choose not to fight them again. If Linux has an Achilles heel, it is wireless, because many wireless manufacturers do not make Linux drivers, or do make lousy Linux drivers.

I like Debian.

Here's some tutorials I recommend:

Very basic, but clear: http://linux.about.com/

Machtelt Garrels Introduction to Linux. Garrels writes great manuals.

The Slackbook.

If you really want to learn, start with the same distribution I started with: Slackware. It always works, if never breaks, and it expects you to RTFM.

There is great support in the alt.os.linux.slackware newsgroup and here at LQ.

The most difficult thing about getting started with Slackware is that it does not automatically install itself. It expects you to be able to partition the HDD yourself.

I posted a tutorial on installing Slackware at a blog I participate in. This link will point you to the last of six posts. It links to the preceding posts.

When you get Slackware working to your satisfaction, you will feel at home in any Linux distribution. There is a lot of other information out there that you will find by including "slackware" in the search string.

Ya I'm going to install Mint, since I don't have 6 CDs.

I will look into those links after I get mint working.

Thank you for you help, I'm sure I'll be asking more questions though.

Unless there is a different way to install slackware?

Mint is fine. It is easy and works. Its based on Ubuntu so I expect it to be binary compatible with it. Lot of packages with package manager. Easy to start with and easy to install. Dual boot is easy to setup. If you want to go for Slackware but still want something which a newbie can start with, try Vector or Zenwalk. They are based on Slackware but they do use package management as well.
Whatever distribution you choose to go with, make sure you have the latest version.

If you are looking at getting your feet wet but don't want to install it on the hardware try portable Ubuntu http://sourceforge.net/projects/portableubuntu/ it works well and gives you access to an Ubuntu install you can carry from machine to machine and gets you used to the software.

Bill

There is no option to dual boot when I am installing Mint, and I need to help this be a dual boot, can someone help me?

I going to actually install Vector and see how that turns out.

For dual booting with Windows u have to first install windows then linux mint. Mint will ask u where to write the bootoader, u select MBR. U can then dual boot.

Actually, Digikid13, the option to dual-boot in the Mint installer (called Ubiquity, because it originated in Ubuntu) is "Install operating systems side-by-side, choosing between them each startup". I know it's complicated, but that's how you do it.

Depends on your taste but if I were you I'll always start the very normal way: Slackware. It's also best to try an older version first as those versions only require 2 CDs. Slackware 9.1 or Slackware 10.x.

Slackware?!?! It's not for newbies, and for Windows users is one of the hardest distros to learn, as you have to type commands just to get Internet working (and if you want to get wireless working using net-config, good luck).

Oh, and Gentoo is no different.

[Sorry, I posted this before I noticed "laptop", which may be a game changer...]

I've tried Mint live CD and Ubuntu (live CD and hard drive installation) on a desktop computer, and they both worked well out of the box for me.

I have also used these distros (live CD or hard drive installations).

Debian Lenny, the current "stable" edition of Debian, is no harder to install using the installation disk (CD #1; you need only download that one iso file and burn it to CD, assuming you have a working installation, or else purchase that one CD) than Ubuntu. At least not for me.

The great advantage of Debian, I think-- at least for a desktop computer-- is the unparalleled variety of free open source software on offer in the repositories (many can also be installed by Ubuntu users, but not all, I think) and the fine package manager (apt and its front-ends like aptitude, kpackage, synaptic). But depending upon your current needs/tastes, another distro might work better for you. The important thing is to not give up the first time something goes wrong (computers are complex, so at some point something will probably go wrong!).

The disadvantage of Debian for laptops is that it may be hard to get your WiFi working, or so I hear, whereas Ubuntu will probably work out of the box.

One thing you may find helpful is to buy some books on maintaining a Linux system. Inevitably, these will tend to focus on one or two popular distros, and authors are not always careful about warning readers about distro-specific comments. Carla Schroder, Linux Cookbook is an exception.

If you have heard good things about Red Hat linux (a commercial distro used by many organizations), CentOS is closely based upon that, so books which discuss maintaining a Red Hat linux will probably help you to learn to use CentOs without getting confused by the fact that Debian, Ubuntu, SUSE all do various important things in different ways from Red Hat derived distros.

Well I think my computer is special or something. It is running Win7 btw. I tried installing Vector Linux to dual-boot with windows, but it didn't work it overwrote the MBR and not it only lets me pick Vector. That wouldn't be to big of a problem, if the X Sever wasn't failing on me every time I started my computer up and I can go back to windows. I am lucky my HP came with quickweb, or I would be screwed seeing as I'm using it to post this here. I'm going to try to reinstall Vector and see if I can change anything about it, I'll tell you guys what happens.

An extremely useful tool, whether you use mainly a linux or some other OS, is the Knoppix live CD (I happen to particularly like v. 5.1 from 2009), which you can obtain as an iso file in various places, and then you can burn a live CD from that. Especially if used with a very useful book at hand, Kyle Rankin, Knoppix Hacks. Particularly useful for situations where the MBR has been messed up, or for some other reason you can't boot up your OS.

If you were installing on a desktop, I'd add that the Debian installer is excellent and should automagically set up a dual-boot installation for you, provided that you first used a partitioning tool (a Knoppix live CD can do this) to shrink a Windows partition and create a new partition ready for Debian to use. But I don't know how well it does with laptops.

I already did the partitioning, I'll have to wait until later to check out Debian.

Well when I was a newbie, I started learning with Slackware. I told you it depends on the taste. Why did you mention Gentoo? Or at least why do you have to?

Because Gentoo is in your profile.

In my opinion, a distro that is easy to use is a distro that comes with X and either GNOME or KDE plus a splash screen on the Live CD. However, some hard-core users would prefer to use a text-based installer. Yes, it does depend on the taste.

Generally speaking (at nobody in particular):

Such arguments/debates are almost always present when someone asks for help picking a distro. It's very subjective to the asker's particular tastes & abilities & willingness to spend time learning their new distro. It's difficult for people to suggest something that somebody they don't even know, is going to like. :)

For the most part, I think folks do their best to suggest a few 'easier-to-use' (in their opinion) distros, and a few 'harder-to-use' (in their opinion) distros. Also, we usually like to suggest our own favorite distro, with or without some disclaimer caveat(s).

I too tried a half dozen or more distros within a couple-week period of discovering Linux, and nothing was appealing until I got Slackware installed, and then, I decided I liked it and was going to learn to use it. Totally depends on the person.

:twocents:

P.S. - Digikid,

if you find that your Vector (or whatever) boots up fine to the login console, but you can't get X running and need a browser, you might like to see if you have 'links' or 'lynx' or 'elinks' available on your distro. You can browse the net using these console-based browsers and seek help with X, instead of having to reboot and/or use that 'quickweb' thing. The console browsers take a few minutes to get used to, but they're great in a jam. Just do like "links google.com" or similar, to load a URL into the browser.

And - don't forget, the manpages always work from the console too.

Best regards.

Have a look here too:
http://www.tuxradar.com/content/how-...t-linux-distro

Try a few for a few days each, then settle for the one you like best. That's the only way to choose.

I finally got it working, but I'm now trying to get my driver working correctly. It shouldn't be to big of a problem. The only really big problem I have is getting the Wi-Fi to work I don't have any access to a wired connection when I get home Monday. So now I'm going to see if I can install slackware when I get to my aunts house, I found an installation guide where you don't need CDs but you need a linux distro on your computer. Oh ya, I'm not looking for an easy-to-use so boring after you start it kind of thing I want something where I have to program everything in order to get it working (ok not everything but you get the picture. I'm trying to learn everything I can about linux and if I have to use the hardest distro to do it, then so be it. I'm sick of windows anyway, all I do is go on play my games, use the internet and get bored really quick.

I want to help out the community in any way I can, so bring on the fun!!

Get Fedora 13! It is by far the best distro. It is also most useful if you learn with a job in mind.

I think ubuntu 10.04 is the best by far in my opinion!!! Then openSuse 11.3

Linux is not just the software; it is also the community.
Choose a distro that you like and that runs well on your computer, but also choose a distro with a friendly community that is open to beginner questions.
I got my start over at http://ubuntuforums.org and they took good care of me while I was learning.

Hi, then I come a bit too late. but have you thought of trying a virtualization software like Virtualbox, you would keep a working Windows system and could try as many distros as you want until you find something that suits you, which you would then be able to install in dual boot. That would be my recommendation.

I'm a bit late here, but nevertheless...

1. Get something easy to start with. Once you've got everything working smoothly, then you can start poking around inside and finding out how it works.

2. If you are interested in a computer career, then Fedora or OpenSuse are good choices because so many companies use Red Hat or Suse Enterprise Linux that are based on them.

In that case, wouldn't CentOS (which *is* RHEL without the Red Hat branding) be better than Fedora?

Two big things to consider as well: Hardware compatibility (will this run on my machine?) and software (what do I want to use my computer for?). Snowpine already mentioned another very important one: The community. The one he mentioned is awesome, friendly, and very active.

When you choose a distro, you're also choosing a software repository. This is a hyooooge, gynooooormous advantage that users of the big, popular mega-distros like Debian, Ubuntu/Mint, Fedora, etc. Independent ones (like PCLinuxOS) and some of the smaller little-known ones that aren't based on the big ones (using their repositories) simply don't offer nearly as much software, and their users have to hunt for the package they want and unpack tarballs and stuff like that. Not "beginner friendly," but very valuable for learning Linux, which is what you said you want.

As for Slackware, it's awesome. But for a beginner to Slackware, I recommend Salix. It is fully Slackware-compatible but alot easier for newbs and kids like me who like a sweet, simple, fast interface (Xfce is the default - more awesomeness!). But check those two big factors: Hardware compatibility and software availability.

Good luck and enjoy Linux!

-Robin

Agreed, although I have to admit I like 10.10 Alpha 3 a little bit better.

Whatever you do, don't choose CentOS if you ever want your hardware supported. All the drivers, programs, and kernel it supports are EOL.

I couldn't disagree with this more; the "upstream vendor" (Red Hat) routinely backports the latest hardware support to the kernel to the point it really isn't 2.6.18 at all but rather a mutant super-kernel. My experience with CentOS 5.x as a workstation operating system has been overwhelmingly positive, even on my Dell Mini netbook.

Also as I'm sure you know, there will be a new Red Hat/CentOS release later this year that has 2.6.32 and all the latest "stuff." (You can test-drive the Beta today if you like!)

"CentOS does not support any hardware" is a ludicrous statement. ;)

Yeah, I know. But I would rather have the latest support/kernel and latest GNOME all the time, which is why I would go with Fedora if I wanted something like RH. But it's your choice.

Edit: Oh, and will the new Red Hat/CentOS come with GTK3 (GTK+ 2.90)? If not, will the required build dependencies be in the CentOS repository to be able to git clone GTK3 and build it?

I love how these "which distro for a beginner" questions turn out to be a discussion of linux veterans discussing which distro is better for them instead of actually helping the beginner.

Welcome to the internet. ;)

It's perfectly fine, I got Ubuntu 10.4 working on my laptop and now I'm just trying to learn things. ^^

Considering that this particular newbie is about to go to college for IT, this might be exactly the kind of experience he would benefit from. Slackware also gives you an extremely well-tested stock install, and makes it as easy as possible to a) change every aspect of it, and b) revert to it when you break stuff experimenting. I certainly benefited from that as as newbie.

And btw, you don't use net-config to get wireless working in Slackware. You just install wicd and use its GUI :).

It takes more than a few days to really get a feel for any distro. Two weeks would be a minimum, imho.

I mean, we all react the same way when people start threads saying "I tried your favorite distro for a few days and these are the reasons I don't like it."

The best method for partitioning on Windows 7 is...

• Click on start, right click on Computer, and select Manage
• Go to Storage > Disk Management in the mmc
• Right click on your drive and select Shrink Volume...

NOTE: It's better to defrag and optimize your drive using a utility such as MyDefrag because Disk Management will only shrink the volume down to the nearest fragment. Which is why shrinking a fragmented volume will produce undesirable results.

After that install any aforementioned XYZ distro and they all usually detect Windows and setup grub accordingly. If you run into troubles we're here to help you either fix it or assist you with restoring your computer the way you want it.

Adding to sag47's sage advice, I recommend installing your Linux bootloader to the front of the partition and not to the MBR. Then you can use a Windows program called EasyBCD to handle the dual-booting. This is the easiest setup, imho.