hello to all of you here at linuxquestions.org

After an initial unsuccessful attempt a year back to dive into the world of linux, I think I am ready to begin again. But this time I want to go the LIVE CD way, to first evaluate which distro I feel most comfortable with before I go for an install.

(My last install of Fedora is still there on my disk, and probably untouched-the partitions are intact, but cannot access it after re-installing XP. The bootloader does not show the option to boot Fedora core at all. So I guess will have to start from scracth)

I wanted to try out ubuntu off a LIVE CD without doing an install. I downloaded the ISO file from here:
//releases.ubuntu.com/6.06/ubuntu-6.06-alternate-i386.iso (have removed "http" from the beginning of the address as i am not allowed to post URLs)

The ISO file downloaded properly. I burnt the image properly to a CD. It also boots from the CD. But the problem is that it only displays me install options. I just want to run linux off the CD without installing it. Have I downloaded the wrong ISO ?

Also, I have read here o0n this forum that PCLinuxOS is a better distro for newbies as it comes with all required drivers and utilities in the box, so its easier to get up and running. At the PCLinuxOS website, it gives you 4 choices of downloads depending on the display driver.

Ideally I would like to use the Live-CD on my desktop (which has a NVidia GEForce FX5500 card and a 20" Flat Panel) and also on my thinkpad R40. So is it better if I pick up the "general release which works with most video cards using the standard video drivers" ? Specifically if I download the generic one, can I run PCLinuxOS on my desktop at my current resolution of 1600X1200 at 32-bit color settings ? Or will I need to download the NVidia specific version of the ISO for that ?

Also just to confirm, this is where I pick up the PCLinuxOS LIVE-CD ISOs, correct ?
://ftp.belnet.be/linux/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/

Hoping to get up and running with your help....

Thanks in advance,
hell_rider

>>> Have I downloaded the wrong ISO?
Yes.

There are three versions:

desktop - this one is the LiveCD + it has install option
server - server instalation
alternate - CD with another install options (OEM, disks RAID, ...)

Tets :-)

Your problem may be as simple as you haven't downloaded the liveCD...

As for your graphics card worries I don't think that you will have to worry. I am running an Nvidia 6600GT and Kubuntu, it configured itself with no need for me to sweat, although I did as I hadn't found this wonderful resource that is LQ.org.


Just head to the Download Linux ---> over there in the toolbar menu thingy, and have a looksee at the reviews and PCLinuxOS home site.

thanks tets,

okay..thats clear on the ubuntu thing. will look up the right ISO.

also can a fellow member also confirm that I have the identified the right link for the PCLinuxOS Live CD and which ISO I should download for my requirement ?

thanks again,
hell_rider

thanks to you too lein,

saw your reply just after I posted.

so to confirm :
I pick up the PCLinuxOS ISO with the generic display drivers, correct ? And this is a LIVE CD ISO, correct ?

ciao,
hell_rider