LQ^QKing for a "Mentor"......

BuckNekkid · 07-05-2012, 04:03 PM

Howdy from the =Flyin' S's Ranch!

Well, I've reached the end of my rope. I'm just lucky my neck wan't in it.

I discovered yesterday that the help I was promised moved out of state and there isn't anyone locally in Shreveport, LA that can help me with the selection of a new motherboard, tower, case, power supply, RAM, video and audio card.

So, I'm looking for a mentor or as ham radio operators call it an Elmer.

My mind is getting progressively worse in remembering things or even understanding what I read. I've tried going to certain pages to learn about Linux, what terms are used and what they do, but no matter how hard I try it's all a foreign language to me. My brain doesn't do this ALL the time but the inicidents are becoming more frequent

I don't expect someone to help me 4/7/365, but rather as a Guide through getting it done and operating.

I've decided to use Debian Squeeze (6). I want a motherboard that has a potential of 8 gigs of RAM and a decent video and audio card.

I saw something is replacing BIOS with a new system that goes above the 2 terabyte limit. WOW! But from what I understand the 1 and 2 terabyte hard drives are not relilable and crash. I may start with just a 500 gB hard drive, then get bigger as time goes on.

If you'd like to help an old man out, you can e-maul (flame) me at:
KA5(dot)LQJ(@)gmail.com.

I appreciate all of y' all's help in the past I'm VERY grateful.

Respectfully submitted,
Regards,
Buck/KA5LQJ

etech3 · 07-05-2012, 04:35 PM

Well howdy y'all

You didn't say what you are trying or what you want to do with that ther MAchine.

There are plenty of used computers on ebay, tigerdirect, newegg . For that matter what's your budget?

Better to start with a plan and plan for the unexpected.

I would start with a 500 gig hard and the add on.

How this helps.

Let me know.

frankbell · 07-05-2012, 08:05 PM

Since you included your call letters, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that whatever you want to do has something to do with amateur radio.

You might find the Linux in the Hamshack site and podcast of interest: http://lhspodcast.info/

As regards the rest of it, I think you are making Linux more complicated than it really is. The best way to learn it is to use it; you will learn what you need to know along the way.

There is another podcast you might find interesting; it's specifically oriented to persons new to Linux, but old heads find a lot of interesting stuff there too: http://goinglinux.com/ I've gone back to episode one and am working my way forward.

cascade9 · 07-09-2012, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckNekkid

I discovered yesterday that the help I was promised moved out of state and there isn't anyone locally in Shreveport, LA that can help me with the selection of a new motherboard, tower, case, power supply, RAM, video and audio card.

While we cant actually build the machine for you, we can help with parts selection.

If you cant find a place locally that will build something for you, there are places online where you can order a system with your selection of parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckNekkid

I saw something is replacing BIOS with a new system that goes above the 2 terabyte limit. WOW! But from what I understand the 1 and 2 terabyte hard drives are not relilable and crash. I may start with just a 500 gB hard drive, then get bigger as time goes on.

The BIOS repalcement is UEFI. IMO its best avoided.

1+2TB drives arent that bad. Buying a 500GB now just because you've heard bad things about the bigger drives isnt going to help (the main difference between current 500GB and 1TB/1TB+ drives is the size of the platters in the HDD. A 500GB drive will have 1 x 500GB platter, the bigger drives will have bigger platters (up to 1TB per platter currently) and/or more platters.

500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 2TB+- it wont make any real difference to the drives lifespan or reliability.

BuckNekkid · 07-09-2012, 04:04 PM

Hi All,

Yes, my main intention is to use the Linux box to do 4 things:
#1. Control and log my ham radio contacts. #2. Store pictures
of landscapes (mountains, valleys, rock outcrops, woods...);
Space (Gaxaxies, gas clouds, stars, planets, comets,....).
#3. Download music of all kinds, except Rap & Heavt Metal and
put the pictures together with music, like a screensaver. #4.
Help me with my antenna business in plotting antenna formulas.

Respectfully submitted,
Regards,

"Buck"/KA5LQJ

frankbell · 07-09-2012, 08:05 PM

I have one one-TB external (one partition, attached to a Windows/Wubi box) and one two-TB external (two partitions, attached to my Debian box). I've never had a problem with either. That doesn't mean one might not die tomorrow--hardware is hardware, after all. But you might look at using externals for heavy duty storage.

The Debian externals serve as my file server drives for media and backups. That way, if I have to reinstall the OS on the computers, I don't have to worry about backing up that stuff because the reinstall won't touch them.

I have GLScreensaver pointed to directories on the externals and it works flawlessly.