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Old 09-23-2009, 09:13 AM   #1
wolvinedragon
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Trying to find correct distro for my box and my skill (or lack thereof)


I am just barely entering the linux scene, had downloaded and used ubuntu for all of about 30 minutes before it would go to command level and I couldn't figure out how to get back to the gui...

I would like to find out which Linux distro would be best to learn on, and use the full (outdated) capabilities of my system.

Currently downloading Debian "Lenny" IA64, but from what I've read so far, I get the feeling that it is the wrong one.

Mobo: EVGA Nvidia 680i SLI
Processor: Intel E8600 (core 2 duo, x64)
Ram: 8GB, 4 sticks
HDD: 3 HDD on SATA, no raid currently in use.
Video: 2 Nvidia gtx 260's in SLI
Current OS: Win 7 (7100)

No overclocking done except the auto overclock for the "SLI Ready" RAM, when I have only 2 sticks in.

Any help would be appreciated, and humbly accepted.

-Wolvinedragon

"Everything is possible when the full power of the human mind is put to it"
 
Old 09-23-2009, 09:20 AM   #2
~sHyLoCk~
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Try mandriva
 
Old 09-23-2009, 09:23 AM   #3
JamesChamberlain
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Hmpf, wonder why x windows died (X windows being gui..)

Well, perhaps you hit the hotkeys ctrl-alt and f2. This will drop you into a shell with no xwindows running.

To start x server backup, run "startx" when logged in through the command line.

You may need to remove the Xorg lock file though if it's in use, this is found in /tm/X1.....
 
Old 09-23-2009, 09:33 AM   #4
Nylex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolvinedragon View Post
Currently downloading Debian "Lenny" IA64, but from what I've read so far, I get the feeling that it is the wrong one.
Definitely wrong in the sense of architecture. IA64 is Intel's Itanium architecture, while your CPU is AMD64 compatible. So, even if you don't end up going with Debian, you should get the AMD64 version of whatever distro you choose (or i386, etc. if you want the 32-bit version).
 
Old 09-23-2009, 09:23 PM   #5
wolvinedragon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ~sHyLoCk~ View Post
Try mandriva
Well, I did. I downloaded the latest mandriva free version from the link on this site, burned it to a dvd. Ran the installer on reboot, got so fas as the hdd partitioning, then the partition manager provided started spitting errors stating is was unable to mount the partitions it created (I was using easy mode, with an empty hdd selected). It had the same error wether I selected a SATA, IDE, or USB disk. After getting fustrated and having to reboot the computer using the hardware switch (no exit command/button in the software and ctrl/alt/del did not work), I was horrified that the installer/partition program had deleted the MBR from every disk that was connected, including the Win7 I have been using. I am talking over 5TB of data piled up over 10 years....
I tried using partedmagic on USB to recover, but didnt know where to start. Using my netbook, I found a MSDN post about "Bootrec.exe" off the WinVista/7 install disk. Using that, I was able to locate the windows install that didnt show up on the list when I entered the repair section of the gui. One command, and Windows was breathing again, no loss of data.

Guess I learned one major lesson I had forgotten - never have irreplacible data connected to a system you are fooling around with or testing... about 1 white hair added per second there.

So Mandriva was beyond failure, unknown cause making the installer unable to mount partitions, and screw with other hdd's connected to the system.

Any other reccomendations?
 
Old 09-23-2009, 09:29 PM   #6
wolvinedragon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesChamberlain View Post
Hmpf, wonder why x windows died (X windows being gui..)

Well, perhaps you hit the hotkeys ctrl-alt and f2. This will drop you into a shell with no xwindows running.

To start x server backup, run "startx" when logged in through the command line.

You may need to remove the Xorg lock file though if it's in use, this is found in /tm/X1.....
Dang.... I feel so stupid here. I understand hotkeys, and know none that relate to linux. I am assuming xserver is the gui desktop that I was seeing to start with. As far as Xorg "lock file" I have never heard of it, and would not know where /tm/x1 would be.

How about some reccomendations on learning material then, as I feel I jumped into the deep end here, and I think I saw a fin sticking outta the water...
 
Old 09-23-2009, 09:53 PM   #7
~sHyLoCk~
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolvinedragon View Post
I was horrified that the installer/partition program had deleted the MBR from every disk that was connected, including the Win7 I have been using. I am talking over 5TB of data piled up over 10 years....

So Mandriva was beyond failure, unknown cause making the installer unable to mount partitions, and screw with other hdd's connected to the system.

Any other reccomendations?
First of all I would like to say sorry for my post "Try mandriva" I had no idea that it would result in such a catastrophic event. A few things I should mention is that, I only suggested mandriva due to these following reasons:

1. It is for complete newbies who recently wants to shift to Linux world after years and years of using windows.

2. it has a very simple setup procedure, which is quite self-explanatory.

3. With mandriva, you hardly need to open a console and type something, it has a great control centre which can be used to manage everything! They even have "add/remove" features and a lot of other similar design like windows.

4. Mandriva was created to make Linux easier for the masses, imho it is far user-friendly than ubuntu or fedora.

Now unless you did something really stupid Mandriva shouldn't touch your MBR automagically! If mandriva didn't work for you I don't what will. But I do apologize for my "Try Mandriva" post. :P

Last edited by ~sHyLoCk~; 09-23-2009 at 09:55 PM.
 
Old 09-24-2009, 03:28 AM   #8
lutusp
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolvinedragon View Post
Well, I did. I downloaded the latest mandriva free version from the link on this site, burned it to a dvd. Ran the installer on reboot, got so fas as the hdd partitioning, then the partition manager provided started spitting errors stating is was unable to mount the partitions it created (I was using easy mode, with an empty hdd selected). It had the same error wether I selected a SATA, IDE, or USB disk. After getting fustrated and having to reboot the computer using the hardware switch (no exit command/button in the software and ctrl/alt/del did not work), I was horrified that the installer/partition program had deleted the MBR from every disk that was connected, including the Win7 I have been using. I am talking over 5TB of data piled up over 10 years....
Translation: "Please help me hand-install a new operating system. By the way, I don't understand the importance of backup, even after ten years of irreplaceable data have accumulated."

So noted, and forewarned.
 
Old 09-24-2009, 03:48 AM   #9
linuxlover.chaitanya
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Ubuntu should have run very well there. If you were put on cli, most probably you changed the run level or you pressed the hot keys as said.
To get back to GUI press CTRL + ALT + F7
 
Old 09-24-2009, 07:17 AM   #10
wolvinedragon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lutusp View Post
Translation: "Please help me hand-install a new operating system. By the way, I don't understand the importance of backup, even after ten years of irreplaceable data have accumulated."

So noted, and forewarned.
"Guess I learned one major lesson I had forgotten - never have irreplacible data connected to a system you are fooling around with or testing... about 1 white hair added per second there." I did not think that the installer would reach out to all the connected drives and modify them, so my other drives were supposedly safe. My fault for not disconnecting them prior to install, but it happens to the best of us.

I've admitted I am new to Linux, and came to LinuxQuestions.org for help with it. I am not a complete idiot when it comes to computer, and am quite skilled at computer building, repair, maintenance, and network administration. I DO understand the importance of backup, which is why I had it on terabyte drives seperate from the drive this setup was supposed to be modifying. Do not judge too quickly, my friend, lest you be judged yourself.

Last edited by wolvinedragon; 09-24-2009 at 07:25 AM.
 
Old 09-24-2009, 07:24 AM   #11
pixellany
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lutusp View Post
Translation: "Please help me hand-install a new operating system. By the way, I don't understand the importance of backup, even after ten years of irreplaceable data have accumulated."

So noted, and forewarned.
lutsup;
If that was intended to be helpful, it missed the mark. See also the OP's reply to your little jab. May I suggest a different approach next time.
 
Old 09-24-2009, 07:26 AM   #12
~sHyLoCk~
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolvinedragon View Post
I've admitted I am new to Linux, and came to LinuxQuestions.org for help with it. I am not a complete idiot when it comes to computer, and am quite skilled at computer building, repair, maintenance, and network administration. I DO understand the importance of backup, which is why I had it on terabyte drives seperate from the drive this setup was supposed to be modifying. Do not judge too quickly, my friend, lest you be judged yourself.
Hi! Can I suggest you one more thing? Don't worry it is quite safe! Well install virtualbox in windows, then try out mandriva again, or as others have suggested try ubuntu or anything you want. See how the setup goes within virtualbox and it will give you an idea of how to do it on your system. Setting up ubuntu or mandriva isn't that difficult, you just need to keep an eye on the partition menu and where it installs the bootloader , make sure it is on MBR!
 
Old 09-24-2009, 07:29 AM   #13
wolvinedragon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ~sHyLoCk~ View Post
Now unless you did something really stupid Mandriva shouldn't touch your MBR automagically! If mandriva didn't work for you I don't what will. But I do apologize for my "Try Mandriva" post. :P
No hard feelings at you, I can't explain why it didnt install smooth as butter either. With how the installer was built, there should have been no problems. There was either some incompatibility with my system, or perhaps a corrupted file in the installer. Currently downloading Debian 5.03, and we will see how that works. At least this time, my backup drives won't be connected to the system...

So far as the incompatibility option, I'll try installing Mandriva on my netbook - no important info there, and only 1 hdd to play with.

Last edited by wolvinedragon; 09-24-2009 at 07:30 AM.
 
Old 09-24-2009, 07:32 AM   #14
wolvinedragon
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ~sHyLoCk~ View Post
Hi! Can I suggest you one more thing? Don't worry it is quite safe! Well install virtualbox in windows, then try out mandriva again, or as others have suggested try ubuntu or anything you want. See how the setup goes within virtualbox and it will give you an idea of how to do it on your system. Setting up ubuntu or mandriva isn't that difficult, you just need to keep an eye on the partition menu and where it installs the bootloader , make sure it is on MBR!
Thanks for the tip. I had forgotten about using Virtualbox, been a while since I used it last. Time to freshen up that experience too, lol.
 
Old 09-24-2009, 07:46 AM   #15
linuxlover.chaitanya
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Another way is to use the manual method for partitioning. This way you can choose the space where you want to install and format. As you said you are well knowledgeable about computers as such, it should not be a problem as most of the options are quite self explanatory.
I still think you should not have given up on Ubuntu.
 
  


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