I'm a newbie but would prefer to use Slack so I can learn. I have a Sony laptop that I'd like to load up with Slack. I went with Ubuntu on it because I need this for school, and at the time I was limited in how long it could take me to get things running. But now that I have Linux and XP running on this, I'd like to load up Slack to play around with.

On the Slackware page it says:

Does this mean I can give an option at install time to load up 2.6.13? If so, what's do I need to type?

Also, I don't quite get the modules thing, but know I need compile the kernel with modules. Can I install like this or do I have to wait until things are installed, then re-compile? If I need to recompile, which file should I download? I see that as of this post, the latest stable is 2.6.15.1, but there are .gz and .bz2 files. Other than a better compression, is there a benefit of one over the other?

Thanks in advance.
F_M

i belive you just need to enter "test26.i" at the boot parameters when installing.

Yes during install you pick test26s kernel. Later you are asked where to install kernel from pick cd and put in cd1. Note that installer will still install 2.4.3x kernel modules,source and alsa driver. After install is done you can get needed pkgs from cd2.As root insert cd2 then
mount /mnt/cdrom
cd /mnt/cdrom
cd /2.6.13
upgradepkg *.tgz
then
cd /
umount /mnt/cdrom.
Installpkg and pkgtool will also serve.
uname -r should show 2.6.13 kernel.
This gets you test26.s(2.6.13) kernel,modules,kernel source and alsa drive. Kernel is large so make bootdisk(floppy) wont work. Later if you wish you can use the kernel config file for newer kernel.
Have fun.

Thanks for the step by step. That really helps me figure what I need to do. One question I have about the process. If I put test26s as the boot parameters, still have to do the upgradepkg, etc? Would I be better off downloading the latest and just compiling it?

F_M

Test26s is 2.6.13 all setup. You can use it and see how it works with your hw then later install/config newer kernel if desired using 2.6.13 config as template and use both kernels or just one. It is your SW do what you are most comfortable doing.

But, if you do decide to use the test26.s, you will need to install the modules pkg and package headers from cd2 in the linux-2.6.13 folder

It sounds like I'd be better off to just compile the 2.6.15 once I get Slack installed. This isn't the partition that I use for all my school work, so should be ok. It doesn't have to progress as fast as if I was going to use Slack as my main distro right now. Once it's set up I will, but that's a bit down the line.

F_M

Can I just make sure I understand what's being said here. The default installation is a 2.4 kernel with source and modules, but I can upgrade to 2.6 from the instllation CD by:

mount /mnt/cdrom
cd /mnt/cdrom
cd /2.6.13
upgradepkg *.tgz

Will this install modules, source, package headers and so on? I ask because I initially tried an installation with the test2.6 kernel and I wasn't sure if the 2.6 kernel sources had been installed. During the installation I saw the 2.4 sources being installed but wondered if they were automatically upgraded if I then chose the 2.6 kernel.

Apologies for what are probably obvious questions.

Install with test26s will still install 2.4.32 kernel modules,source,and alsa;you would need the cd2 /2.6.13 kernel modules,kernel source,alsa driver. Upgradepkg *.tgz from the cd2 /2.6.13 would take care of that.
An alternative is test26s 'expert' install where you can deselect the 2.4.32 kernel,source,modules,alsa driver and then use installpkg from cd2 /2.6.13 for the already mentioned pkgs.But you will have to know what pkgs to install for rest of install. You would keep the 2.4.32 kernel headers.

Many thanks for clearing this up.

Thanks for the thread, just what I was after too.

Aprecaited