Mandrake Installation Questions

[Paleo Pete]

I'm setting up a P-233MMX to be used as a dual boot machine so I can try to learn how to deal with Linux. HAve a copy of Mandrake 8.1 and the machine is set up and ready to go, I'll probably be installing win98 SE on C drive today.

Before I get into the Mandrake installation I thought I'd post a topic here and see if I might get some useful tips on installing the OS. I know nothing about Linux at all, which is why I want to install it, need to learn how to install and use it.

So far, I have looked up some info on various websites, most of it general instructions, so the basic installation shouldn't be a big problem. However...general instructions don't usually cover the "finer points"...

Any tips and things to watch out for will be appreciated, as well as opinions on what GUI and browsers to use. One other thing I'd like to find is links to some info on using the command line. So far nothing has turned up in my searching, but I haven't concentrated on that aspect, mostly general info and installation...the basics, what it looks like, hardware requirements, etc. Now I need details...

Keep in mind I'm not a total newbie to computers, just Linux, so I can handle tek speek :D Also this will be a dual boot machine, with Windows and Linux on separate hard drives, and Windows will be already installed on C before Linux is attempted.

I won't be trying to install for a few days, maybe more than a week, since I want to be sure Win98 is up and running good before adding more...so I have some time to research a bit more.

[jes]

I was asking about that very topic some time ago. I have mandrake 8.1 as well and was told to get mandrake 8.2 because it is much better.

[iisbob]

Fortunately modern linux installs are about as simple & painless as a Windows install.

Since you are using 8.1, you can let Mandrake auto allocate the free space on your drive-or you can play around with expert mode and set up the free space as you choose ( if you have at least 128 MB's of RAM than i'd suggest a 64 MB swap file )-i recently installed 8.2 to give it a try-it offers even more support for new hardware, more modules to choose from, and an even more stabler kernel than the previous versions of Linux.

Tho i wish they'd package Opera with it like Suse does. :(

As for documentation, it is generally included on your distro discs; i highly recommend installing it.

here's a great link for some basic linux terminal commands,http://www.astro.queensu.ca/~observatory/ObsManual/node50.html

[Donna]

http://www.mandrakesoft.com/training

[setoguro]

Glad you started this post. I'll be trying to install Mandrake in a couple days too (but with me it may take a couple weeks till I get it right). For info on installing Linux and setting up a multiboot I've picked up a lot here (http://www.astro.queensu.ca/~observatory/ObsManual/node50.html) and here (http://www.xperts.co.za/multiboot/). Don't know if this will be of and help to you my starting point is a lot lower than yours.

[Paleo Pete]

I'll check out hte links later,, busy right now with the forums. And thanks for the links, I'm sure they will help. I'm lookingup some sites too, bythe time I get ready to go I should have plenty info. Also just downloaded the Mandrake 8.1 user guide, that should help a lot. True, the docs might be on the CDs but I figured why not have a look BEFORE I get myself in a bind...

More machine specs (which I should have poeted earlier...):

FIC VA-502
Intel P-233MMX
S3 Trio64V+
Creative Labs SB 16 ISA card, two 30 pin RAM chips.
CD ROM US Drive 24X
HDD 1.2GB C: for win98, 2.8GB D: for Linux
RAM 128MB DIMM PC-66

Yeah I had to play around with the colors a bit, try to get accustomed to that...having Java turned off I have to write mine by hand, the buttons do zilch. So I need to practice... :D

Modem is undecided so far, no networking for the moment, although that may happen in the future. Keyboard will be one of my trusty IBM tanks, mouse a Mitsumi serial. (Logitech is great, but Mitsumi is hard to beat too.)

Thanks again for the links so far, I'll be doing some readin later...

[ranchdog]

Pete...

This is a pretty good article to read

prior to getting into all the How-to stuff.

http://www.ratedpc.com/review.asp?id=59&page=1

[Vic 970]

we seem to have a couple of posts going here on Linux install. I just replied to the other..,

Beware that Linux renames your partitions (not recognisable by windows) but not accepted by Partition Magic.

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=79580#post79580

[andyswork@beci.net]

Pete, I agree with Vic, I had trouble with the partitions also. Took me and MJC,and Rick about 3 trys before I got it right. I found the expert install the best. I also found check the box to let linux auto log you in.

[Vic 970]

andy,

did you un install? if so how did you un install?

[yawningdog]

Links and pages are okay, but if you really want to learn the system and commands, nothing beats a good book in my opinion. May I reccommend Running Linux by O'Reilly & Associates.

[mjc]

A simple 98/Linux dual boot is much easier to set up than a tri-boot (or greater) system.