linux menu

[jes]

I have win98 and mandrake on my computer so there is a menu at boot to choose which. It chooses mandrake by default, how can I change that to windows?

[Rick]

What Boot Loader are you using?
LILO or GRUB

They both come with Mandrake.
You can make changes to the defaults of both.
Under you system management from one of the desktops.
What desktop are you using Gnome or KDE?

[jes]

I don't know. How do I check?

[mjc]

This for doing it in the GUI (Gnome or KDE) the first thing you need to do is log in as root then find the Configuration option on the "start menu" (yeah use the win term for it), then go to Other -> Mandrake Control Center -> Boot -> Boot config...then just go through the options there...you will have several to work through, on of which will let you set which is the default OS.

[jes]

I think that I found what you are telling me about. I have some pictures from my digital camera at:
http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/ajohn/screenshots.htm
I think that the "boot device" would be the place to make the selection as to what os boots but I am not sure what selection to make.

Another linux question: when I tell linux to shut down, it tells me exactly what it is doing, unmounting file systems and sending the kill signal. Is that what windows is doing in the background when you tell it to shutdown?

[mjc]

Almost, when you close that first screen the will be another one with the various OS listed, that is the one you want, uncheck Mandrake as the default then go to the Windows button and check it as default.

(I'll see if I can get a couple of screenshots up a little later)

And as to you second, question, pretty much yes....Windows doesn't tell you what it is doing but it does mostly the same things. That is one reason why it so hard to troubleshoot a Windows shut down problem, the whole process is hidden fronm view.

[mjc]

After you close that first bootloader options box, this one should be visible...

Hit the modify button, uncheck default for Mandrake, then do the same for windows, except check efault. You can even change the names to sy things like M$Winblows, or Win98 or what ever....

[jes]

I go into the control pannel (or whatever it is called, im used to windows you see) and select "boot configuration" and get the top picture on http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/ajohn/screenshots.htm
Then I push "configure" and get the second image. Closing that window only takes me back to the first image.

[mjc]

Hit the OK button with out making any changes to get to the screenshot I posted. (sorry.....;))

You can also edit the file file/etc/lilo.conf manually....just change the line default to windows.....

[jes]

Ok. That worked, the first way that you explained it. Thank you.
On to my next linux newbie question. When Linux boots, it says many things. Among them is "loading eth0...". I assume that it is looking for my ethernet card. I think that it is just one more of those things, like my modem. Windows will recognize it but Linux won't. It takes a significant amound of time looking for an ethernet card that isn't there every time I boot.
I want to either disable the search all together or make it so it will find the card.

This brings me to another question. I think that it was you who told me that my modem (packaged with my HP computer) wouldnt work with Linux but if I go to the control pannel and into hardware--it is in the list. It still won't work?

I have more questions. I had better post them before I forget them.

It says "Linux Mandrake 8.2 (bluebird) i686"
What does the i686 mean?

I have a P-166 w/32Mb memory and 4GB hd and want to put Linux on it but when I try to put Mandrake 8.2 on it, it tells me that the system resourses are low. I think that that means that mandrake 8.2 has higher system requirements than that computer. What do you recommend doing? Put another distro on?

[mjc]

8.2?

They may have included the beta Connexant driver in 8.2, save you from having to hunt it down. If it is in the list you can try to set up the connection.

In the hardware list is there a configuration button for the modem?

[jes]

I'm not sure what you mean by a configuration button for the modem.
I have some screenshots posted at the usual place. The top one shows the line in hardware that shows that linux in finding my modem. The second image is the networking section of the control pannel that allows me to set up an internet connection and the third image is the window that I get when I click on "configure internet access", right above my mouse cursor in the picture. I put the information into this window and I think that it is ready to connect, I just have to tell it to use my modem. I don't know how to do that.

ps- what does the paperclip next to the title for this topic mean?

[jes]

Allright. I found that config button that you were talking about. I have a picture of it, it is the top one. The second image is what I see when I select my modem and then click that config button. All of the Rockwell entries are in that screen. I don't know what to do. The one that is already selected looks like the right one to me.

[mjc]

Ok, when you select that modem, it should either have a button labeled configure or bring up a a configuration box for it. If it is already configured you can try setting up the internet connection. Look for the Networking item on the "start menu" then Remote Access, select the dialer (use the Gnome dialer if you are using Gnome..etc) and since you haven't done it yet it should take you through the setup the first time you use it. You may need to select that modem, and you will need to enter details about your connection (more than just the few things Windows asks for)...username, password, phone number..those are the basics, it may also ask for the IP of your ISP's DNS servers, some other account details...(if it gives you the option for dynamcally picking up some of the stuff use it).

For the other problem....a full install with the GUI (Xserver) is probably more than that system can handle...you can try adding some more RAM, that may help, the 4 GB drive should be ok, and you may want to consider bumping up the video card to something a little better....but it will still be extremely slow. Yes, there are smaller, "lighter" distros or a slightly older relase of Mandrake (like 8.1 or one in the 7series), or try without the GUI...not much fun if you are trying to actually do something with other than run it as some sort of server.

[jes]

Now i have some screenshots of what I have. I think that i use KDE but as you can see, there is no KDE dialer in "remote access". Just ignor the second screenshot. I thought that you might need it but have just realized that you don't.

If my modem works, that will be good because I will just logon to the internet to ask you questions but as it is now, I have to reboot my sytem every time and load the other os.:D

[mjc]

Nope, doesn't look like it is there...

Is this from root or your user login?

[jes]

I don't know. How do I check? It logs in to some account and when i try to access control pannel, it asks my password.

[mjc]

When you log in does it give you a little menu that you have to enter your name and password into or does it automatically login?

Ok, here is the link for the Mandrake documentation...it is a hefty size download, in PDF format. (Not trying to get rid of you, just not in Madrake right now and don't quite feel like rebooting.....;))

http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/fdoc.php3

If it did not detect you modem when you first installe dyou may not have the dialer installed either, so we will need to check that. Then configure it, but I'm not quite upto it tonight...

[jes]

It automatically logs in and then when I go to the "start menu" and say log off it shows the screen that you mentioned but there is only one icon there, so i click on it and it puts me back in mandrake but when i want to view the control pannel, it asks me for a password.

[mjc]

Ok, at the log in screen type in root instead of your name...it may not really make a difference, but we'll see. You may some extra menu items as root, and be able to configure the dialer there.

[Paleo Pete]

what does the paperclip next to the title for this topic mean?

It means the thread contains attachments. Those are the images mjc posted earlier in the thread.

[jes]

I tried typing "root" and then my password when logging in. I got a scren that told me that I was logged in as root and this could be dangerous because I could mess things up (those are my words). I went to the start menu and up to network and then to remote access again, the same two things where there.

[john5211]

Hi Jes,

Sorry to dig up old threads, but I was while I was looking around for some info today I saw a HOWTO (http://www.linux.org/docs/ldp/howto/Conexant+Rockwell-modem-HOWTO/index.html) for Rockwell-Conexant Modems. If you haven't gotten yours working yet, you might want to have a look at it.

Good Luck,

John

(PS-remember to install the dialer after you get the modem working :) )

[jes]

I would definately be interested in that. I will check that out. Thanks.