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View Full Version : Noob to Linux: testing the waters....


F1reFly
07-13-2009, 06:38 PM
I want something different for my Netbook than XP since i do little more than browse the web via wifi, listen to music,view videos and play emulated console games.

I wouldnt mind Linux on it, but i'd prefer to customize my own using a current fast distro like Gentoo or something.

So i'm testing the waters on the idea that someone could give me step by step instructions on how to customize it to my needs listed below and compile it to make it installable from flashdrive in case i ever need/want to reinstall.

so if all this is impossible to explain step by step, then skip the next part and just say i'm stupid :P

First i want a fast distro to start off with as a base, like Gentoo or Mint if its as fast.
I want to remove all services and applications that i wont need to do the things i listed in the first sentence of this post.
then i want to add a nice theme/skin to it all and maneuever stuff on the taskbar or use a dock with taskbar like features.
i'd like to rename the distro just for uniqueness if possible
then i want to compile all that so i can install it like that from a usb flashdrive.

i know thats a bit generalized, again i'm just testing the waters to know if its something i can do or not or if all that requires some complex command line codes or something.

basically i dont know where to start to make my own distro...but once its done then i can go about my business in what hopefully turns out to be something alot faster than win XP.

yolagp
07-30-2009, 12:28 PM
I have never used Gentoo, though I've heard it's very difficult to install and configure. I use ubuntu Netbook remix, it's user-friendly and very fast. I din't have to search for drivers, everything worked from the start. And if you don't like netbook interfaces, you can change to the Gnome desktop with a couple of mouse clicks. But if you have enough knowledge to build your own distro (I don't :S) take a look at LFS (Linux from scratch): http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

Paul Komski
07-31-2009, 02:15 AM
You didn't say which NetBook but there is a list of Hardware Support (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Netbooks) for UNR.

What do I need to install Ubuntu Netbook Remix? (http://www.ubuntu.com/GetUbuntu/download-netbook)
* A 1GB USB flash drive (aka thumb drive)
* An Intel Atom processor
* At least 384MB of RAM
* Learn how to install UNR for Windows and Linux users
You can test your netbook's compatibility by running UNR as a 'live' image on the flash drive before installation.

Since it supports XP then a full Ubunutu installation should work OK. Puppy Linux would be another versatile distro with a very small footprint. Do you have access to boot from a USB external CD/DVD?

jlreich
07-31-2009, 07:55 AM
i know thats a bit generalized, again i'm just testing the waters to know if its something i can do or not or if all that requires some complex command line codes or something.
It is not a stupid request. In fact it is something I have wanted to do for a long time but have never had the time to pursue it like I wish I could. I have a huge book on the subject of customizing Live CD's or going as far as making one completely from scratch, which in turn can be installed to a thumb drive or hard drive.

Basic customizations of a Live CD like removing unneeded packages is relatively easy, but you need a working Linux system with development packages installed in order to compile. And at least some basic knowledge of the command line and some basic programming knowledge. If the thought of some complicated commands scare you then this is not something you want to undertake.

There are so many distros out there like Puppy, DSL, and UNR that are made to be very light yet full function. Certainly you can find one that is suitable for your needs. Then once installed you can simply uninstall packages you don't need.

Sylvander
07-31-2009, 09:04 AM
I'm a Puppy Linux newbie, and have never done this, but...

Lots of people have previously and continue to make their own customized Puppy Linux puplets. (http://www.puppylinux.org/downloads/puplets)
They then usually make those available to all.

Apparently it's possible to use "Remaster Express" to do the work. (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=1297655855&t=38707)