I have tried Linux Coral it would not install,Red hat,and mandrake 7.2 -8.2 it looks like win3.11 win95 its slow
plug and play dosnt work, and how to install drivers sound blaster?,
how to install programs?,you have to start all over again learning computers, for me Linux is a non starter, its like the S&M of computing,i would it its now form never use it.jtk

That's your decision. However personally I find Linux fairly easy to use. KDE and GNOME are skinnable, and there are several other window managers that you can use.

You just got to stick at Linux to learn it and read a lot of material. The payoff is good though. You get a customized OS and is very stable.

However the decision is yours.

Well Craftyc thanks for your input, i know that Linux fans are very faithful to there system, but i have been working with dos windows now for 12 years and feel at home with these op systems. As i said i tried many flavors of Linux some will install some wont and when you get problems with hardware drivers not installing like an old sb16 card,and all the difficulties to install drivers in linux i will leave it alone for a couple of years.
I am hoping that someone will make a Linux a bit like XP where it just installs all hardware drivers.
And also programs they all have stange names and what to click on to install a program (setup - exe etc)in mandrake i was trying to install just a simple game, could not find anything where to look
i think Linux will have to have a new look to be popular with non nurds.But please PM me if you find a linux that a dos windows freek can manage?.all the best.jtk

If you are looking for a distro that is for dos/windows users, Mandrake is supposedly the best. However judging from your experience I doubt you will want to try it.

You can take a look at [link]www.distrowatch.com[/link] to find a suitable distro for your needs.

To learn Linux you have got to stick to it, like superglue. Before I became a Linux (proper) user, I had tried it before. I too had the same experience as you, things were difficult to install and bloody bastards to configure. So I stuck with Windows. Then a few months ago I decided to give it another shot. Now I am pleased that I didn't give up so easily.

Again it is your decision wether you want to use Linux or not.

PS. what game were you trying to install? Maybe I can help.

I've been trying a bunch of distros of Linux and find SuSE 8.0 the most likable so far. Tried RedHat 7.3, Mandrake 8.2, Caldera 3.1.1, and a couple others. Not easy for a long time DOS/Windows guy, I agree, but fun. I've got mine installed as a dual boot with WinXp

Well guys as Craftyc said it needs maybe a lot of time getting used to Linux its just after 12 years you cant remember how many problems we had with the first dos windows.
But i must say Linux niggles at my curiosity, i was just thinking there must be an easier way to install a old SB16 driver in Linux without having to program with a lot of commands/switches etc,as for the game just any old game to see how it is to install something in Linux.
I will try the site you mentioned and see if there is help there to put linux on a old second pc i have.jtk

Well I first tried Mandrake 8.0 than 8.1 than Slackware 8.1 and still running slackware. Yes its harder to configure than XP . Sometimes you need to edit config files by hand ( yeah its fun ) . But LinuX will never be like XP because its Linux not windows it will always want you to read some to configure it . Thats why its more stable than windows ( imho that is ) as an example xp crashed many times when installing my hp 960c deskjet drivers but in linux i only configured kernel with parallel port support and boom its running like a charm.

And about the SB16 support check [link]www.alsa-project.org[/link] ( For the wondering ones ALSA = Advanced LinuX Sound Architecture and its in the 2.5 development kernel and will be in 2.6 [ 3.0 ? ] kernel )

jtk, if you do decide to take up Linux, [link]www.tldp.org[/link] is a very good site. It's documentation helped me no-end to get Linux set-up.

It may also be a good idea to sign up with a Linux related forum. An example is [link]www.linuxnewbies.com.[/link] There are many experts that are very willing to help. There may also be a distro specific forums for your distro (eg forums.gentoo.org for Gentoo Linux).

Good luck with Linux. :)

I continue to be intrigued with Linux. For me the best install is SuSE 8.0. It automaticlly mounted my hd #2 and all the fat partitions are right there on the desk top. Had no trouble installing some linux programs I'd downloaded and had on hd #2 (hdb, according to Linux) Didn't have that kind of ease with RedHat 7.3 or Mandrake 8.2. Slackware is still beyond my current skill level with Linux. The sites craftyc points to are great.

[quote:b68799cb10][i:b68799cb10]Originally posted by rikytik [/i:b68799cb10]
[b]Slackware is still beyond my current skill level with Linux. The sites craftyc points to are great. [/quote:b68799cb10]

Try it (in Virtual PC, or something similar) then decide! I had exactly the same feeling about Gentoo Linux, but I tried it and now it is my OS of choice. I would recommend it to anyone (new to Linux or not).

Before doing the Slackware, I thought I'd go back and install Calera 3.1.1 again now that I've gotten a little better at the installation process. It, like SuSE 8.0 mounts all my drives: hd #2, my external usb drive and puts all the fat icons on the desk top as well.

The other thing I notice is an easier interface for the LAN setup.

Must be an older version of KMail because I'm having trouble with the server settings. But, must say I like many of the features better than RedHat or Mandrake.

Craftyc,

Ok. Ready to try Slackware. Have the 8.1 iso, but note that the full 8.1 download is much larger. Got nearly 1GB of files and nearly done. Just made boot and root disks hoping I can install from the hd.

Did you made install cd's from the full 8.1 download or use the 1 cd iso? If the former, how did make the 2? cd's.

Guess what? I installed Slackware 8.1, using the 5 diskettes and the 8.1 iso. So far so good.


....meanwhile.......some hours later........

Given additional experience I reinstalled SuSE 8.0. The installation is much more automated than Slackware and the packages are nearly as recent. I find SuSE 8.0 a better choice for me. It is convenient that SuSE mounts all my drives and displays the fat partitions, automatically. Like to checkout Slackware after its next major upgrade. SuSE beats Red Hat 7.3 and Mandrake 8.2 for ease of installation too.

[quote:5008bc2c36][i:5008bc2c36]Originally posted by rikytik [/i:5008bc2c36]
[b]Guess what? I installed Slackware 8.1, using the 5 diskettes and the 8.1 iso. So far so good.


....meanwhile.......some hours later........

Given additional experience I reinstalled SuSE 8.0. The installation is much more automated than Slackware and the packages are nearly as recent. I find SuSE 8.0 a better choice for me. It is convenient that SuSE mounts all my drives and displays the fat partitions, automatically. Like to checkout Slackware after its next major upgrade. SuSE beats Red Hat 7.3 and Mandrake 8.2 for ease of installation too. [/quote:5008bc2c36]

But you learn nothing about Linux. That is one of the reasons I like Gentoo. There is no hand holding during the installation (although the installation guide is *the* best I have ever seen). You learn a lot about what actually happens during an installation, you configure your own kernel, it's all pretty funky really.

Noting your enthusiasm for Gentoo, I'm gonna try to find it and give it a try. I love this stuff. I'm a "machanic" by nature.

Couple days later..........Ok, craftyc. I downloaded it this am and just read the install instructions. You are right. This is what a newbie old time dos guy should do. Learn some basics.

Good of you to keep "insisting". <heh heh>

[quote:cdb53132d3][i:cdb53132d3]Originally posted by craftyc [/i:cdb53132d3]
[b]

But you learn nothing about Linux. That is one of the reasons I like Gentoo. There is no hand holding during the installation (although the installation guide is *the* best I have ever seen). You learn a lot about what actually happens during an installation, you configure your own kernel, it's all pretty funky really. [/quote:cdb53132d3]

Save that I dont want to start a flame war here but when one installs Slackware and runs it He/She learns lots of things !

1- You will have to recompile your kernel . Slackware wont give you new precompiled kernels

2- You will have to configure basic networks/firewall etc

3- You will mostly compile your programs and that will teach you a lot about linux

<rant>
Now about Gentoo :cool:

Yes you get the system up running by hand but you just emerge foo then it compiles/installs you doont hack configure / Makefiles ( which I done several times on slackware ) . You dont use optional configurations for compilation ( which is mostly useful and needed ) . Other than that gentoo is cool. :D

[quote:a082639b9d][i:a082639b9d]Originally posted by CARTMAN [/i:a082639b9d]
[b]
Save that I dont want to start a flame war here but when one installs Slackware and runs it He/She learns lots of things !

1- You will have to recompile your kernel . Slackware wont give you new precompiled kernels

2- You will have to configure basic networks/firewall etc

3- You will mostly compile your programs and that will teach you a lot about linux
<rant>
Now about Gentoo :cool:

Yes you get the system up running by hand but you just emerge foo then it compiles/installs you doont hack configure / Makefiles ( which I done several times on slackware ) . You dont use optional configurations for compilation ( which is mostly useful and needed ) . Other than that gentoo is cool. :D [/quote:a082639b9d]

1) Same with Gentoo :). No problems there. All the Gentoo ebuild provides is a (heavily) patched kernel (but still works pretty damn quick)
2) Same with Gentoo :)
3) Well this is where Gentoo differs. You say correctly that you emerge them. I don't know what Slackware's package management system is like, but portage is just a quick and easy way to maintain applications.

Well technically you can hack configure / makefiles. You can use the "emerge -f foo" option which will fetch the package, then you can do what you want with it. For optional configurations, there are the USE settings. Set them up correctly and you will have only what you want compiled.

I might consider trying Slackware out to see how good it is though.

Downloaded Gentoo this am. The boot disc and install disc make a fast download (16MB, and 135MB respectively) REading the install instructions I can see that this is the way for a newbie to go. Opportunity to understand commands and configuration which the automatic installs don't require you to know about.

Good of you to "insist".

You're welcome :D.

Anyway's a little aside. The Gentoo forums don't seem to be working, however you can catch us at irc.openproject.net and join #gentoo.

Good Luck.