Support NeoGAF

[Tarazet]

This message is probably going to require some pretty detailed replies. You may not be willing to take so much time, so if you can offer any tidbits that would form part of a coherent whole, I'd really appreciate it. If it gets such that it would be wiser for me to do a back-and-forth with one person, I'll be happy to offer my IM information. I have accounts in all of the standard IM networks.

Let's say for now that I'm going to download Fedora from LinuxInstall.org, because it's supposed to be good for newbies, which I certainly am. I have an ASUS S5200N laptop, which uses an Intel Centrino 1.5GHz. It is currently running on Windows XP with Service Pack 2, and I keep having problems with basic functions crashing. I'm also concerned about security, because I frequently use an unsecured, public wireless network as well as a home 802.11g.

This is what I need to be able to do:

- Connect to my wireless Internet connection
- Password-protect my computer and files
- Produce and print text documents
- Use an Internet browser
- Use various IM programs (notably Yahoo and ICQ)
- Use an IRC program
- Use Adobe Acrobat for PDF files
- A media-center program like WMP would be a major plus

In other words, I don't care about games and I don't care about peripherals. I just want the basic connectivity functions without the reliability, performance and maintenance issues that come with Microsoft products.

Will all of this be possible under the new environment?

What should I look out for? Is there any risk of seriously messing up my laptop? (I've still got the WinXP CD in case, and I'm going to back up all my files.)

Is there any benefit to running a Linux environment from Windows? Any serious shortfalls/risks?

 

[CaptainABAB]

What kind of printer? via USB, Parallel, Network?

Are you using the Centrino chipset for wireless or did you add in a card for that?


You can always try reinstalling Windows first and see if the problems are caused by 3rd party programs you might installed.

 

[Hitokage]

Test the waters first. Download and try Knoppix.

 

[fallout]

Yes, Knoppix is a great way to start. Hell, even if you don't decide to go with Linux, Knoppix is still an incredibly handy thing to have around.

 

[Tarazet]

What kind of printer? via USB, Parallel, Network?

Are you using the Centrino chipset for wireless or did you add in a card for that?


You can always try reinstalling Windows first and see if the problems are caused by 3rd party programs you might installed.

Epson Stylus C66, via USB.

I have not modified this machine; it is using the stock chipset for the wireless.

I wouldn't be surprised if the problems were caused by 3rd party programs, in fact I kind of expect that - but I'm sick of having to worry about shit like that.

Hito - I've used Red Hat in the past, but I'll do this to see how my system takes to it...

 

[Hitokage]

Oh, and for all your points... yes, except I haven't ever had to set up wireless networking on linux so I can't tell you how it is.

 

[keiichi]

Test the waters first. Download and try Knoppix.

Great suggestion, here are some links to download the livecd http://knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
here is a pdf that was recently posted on slashdot. http://www.pjls16812.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/knowing-knoppix/index.html

It should be able to auto detect your hardware so you'll know right off the bat what works and what doesn't

- Produce and print text documents

http://www.openoffice.org

- Use an Internet browser

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

- Use various IM programs (notably Yahoo and ICQ)

http://gaim.sourceforge.net/ or http://www.miranda-im.org/

- Use Adobe Acrobat for PDF files

xpdf is what I use, but there may be better out there.
- A media-center program like WMP would be a major plus
possibly mplayer? xine? k3b?

I'm sure more people can offer more suggestions. Hope this helps.

 

[fallout]

I was gonna edit my previous post, but realized that was retarded ...

Just going to run down your list actually (I'm on my way to bed, so it'll be quick)...

Connect to my wireless Internet connection - Haven't tried wireless.
Password-protect my computer and files - It's Unix-based, you'll have way more protection and control than you ever did in Windows.
Produce and print text documents - OpenOffice
Use an Internet browser - Firefox
Use various IM programs (notably Yahoo and ICQ) - Gaim is pretty good... some problems with MSN, but not too bad.
Use an IRC program - Haven't done it in awhile, but there's got to be something out there.
Use Adobe Acrobat for PDF files - Various programs available.
A media-center program like WMP would be a major plus - I've always used XMMS. Be warned though, I've always had bad experiences with Linux and sound cards.

Also, be warned that Laptops sometimes have some weird hardware that may or may not be supported. It's been my experience that Knoppix has the best hardware probing of any Linux dist by far. That doesn't mean that it'll work with everything though. My best advice if you do decide to go ahead with this is to RTFM. Look up all your hardware for compatibility issues and the like ... reading will get you everywhere.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

All the stuff you mentioned comes packaged with and auto-runs when you install Fedora Core 3.

 

[Tarazet]

So Knoppix runs off a CD - I just burn the ISO onto a CD-R and restart?

 

[Hitokage]

So Knoppix runs off a CD - I just burn the ISO onto a CD-R and restart?

Yup.

BTW, I happen to prefer Kopete for my Multi-IM needs. On the browser end you have Mozilla, Firefox, Opera, and Konqueror (the program that Apple's Safari got its HTML engine from). X-Chat is what I use for IRC, but the defaults it has are kinda lame. For music, I use Juk(something of an itunes lite) and XMMS(winamp clone). Amarok looks promising but it seems to need more time.... OH WAIT...

What video card do you have? If you have a recent ATI card you better be content doing without any 3D acceleration, since the only drivers that work in 3d for them are from ATI and they suck complete ass.

 

[Tarazet]

It's a laptop, it has a VGA output but I don't think "video card" quite applies here.

Okay, I don't know how to run this off the CD.. are you sure that Knoppix is supposed to be able to work with Win XP? I restarted and it didn't run it.

 

[iapetus]

xpdf is what I use, but there may be better out there.

There's always Acrobat Reader.

- A media-center program like WMP would be a major plus
possibly mplayer? xine? k3b?

Definitely mplayer - best media player I've ever used. Less user friendly than WMP, but more functional in a lot of ways.

 

[Shompola]

I would personally go with Fedora as it's very easy to install/updat etc.

 

[Tarazet]

I need to find a way to modify the BIOS so that it boots off the CD-ROM first, I spent several hours downloading Knoppix and I'd like to try it out... lemme check this guide dad gave me..

 

[ChryZ]

- Connect to my wireless Internet connection
Shouldn't be much of a problem, but it kinda depends on your setup/hardware. There are lots of wicked wifi hacking tools for linux *evilgrin*

- Password-protect my computer and files
No problem at all, there are many ways to secure all kinds of stuff with linux. For files you could set specific read/write/execute rights, desktop/xserver are lockable (xlock, xscreensaver or through the window manager itself)

- Produce and print text documents
Many options, from old-school command line "vi" to office suites like "OpenOffice".

- Use an Internet browser
Firefox is all one need.

- Use various IM programs (notably Yahoo and ICQ)
Licq, Gaim.

- Use an IRC program
Xchat (GUI), BitchX (command line)

- Use Adobe Acrobat for PDF files
Acrobat is available for Linux.

- A media-center program like WMP would be a major plus
MythTV http://www.mythtv.org/

Most decent distros are coming with all the mentioned apps above.

Getting into Linux is challenging, but if you make it, then its very rewarding.

 

[Tarazet]

WTF.

I got into the boot-select screen, selected the CD-ROM drive and it still booted into WinXP. Fuck this, I'm installing Fedora instead... I've got my shit backed up on two CD-Rs in case I change my mind.

 

[Tarazet]

Hmm... now I've got another problem.

No floppy drive.

 

[Hitokage]

If you can't even boot Knoppix how are you going to install anything at all?

 

[Lhadatt]

Hitokage: Be nice to the n00b.

n00b: Buy this book: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...103-6333815-3280646?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

 

[Blackcherry]

If knoppix do not work with your PC, then try mandrake move. If it dosnt boot, youre bios might be the problem

 

[Tarazet]

If you can't even boot Knoppix how are you going to install anything at all?

I told it to boot from the CD-ROM (using the BIOS screen at startup) and it didn't. How is that my fault?

Edit: I figured it out, it was my fault. :lol Oy.. this has been a long night.

 

[iapetus]

For the record, Gaim handles IRC as well. Not as well as BitchX or the like, but if you want it all integrated in one app, Gaim's the one for you.

 

[keiichi]

Just wanted to see how your dry run went.

 

[Tarazet]

I'm still working on it. I just figured out that I needed a Linux boot image, I wasted 5 CD-Rs (cheap ones, thankfully) on failed burns. Why none of the documentation I've encountered mentioned this little detail is beyond me - computer geeks are so newbie unfriendly sometimes.

 

[dem]

I'm still working on it. I just figured out that I needed a Linux boot image, I wasted 5 CD-Rs (cheap ones, thankfully) on failed burns. Why none of the documentation I've encountered mentioned this little detail is beyond me - computer geeks are so newbie unfriendly sometimes.

Yeah
Have fun with linux :lol

 

[keiichi]

I'm still working on it. I just figured out that I needed a Linux boot image, I wasted 5 CD-Rs (cheap ones, thankfully) on failed burns.

please explain? Linux Boot Image? What are you downloading or trying to burn? You should be able to burn any of the iso's provided from the knoppix main page ad boot from that.

 

[Tarazet]

Yeah
Have fun with linux :lol

I know, I'm an idiot.

It's not like I want to be IGN1ZANT, but I have to learn this shit somehow. And if I don't read that I have to do this shit - how am I supposed to know it instinctively?

 

[Tarazet]

please explain? Linux Boot Image? What are you downloading or trying to burn? You should be able to burn any of the iso's provided from the knoppix main page ad boot from that.

I abandoned Knoppix and decided to just go Fedora Core 3. I downloaded it last night on a torrent.

The first time I burned it, it didn't boot. I noticed an option in CDBurnerXP Pro 3 that would make it a Bootable Disc, and it struck me that this was probably what I had to do. But it only had a DOS boot image available and so it would still fail to boot.

 

[Hitokage]

Nearly all linux distros install by booting from the cdrom, hence my previous remark. Actually, how did you install windows?

Oh, and you're supposed to burn the ISO as-is. It already has the boot sector set up.

 

[Tarazet]

Nearly all linux distros install by booting from the cdrom, hence my previous remark. Actually, how did you install windows?

Oh, and you're supposed to burn the ISO as-is. It already has the boot sector set up.

Dammit.. I'll try it again, but somehow I just can't seem to get the settings right. I'm giving it one more try before I swing down to Fry's and buy a $5 CD set...

I didn't have to install Windows, it came pre-installed. I do have a CD.

 

[Hitokage]

Make sure the CD isn't just set to boot in BIOS, but is also your first boot device.

 

[Kazuya]

If you're not in a hurry, you can order free copies of Ubuntu, a nice distribution based on Debian.

http://www.ubuntulinux.org/download/

 

[Phoenix]

Suse still remains the best distro for being up and running in a trivial amount of time with less 'how do I install or run this type of application' issues than the other distros.

 

[sonicfan]

Suse still remains the best distro for being up and running in a trivial amount of time with less 'how do I install or run this type of application' issues than the other distros.

I have SuSE 9.0 on my desktop in a multiple boot system with WinXP. For fun I tried to put SuSE 9.1 on my laptop, a PIII 500 with 256 megs of ram, and it works like a charm. But I don't use wireless so I don't know how well it supports it, but I would assume as well as any distribution.

 

[Tarazet]

Make sure the CD isn't just set to boot in BIOS, but is also your first boot device.

It ignored it and booted up in Windows XP anyway. :/

I did a little sniffing around and found that others have gotten Fedora Core 3 to work on ASUS laptops, though not this one specifically - but Knoppix does not work with this architecture for some reason...

 

[Tarazet]

Currently posting from SuSE. Thanks to everyone, I learned a lot about my computer from this whole ordeal. Especially Hitokage, for your true tech-support job style dedication..