So, if I was feeling kinky and wanted to experiment..........

Raistlin · 15-01-2005, 09:14

There, that got your attention

If I wanted to experiment with Linux how safe would that be to do?

I keep thinking about chucking a copy of linux onto my laptop and having it dual-boot but I can't risk borking the laptop up as it's the only PC that I have and I really need it.

Anybody got any suggestions on how risk-free this might be or on where would be the best place to start?

Also, I inderstand that there can be a lot of compatibility issues with Linux, is there any way that I can test before hand to see if the hardware on my laptop will run ok? What are the chances that things like the wireless / ethernet adaptors will work and that I will still be able to use the built in mousepad?

Thanks for the help guys.

jellybaby · 15-01-2005, 09:29

You best bet is to try http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html. You dont even have to install anything

Gareth · 15-01-2005, 09:36

edit:d'oh - beaten to it..... damn you, Mavis Beacon, for not teaching me to type quicker.

Linux has another option, as well as the dual-boot scenario, for those that are just starting out. It's called the Live-CD.

Briefly, there are now several distributions (Knoppix was the original, I believe, but you'll find Mandrake, SuSE, ubuntu, etc...) offering this Live-CD version. It's a slightly cut-down version of their original distribution (mostly just the extra add-on apps that are less used are just removed) that will not only fit on to 1 CD, but also runs completely from that CD. Personally, I'd recommend Mandrake Move

What happens is that you boot with the Live-CD in your drive, then the Linux will create a ram disk so that it can install the entire kernel into memory and run any applications that you will use from the CD.

What this means is that you're running a true version of Linux entirely in memory without anything being written to your HDD. You're safe to play around with this version of Linux safe ni the knowledge that if you do something wrong you won't have borked your Windows install, as nothing is getting written to it. When you're finished, you simply reboot back into Windows.

It's not an ideal situation - as you can imagine, it means that things will run slower than a normal install, as things are being pulled from the CD rather than your HDD. Also, you're more limited to what you do get installed and what you can install yourself. However, for getting to grips with Linux without having to worry about dual-booting, it's an ideal starting point.

Yet another reason why Linux is so much more of an interesting OS than certain other ones I could mention

roseandjim · 15-01-2005, 10:17

I don't know if this is allowed so if a Mod would please delete if not - but there is a dvd version of SUSE Linux on the cover dvd of February's PC Pro magazine you could try if you have a dvd burner to write the boot dvd
I'm thinking of trying it myself - but haven't done yet

Gareth · 15-01-2005, 10:32

Shouldn't be a problem, roseandjim... although I'm no Mod, so my opinion doesn't count for much

Concerning the question of hardware compatibility, it is true that hardware compatibility issues and lack of drivers used to plague Linux considerably. Whilst even the newer releases of the major distros are nowhere near as hassle-free (as drivers are concerned) as a Windows install, things have improved drastically. I've yet to find any piece of hardware that Mandrake 10.1 has had problems with. It works flawlessly with my Toshiba laptop that has both a wireless modem and a touchpad, if that's any help to you.

Your best bet is to Google it - you should easily find if your particular make/model is prone to problems. This might even lead you to choosing one particular distro over another.

Oh, and if anyone's interested, I have some Linux ebooks that I'll put on my site to download. Just say the word if you are.

Richard M · 15-01-2005, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseandjim

I don't know if this is allowed so if a Mod would please delete if not - but there is a dvd version of SUSE Linux on the cover dvd of February's PC Pro magazine you could try if you have a dvd burner to write the boot dvd
I'm thinking of trying it myself - but haven't done yet

Although Linux is open source and therefore, free, I would have said it was OK anyway.
And then I saw this, so you're even more OK:
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=20727

15-01-2005, 13:49

A mate gave me a copy of VMWare to install on my puter, rather than go for the dual-boot option. So one of these days I'll have to put VMWare on and then install linux, just to see how badly I mess up my 'puter.

Bifta · 15-01-2005, 14:00

This Suse 9.2 thats alledgedly free for download, has anyone tried it? Is it time limited? Restricted in any way? Does the DVD version on the FTP site have the A64 version?

OinkyBoinky · 15-01-2005, 20:04

It's a free download as it's free software... all should be really hehe... there are no time limitations, or "restrictions" that you'd expect with windows sorta free trials... it's kinda restricted in that the free download is for the home/personal edition of Suse, rather than the Pro version of Suse... it's got less of the more advanced features like being able to recompile you're own kernel, and other networking tools they don't expect the average home user to use... kinda similar to the way, XP Home, doesn't have some of the stuff XP Pro does...

Plonking · 15-01-2005, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

Oh, and if anyone's interested, I have some Linux ebooks that I'll put on my site to download. Just say the word if you are.

cool.. i'd definitely be interested.. so to quote oliver twist "please sir" !!

P

philip.j.fry · 15-01-2005, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

Oh, and if anyone's interested, I have some Linux ebooks that I'll put on my site to download. Just say the word if you are.

Yes please!

Gareth · 15-01-2005, 21:14

PM Sent

Richard M · 15-01-2005, 21:20

And me please.

OinkyBoinky · 15-01-2005, 21:48

which linux distros would the books cover? i'd be very intrested...

Plonking · 15-01-2005, 22:21

so far i can see one specifically for red hat, and a couple of other general ones.. i'm d/ling them now, and they seem to be pretty cool

if anyone wants an introductory guide to linux, to supplement the ones Gareth is kindly putting up, have a look at the linux learner's guide - i've been reading it lately and it's pretty good!

P