The Linux Distro Thread (maybe)

[ej-solutions]

Thought I'd start this one off, rather than continue on another thread.

As a quick catch up for others:

Have a look at Unetbootin, as a means to try out different versions of Linux, without producing numerous coasters (unwanted CDs).
I haven't tried the method of installing to hard drive, only the USB flash drive method (so far).

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Just skimming the surface

Opinions/guidance expressed are intended to benefit the reader (mostly) but no responsibility should be assumed for the accuracy and no warranty is implied/expressed or given - so eBay may pull this post

[*scyllabub*]

It gets worse 😮 XP told me that the flash drive was corrupted, I had to use Task Mgr to close it down, couldn't format it, nuthin! Stuck it in my Windows7 Asus and immediately was told "You must format this drive before you can use it" (it still had the Ubuntu stuff on it) so I set it to do a full (not quick) format at default settings... that was a couple of hours ago, I should think, and it's not three-quarters of the way thru yet 😮

I've been looking at flash drives as recommended by EJ but I do feed reluctant to spend, so am thinking of borrowing a USB DVD drive - wuddee think? (That's my West Country origins showing thru again 😉 ) I'll keep the 32gb stick for data, maybe music or movies?

This is my hard drive (the same shot as I posted here some weeks ago):

[otherego]

Another post lost in cyber-space - I'll try once more from the laptop du joour. (Windows 2000 - eeeeurgh - I can just feel the viruses crawling aboard.)

A couple of suggestions if I might, Scylla:

If your machine will boot off an external optical drive, then that would probably prove a much better way of partitioning and installing - using CDs rather than flash drives.

You might like to do a bit of reading around re partitioning - quite a nice Wikipedia intro:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_partitioning

I'd be inclined to shrink your D partition with Easeus to about 30 GiB. The ensuing unallocated space would then be given over to an extended partition of about 39.3 GiB and containing a root partition of, say, 6 GiB (ext3 or 4 as appropriate), a home partition of 31 GiB etx 3 or 4 and a swap partition in the remaining space - a little over 2 GiB to match your RAM/hibernation needs.

Your chosen Linux distro should fit happily into that lot.

Might be an idea to hang on for other comments, first!

Time to step away from the computer for a while...

[*scyllabub*]

#761 - You might like to do a bit of...

You are such a bully sometimes :_|

;)

[otherego]

Moi? I was just trying to be helpful, I promise. (Grovels.)

Just had a thoroughly frustrating hour installing NBR to VirtualBox and ending up with a black screen.

And remembering that happened last time, too. I get a little cross with my brain, sometimes. (I suspect the onboard graphics on that computer are on the way out - should have remembered!)

However, at least I was able to have a look at how much space NBR took up - about 2.2 GiB. This suggests that a five to six gig root partition would be more than adequate, unless you're planning to install an awful lot of software.

And of course, it's not essential to install separate root and home partitions - it's highly recommended in order to simplify future upgrades etc, but it's not that big a deal to simply back up your data and reinstall from scratch, either.

If you're more comfortable with a straightforward two partition system (one ext4 for the distro, and one swap partition), that would work fine.

I did a spot of googling about the Advent 4211 and MSI Wind. Nice. I did a spot of hunting on eBay, and looked at typical prices. Not nice.

Won't be getting one of those this month, then! But I'm increasingly tempted to install NBR to the EeePc - my only concern is that mine is an early model whose hard drive is a) tiny (4gb, almost) and b) soldered to the mother board- so not practically replaceable when I b****r it up.

But NBR does look even better on the tiny screen than the original Xandros, and is a heck of a lot more up to date.

[grumpy-cook]

OE, re your black screen - have you installed the Vbox guest additions? I'm not sure it will help in your config, but it's worth a look. Check under the Devices menu item of the guest OS.

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[*scyllabub*]

I hope you (chaps) don't mind me posting bits and pieces which are not constructive for anyone else.

I'm downloading Ubuntu NRE 10.04 to the hard drive of my Windows7 notebook. Then I plan to burn it to an 80-minute CD-R. Then I plan to borrow bro's USB optical drive and use that to install U-NRE onto my netbook. Right?

While it's downloading I'm going to re-partition the netbook hard drive, but there may be problems with roots and ext3/4 ?:|

[*scyllabub*]

I wonder if something has to be done to make it bootable? Soon find out :^O

[grumpy-cook]

You need to burn it as an image - don't just burn the ISO to the cd as a file. Your burning program should have a separate option to burn an image.

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[*scyllabub*]

I think I burned it as an image 😐

This is my HDD now, what shall I do with the unallocated but with a view to putting Ubuntu on it?

[grumpy-cook]

You should be able to run the livecd and then you can either partition it yourself using Ubuntu's disk manager (probably Gparted) or just run the Ubuntu install and let it do it for you.

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[*scyllabub*]

Well, here I am, via Ubuntu Netbook Remix 10.04 installed on HDD. Not altogether plain-sailing, in that the first time I was asked for a keyring password it said I'd typo'd and everything froze so I had to reboot; and the second time, the keyring password request suddenly disappeared before I could type anything ?:|

I'm going to have a fiddle around now - must:

(1) disable touchpad
(2) reset shift key
(3)reset time to include DST
(4) declutter Firefox.

[grumpy-cook]

Well done Scylla.

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[*scyllabub*]

What about antivirus, please?

[grumpy-cook]

You don't need one really. If you are going to be exchanging files a lot with Windows computers you may want to consider one, but don't bother just now.

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[*scyllabub*]

Thank you. I did just visit the forum, but even that looks strange compared to other forums 😞 I've installed AdBlock 🙂 Going to have a rest now. (You will be relieved to hear 😉 )

[blackburn_stevie]

'Ere ..... about this Linux malarkey.
If I have a Computer, a laptop and a mini laptop jobbie that all use windows, albeit different versions, anybody that uses the PC will soon be easily trotting round the laptop or Netbook. Same thing if they have only used a PDA with Windows, using a full size PC will soon be second nature.

OK, I can visualise a time when Linux has progressed a bit and will do all that I want it to do to the point where I could trust it all to work perfectly on a full size computer but the question is, will the same software (or as near as makes no nevermind, work on a much smaller device?
I'm thinking of the Zaurus SL-C3100 or even a Zaurus SL-5600. Will they be able to run a version of Linux with the look and feel of, say, Ubuntu which has a vaguely recognisable front end, to Windows users?

Don't mind me. I just live here :^O

[otherego]

Scylla - congratulations! Hope you continue to enjoy it. (And that your XP still works...!)

Steve - nail on the head? In my humble opinion, the sheer diversity of Linux distros is one of the very biggest obstacles to Linux's adoption by the computing masses, rather than any real or perceived shortcomings in the software.

Whether that's a bad thing could be debated all night...

[blackburn_stevie]

oe .... that has been my thinking for a long, long time.
A case of being spoiled for choice and not being able to make a decision as to which flavour to stick with and persevere with until all teething troubles are sorted out.
It is just much easier to chuck it in and go back to Windows.
I know it's the wrong thing to do but when push comes to shove, my PC is for working on and getting stuff done. OK, so I mess around on here and browse eBay but my "working" time has to be spent actually doing stuff, not trying to make a new OS do the things that Windows does first time of asking, usually.

Don't mind me. I just live here :^O

[otherego]

Ironically, I find I actually achieve more on the Linux machines.

It sometimes feels as if most of the time on the Windows boxes is spent fiddling with security - and they do seem more prone to the odd crash.

Somehow, the Linux partitions just seem to me to be more stable - which makes it worth my trouble sorting out any tricky bits to start with.

(I think what really puts me off Windows, though, is its attitude - "You must restart your computer..." etc - as if it's doing you a favour by wasting your time and patronising you.)

But really, personal taste is as important as anything in deciding which system to use for what, isn't it?

[*scyllabub*]

#776 - OE - Everything's working fine, thanks 🙂 But I'm not keen on Ubuntu's interface (call me an airhead if ya like!) and I can't get my pussycat (a raddled old stray, actually) to display well on the desktop :_| I'm going to investigate if Mint or Puppy might suit my hardware and install as easily.