Author Topic: Beginner with Linux (Read 10920 times)

truenorth · « **on:** February 14, 2008, 09:24:32 AM »

Greetings all in this forum, I am an absolute neophyte to the world of Linux.I have a disk with Ubuntu 7.10 on it. I want to install this O/S on an 80 GB partitioned removeable HDD. The partition is 58GB and is defined as "K". The computer already has 2 operating systems on 2 internal HDD's. The principal used O/S is win xp pro Sp2 and the secondary is win 98SE. I do NOT want to lose any data on any existing HDD's. The "K" drive has 58 GB and is all free space.
I have joined the Ubuntu forum and have endeavored to seek this very basic knowledge there.I don't know if it is just me or if those people purposely set out to make it difficult.It took me over 12 tries before i was even able to register for the forums.Then as i read their topics they all seem to be as if the reader is already an established users and an expert. How they expect new users to start is beyond me. Or maybe they just want to retain some exclusivity to it all? Anyway enough of my rant anyone that can get me started within the parameters stated above it would be truly appreciated. truenorth

TheEmperor · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:14:44 AM »

Ok, some friendly advice here. The linux community has fairly high expectations of new users. First you are expected to have read all of the documentation for your distribution before asking questions. The most common answer you will receive is RTFM (Read The Freakin' Manual) and generally it will be correct. With that said, if you are polite and take pains to make your question understandable you can get a lot of good help from the community.
Now, to your main question you do NOT want to make your first linux install on a partition where you also have critical data you don't want to lose. You WILL hose the entire drive at least once, you will destroy your bootsector multiple times. Trust me, your first linux box should be one that you don't mind destroying utterly several times over while you learn the system.

Of course, if you just want to slap a CD in, install linux, and browse the web without ever learning the system then it's not as big of a risk, but if you plan on learning how to administer linux you will break the system.

truenorth · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:49:54 AM »

The Emperor, Indeed thank you for your reply and your comments are much appreciated. NOW what i have is a cd-rom that i received as a result of an offer to provide it on the internet. The issuer was "Canonical LTD. While it does come in a very attractive cardboard sleeve with some details about what Ubuntu means and how great it is and many other nice things,it has absolutely nothing to say about installing it . Other than the denoted caution about it's destructive nature to any other data on the drive to which it is installed. Hence my explanation of where i intend to install it (an external partion on which there is NO data). Seems to fit the bill for the destructive aspects of the system? Now when i insert the disk in the optical drive it is seen. When i click on explore (i certainly given the warning--yours and theirs--do not intend to click on run or anything that might involve it doing something to HDD's that i don't desire).There are a multitude of icons displayed in the "explore" but they are insufficiently clear as to what they would cause to result were i to click on any of them. I went to the Ubuntu forms hoping to find something that would suit the 101 Ubuntu new users. I have already rendered my comments re that so i won't repeat them again. As an example i recently posed a question on the CH forums re a brand new user of high speed (DSL) internet and wanted an explanation of "torrents" Something dial up modem users would probably never use. A couple of kind forum users directed me to a couple of on line sites that provided excellent knowledge and now a few weeks later i am able to provide advice to others. But i did have to become knowledgeable 1st before i could do that.So to repeat can you help me to at least crawl?Then we will see about toddling,walking and running perhaps later.truenorth

TheEmperor · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:56:05 AM »

This is the Ubuntu installation guide:
https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/ubuntu/installation-guide/i386/index.html

This link has some good tips for windows users who are moving to Ubuntu:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-Install-Ubuntu-7-04-Windows-User-P-O-V-52973.shtml

Read enjoy.

truenorth · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2008, 11:06:29 AM »

Emperor, Thank you once more. I shall link to your sites and hopefully return to report what a knowledgeable Ubuntu user i have become LOL! Some might concider that at 3 score and 9 years it is something of an accomplishment that i am even using a computer never mind trying to become adapted to Linux. Truenorth

WillyW · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2008, 11:46:29 AM »

To your list of good sites to visit for help and info, add:
http://www.linuxquestions.org

There are forums there, but like CH there is a lot more to that site than just the forums.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions for the forums, or use the button on the main site.

The forums there are very active. It feels like there is a high ratio of friendly and knowledgable folks there. This is a good thing.

If you visit, be sure to take your time looking around. You'll need it.

A couple of boards withing the forum that you might want to be sure not to miss are:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8
and
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/ubuntu-63
but you should peruse the list for yourself.

Your questions seem familiar, so I suspect that I've read something like what you are asking. I probably read it somewhere on that site.

The forums have a Search function, both across the whole forum, and board specific. Again - it will take some time - but it would probably benefit you to use that Search and dig around some. There is a tremendous amount of info that can be gleaned by doing so.

If you decide to register and post, notice and read the 'stickies' at the beginning of the list of posts.

Here's to hoping that you learn a lot there, and bring it back here to share.

truenorth · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2008, 12:32:08 PM »

WillyW,Thank's a lot.

truenorth

TheEmperor · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2008, 09:46:29 AM »

I should have thought of this earlier, but you can also use a virtual machine to setup Linux and use it without any risk to your existing machine. Check out Virtual Box http://www.virtualbox.org/, they are free, open source, pretty light weight, fast and awesome. I'm using it to run RedHat at work inside my XP machine.

truenorth · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2008, 01:09:50 PM »

TheEmperor,I will look into this "virtual machine" phenomenon.However other than doing a literal interpretation of those 2 words--i have no idea what that is. But I'm sure that your link will explain. As I'm sure you know i could run the Ubuntu directly from the disk without installing anything. However as it is my desire to get it installed and be able to make the mistakes that will inevitably follow. I have found that one can learn a great deal from ones mistakes. Not to imply that it is more important than to learn from the mistakes of OTHERS. thanks again.truenorth

TheEmperor · « **Reply #9 on:** February 15, 2008, 01:13:08 PM »

Yeah, the idea behind a virtual machine is that you create a section on your computer that acts as an entire other PC. Within that you can install different OSes, even multiple OSes as if you were running several different computers. You can network them together, run web servers, all that good stuff. You get the experience of installing the OS and the ability to make the mistakes that go along with that without running the risk of wrecking up your machine.

mubarak · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2008, 11:50:04 AM »

sir . i am very much interested in going in the field of linux.. so please guide me. my mail id is [email removed]

WillyW · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2008, 12:39:48 PM »

Quote from: mubarak on February 23, 2008, 11:50:04 AM

sir . i am very much interested in going in the field of linux.. so please guide me. my mail id is *****@gmail.com

Hello,

Welcome to Computer Hope.

1.) It is suggested that you edit your post to remove your email address
as soon as possible. Email addresses are harvested from posts like yours, for spam purposes. Also, it is likely no one will reply to your email address - we prefer to keep the messages here in the open forum, for the benefit of anyone else coming along searching through posts for help.

2.) See:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,33332.0.html
Particularly the third point.
You were probably unaware of it.

Feel free to start your own thread, where you will get the attention you deserve. Be as specific as possible with your questions, please.

cain · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2008, 03:55:03 AM »

Hi Hyper Arrogant Emporer
How dare you such tone
to a newbe.

Such arrogance as you are demonstrating here is
the cause of corrupt MS prevailing over Linux
all these years and the decline of genuine computing & programming.
extending even up to corrupt mafia politics (Diebold etc).

I registered only to say you

-
Without the light year high wall you guys have erected
society would be more decent

Dias de verano · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:07:51 AM »

What the *censored* are you going on about, Cain?

TheEmperor · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:20:11 PM »

I think he registered to tell me I'm mean....

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