Trying Out Linux For the First Time

[M1CH431]

My Friend and I, want to try out Linux and I was wondering where we should start. My Computer is a Pentium 3, 512mb ram, 733mhz, and 40gig hd and I'd like to keep my Xp on the harddrive and dual boot between the two. MY friends computer is a Pentium 2 with 128mb ram and thats all I can remember off the top of my head. Anyone have a suggestion for a Linux Distro I should try?

[WillyW]

My Friend and I, want to try out Linux and I was wondering where we should start. My Computer is a Pentium 3, 512mb ram, 733mhz, and 40gig hd and I'd like to keep my Xp on the harddrive and dual boot between the two. MY friends computer is a Pentium 2 with 128mb ram and thats all I can remember off the top of my head. Anyone have a suggestion for a Linux Distro I should try?

I am not your linux guru.   In the ocean of information that is linux,  I have learned a thimble full.    
I'm a couple baby steps ahead of you is all.

That said -  here's an idea for you to try,  until you get some better advice.
Play around with some linux Live CDs.

Free to download.    Although if you don't have a fast connection, you're going to be downloading for quite a while!  

After you d/l, burn it to a CD.   Boot from that CD, and you're running linux!
No changes to your hard drive.
No permanent install.

The downside:   it is not usually a 'complete' version of some distro.  After all, it fits on one CD.
It can be slow - again, it may be running from CD.  ( some allow you to load the whole thing into ram, if you have enough)

I'm not suggesting this as an alternative to a complete installation of linux.
I don't think it is fair to compare them.
But -  for exposure for new comers like us -  it is great!

Here are some links for you to explore:

http://www.puppylinux.org/user/viewpage.php?page_id=1
Puppy linux is small - you can read about it there -  something like 50 or 60 meg.
They have forums there too.  

http://www.slax.org/
Bigger.  200 or so meg.   More features.
Forums here too.

http://www.knoppix.org/        (click a flag to get your language)
Big.   700 meg.    I haven't tried this one yet.
It is often the one that is most often mentioned when anyone is talking about
Live CDs.

There are others.   Many.    You can google for them.
You can also visit:   http://www.livecdnews.com/
and
http://distrowatch.com/
and
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
You're going to be reading for a while!  


Other interesting sites for you to visit:
www.linuxquestions.org
www.linuxforums.org

You're completely new to linux, right?
Go here:
http://www.linux.org/lessons/
Start with the link:  Getting Started with Linux - Beginner's Course
Don't worry that it is talking about Debian/Gnu linux.... it is good to get yourself oriented and exposed to some of the new words that you're going to be using.
I found the courses there very helpful.   The first one goes quick...  I don't know...it's been a while since I read it all .... maybe an hour or less to read it.


Did I already say that you're going to be doing some reading?  


http://linuxcommand.org/
Another one to bookmark.   You'll see, someday.  


About your original question: Which distro for you?
You're never going to get just one answer.    
Perhaps you will get some recommendations based on your hardware -  let's see what you get with that.
Be prepared though for answers like:   try one... if you don't like it,   try another.
Your question gets asked a lot,   check those other forums -  more linux only oriented -  skim around.... you'll see.

Be prepared for a different world.  Sometimes it can be frustrating when you know what you want to do, but don't know how.     You learn a new level of patience.  

[M1CH431]

Thank You Very much for your very informative reply Willy. I guess I know what I'll be doing today

[WillyW]

Thank You Very much for your very informative reply Willy. I guess I know what I'll be doing today

Are you on cable, or dsl?         Grab Puppy.     Burn it to CD ( don't make the mistake of just copying the one big file to CD -  use your burning software's feature to burn from ISO or whatever it is called in your software. )

Check to be sure that your computer is set up to boot from CD.    

Put in your new Puppy Linux and boot it!  

IF[/b]  Puppy detects your ethernet card, assuming that is what you have,  you can use it's connection wizard to get going with the internet.
Puppy comes with a web browser,  so if you can get connected, you can visit back here and let us know.    

Fwiw,  Puppy did detect my ethernet card, and I got right on the internet again.... after I d/l'd the newest version of Puppy.    My first d/l was a slightly older version, and it did not detect my card.  

I still have not gotten Slax to detect my card.   It has been most interesting to research it though.  

I forgot to mention in my first post:    DSL  ( *censored* Small Linux )  deserves mention too.   Many folks recommend it for a Live CD distro.     I probably failed to mention it because I myself haven't gotten around to trying it yet.



Keep us posted!  


Edit:  It appears that the board will not let me use the exact name of "DSL" linux.        It is automatically changing the first word to "darn".    You can figure it out, if you need to google for it.

[M1CH431]

Well I've Downloaded Puppy Linux, and it says I can run it off a USB stick but I have only usb.1.1 ports. But it still probably be faster then running it off my CD drive because it is an old cd drive.

[WillyW]

Well I've Downloaded Puppy Linux, and it says I can run it off a USB stick but I have only usb.1.1 ports. But it still probably be faster then running it off my CD drive because it is an old cd drive.

Can't help you there.   I've only done it with a CD.

My CD drive is probably 7 years old or older.   It worked fine in it.   The drive claims to be 40x.  

CDs are fairly cheap.   Burn it and give it a whirl.
Might be less complicated to get it going -  but again, I'm not sure.

Been a while since I loaded Puppy,  but I think it offered the option, during the boot up process,  to let you load it all into ram.  
But you can experiment with that, if it is there, later.  I'd go with the easiest, most simple way for my first try.

[M1CH431]

Question, Do I need a boot disc in order for it to boot? It starts up it goes to a screen about Puppy then it says System ***** (Cant remember word lol).

[WillyW]

Question, Do I need a boot disc in order for it to boot?

The CD is the boot disk.

Wait...  did  you mean    'do you need a boot floppy disk?'
If so - nope.   Boots with only the CD.

It starts up it goes to a screen about Puppy then it says System ***** (Cant remember word lol).

And it has been a while since I booted Puppy, so I dont' remember either.

I remember that at some point it asks you questions.    You have to tell it that you want to use a U.S. keyboard, for example.    And there are a couple options for video/graphics driver.   I used the simplest one,  whatever it was called.

Be back shortly, I hope.      
I need to boot Slax for something,  and if I have time, I'll boot Puppy too.

[M1CH431]

I found out what it says:


Uncompressing Linux.....

Crc Error--

System stop (Not sure if It said stop but the rest I know is true).

I made my cd by opening up nero, selecting burn image to disc, selected the linux file (Which is an rar file) and it saved it as an ISO and then I burned it. Im assuming I did something wrong there.

[SilentAssasin64]

I found out what it says:


Uncompressing Linux.....

Crc Error--

System stop (Not sure if It said stop but the rest I know is true).

I made my cd by opening up nero, selecting burn image to disc, selected the linux file (Which is an rar file) and it saved it as an ISO and then I burned it. Im assuming I did something wrong there.

You should extract the .rar and burn the actual .iso.

[WillyW]

I found out what it says:


Uncompressing Linux.....

Sounds normal.

Crc Error--

Not normal.

System stop (Not sure if It said stop but the rest I know is true).

To me, Crc error indicates that a file is bad.   As in, perhaps something went wrong as you downloaded the ISO file.

I made my cd by opening up nero, selecting burn image to disc, selected the linux file

I don't know Nero, but that sounds about right.

(Which is an rar file)

It is?   ??
The file I downloaded is named     puppy-2.12-seamonkey-zdrv.iso
and it is around 87 meg.
By chance, did you download that file?     for all I know, there is a new version out in the last couple weeks since I d/l'd it.....

and it saved it as an ISO and then I burned it.

Nero saved it as an ISO file?

sorry...  I'm lost.

Im assuming I did something wrong there.

Could be.   But I got lost, so I'm not sure.

I'm going to visit the Puppy site for a couple minutes.   I'll check back to see if you've replied.

[WillyW]

 (Which is an rar file)

If I'm understanding you,  you downloaded a  rar   file.

I don't know where you got it though.

I'm on:  
http://www.puppylinux.org/user/downloads.php?cat_id=1
right now.

I see:
"Puppy Linux 2.13, puppy-2.13-seamonkey-fulldrivers.iso [NEW]
puppy-2.13-seamonkey-fulldrivers.iso, 84M.
This release has heaps of new features. PupGet packages are now called PET packages and the files have the extension '.pet'. PupGet package manager is now called PETget package manager. The original ext3 filesystem inside the personal storage file 'pup_save.3fs' is changed to a ext2 filesystem. The file is now called 'pup_save.2fs'. Programs upgraded: PBrename, Pupdvdtool, Xwget, Geany, Isomaster, SeaMonkey and more. New pacakages include PuppyBackup, Soxgui and XkbConfigurationManager. Prepared to be amazed!

Make sure you have read the release notes (2-Jan-07) before downloading. "

If I click the download link there,  I'm starting to d/l an 84 MB file named:
puppy-2.13-seamonkey-fulldrivers.iso

( That's a newer version than what I have -  the description sounds very nice too!   If I were you, I'd go with that version, rather than the older version right below it   , 2.12,  .... that's what I have. )

See   "md5sum:....  "  ?
Right below that is a clickable link,  "More Information".  Click that and read.
Just basic info,  but it can't hurt.

Regarding the md5sum itself:   Somewhere on that site it tells you how to use that.   It is for checking your download, to be sure it is good,  before you burn it.
Me... I didn't.   I just burned it, and it worked.   But you can bet that if it hadn't, I'd have been doing the checksum.  


I hope this helps.

[M1CH431]

Well I didnt get my file from there it was some random FTP thing. Thanks For link. Also thank you for all your help.

[WillyW]

Can you have a look at your CD, using Windoze?


Here's what's on mine:

BOOT.CAT                                                      3 KB
BOOT.MSG                                                      1 KB
INITRD.GZ                                                  1231 KB
ISOLINUX.BIN                                                 11 KB
ISOLINUX.CFG                                                  1 KB
PUP_212.SFS                                               65833 KB
VMLINUZ                                                    1711 KB
ZDRV_212.SFS                                              15889 KB


At least that's what Win98 can see.

This is my bootable Puppy Live CD.
What's on yours?   Does it look at all similar?

[M1CH431]

Mine Has those files and another one called INITRD

Edit: Never mind I see that was in your list.

[WillyW]

Well I didnt get my file from there it was some random FTP thing.

Ah.
Should I scare you now, and say that random FTP thing downloaded files might erase your whole hard drive?    

Beware of random FTP things.

Thanks For link. Also thank you for all your help.

No big deal.

Hang in there.

[M1CH431]

ALso, the one I had was 2.12 the one im downloading now is 2.13 so maybe that'll help.

[WillyW]

Mine Has those files and another one called INITRD

Edit: Never mind I see that was in your list.

I hope SilentAssasin, or somebody else jumps in here now.   Because it sounds like you have burned a bootable CD.   If you reported back that you found one ~80MB file - be it a rar or iso file -  then we'd know you did not have a bootable CD for sure.

hmmm.

well....  if it was me,  I'd start over.   Get the .iso file right from the Puppy site.
Burn it again.   See what happens.
If it works,  then the first one becomes a nice shiny coaster.  

[WillyW]

ALso, the one I had was 2.12 the one im downloading now is 2.13 so maybe that'll help.

It just might.  

The first one I d/l'd, and it was from the Puppy site, was an older version -  I think I saw that it included Firefox or something...   anyway, I thought that was the one for me.

It wouldn't find my network interface card.

Somebody advised me to get the latest.
At the time, it was 2.12.

Presto!   it found my nic.  

The moral of the story:   Maybe you too will do better with the newest, latest, nicest, whiz-bang version.    

How much of it have you got now?

[M1CH431]

52 percent. Do you think it will find my wireless network adapter or can linux not use Wireless?

[M1CH431]

I think I know why It didnt work. My wireless connection has been randomly dieing today off and on, and it just happened again. When It happened the file was saved, as if it was finished downloading. So I think that is the reason why the first one I tried didnt work because it probably lost connection while downloading and it just saved the file.

[WillyW]

52 percent. Do you think it will find my wireless network adapter or can linux not use Wireless?

I'm not qualified to really answer that.

I can tell you that, in some of those forums that I posted links for,  that I see a LOT of messages from people, asking for help with wireless.  
That is not a good sign for you, I'm afraid.

Then again,  you are d/l'ing the newest version.   Maybe they worked on that.... keep your fingers crossed.

I have to go for a bit.   Be back later.

[WillyW]

52 percent. Do you think it will find my wireless network adapter or can linux not use Wireless?

On the Puppy site, there are forums.   Check 'em out.   Maybe somebody there is already talking about the latest version and using it with wireless.

[WillyW]

I think I know why It didnt work. My wireless connection has been randomly dieing today off and on, and it just happened again. When It happened the file was saved, as if it was finished downloading. So I think that is the reason why the first one I tried didnt work because it probably lost connection while downloading and it just saved the file.

Could be.

I'm sorry that I can't tell you how to use that md5sum info.

The info is out there though.
I think that is what you need to do,  especially if you have a sketchy connection -  verify that your download is good before you burn it.

See if you can hunt up the procedure to verify, using md5sum.

be back later

[M1CH431]

Update: Finished Downloading 2.13. Going to burn it to disc now.

[WillyW]

Update: Finished Downloading 2.13. Going to burn it to disc now.

 

[M1CH431]

It worked! And as an added bonus it found my wireless network card, and my wireless connection!!!!! All I need to do is fiddle around with some settings. Thank you very,very Much Willy!!!!!!

[WillyW]

It worked! And as an added bonus it found my wireless network card, and my wireless connection!!!!!

Excellent!
Welcome to linux.
You are never going to have any free time ever again,  it will all go to absorbing info about your new os.  
If I had a machine to devote to it right now,  I would.

All I need to do is fiddle around with some settings.

See?  
You'll never finish fiddling around.   It is just too good to leave alone.

Thank you very,very Much Willy!!!!!!

But all I did was cheerlead from the sidelines.   You did it all.    


Now...  are you going to try some other distros of Live CDs?   maybe not right away, but eventually?     I hope you do.    

And, are you using it right now?   To read and post here?

[M1CH431]

Im not using it to read and post here. Yet.  I'm definetly going to try other linux distros. But not until I master Puppy Linux

[WillyW]

Im not using it to read and post here. Yet.

ah... c'mon....     <g>

I'm definetly going to try other linux distros. But not until I master Puppy Linux

Please don't hold yourself to that.   Even though Puppy is 'small', there is still a lot to it, and it could take a while to master it.  
Besides,  whatever you explore on another version might help you with Puppy.

If you are concerned about creating confusion,  I can understand that.   I was, but so far, what little I've explored,  I've been ok.

Btw - and here is an example -   do you know yet if your version of Puppy has the man pages?     Mine didn't.    But Slax did.
Exit to the command line, or open a console window, and do
man ls
or
man modprobe
or
man man
or man <any command here>

Does it respond with some sort of error message, or a manual page?

[2broke2smoke]

you see, i downloaded the puppy linux because i was following your posts and conversation here... and then when i tried booting it, it did something weird a little bit into it... it tells you to select one of two options... x(something) or x(something) well, one of them didnt work and the other did. when i try to load it into my RAM however it goes to a black scren with this little scratchy blue line somewhere in the top half of the screen and freezes... any suggestions?

btw, when i ran Memtest, i came up with an error.

[WillyW]

you see, i downloaded the puppy linux because i was following your posts and conversation here... and then when i tried booting it, it did something weird a little bit into it... it tells you to select one of two options... x(something) or x(something) well, one of them didnt work and the other did. when i try to load it into my RAM however it goes to a black scren with this little scratchy blue line somewhere in the top half of the screen and freezes... any suggestions?

I'm sorry, but I can't make any specific suggestions  -  I haven't experienced that.

Can you post again here, and give lots of details about your computer's hardware?
Especially the amount of ram.  
Then when somebody else comes along that knows more than I do,  they will already have that info.  They'll need it.

btw, when i ran Memtest, i came up with an error.

This does not sound good.    
You might want to start a new thread of your own,   maybe in the Hardware forum,   and ask about this.    How to interpret it and what to do about it.
Again,  give lots of details about your system and the test.

[GX1_Man]

you see, i downloaded the puppy linux because i was following your posts and conversation here... and then when i tried booting it, it did something weird a little bit into it... it tells you to select one of two options... [highlight]x(something) or x(something) well, one of them didnt work and the other did[/highlight]. when i try to load it into my RAM however it goes to a black scren with this little scratchy blue line somewhere in the top half of the screen and freezes... any suggestions?

btw, when i ran Memtest, i came up with an error.

With info like this to work with.....

[honvetops]

[highlight]Kudos to WillyW[/highlight] <<  AWESOME  help for that guy, way to stick with him on this subject!!!

[Computer Hope Admin]

<This post has been restored>
Sorry for the issues..