Installing Linux

[taha116]

So i dont have any idea what linux looks like, youtubed it, and it looks fake cuz it actually looks good and i guessed linux to look sorta crapy.

What i am about to do is format my pentium 3 and install linux as its primary OS since my windows XP has been raped with viruses.

I am not sure how to pull this off? I know of the basic command that i run in dos to pull of the format but what do i do fromt there? What is the proper command that will allow me to format everything and still have whatever it takes to install linux. Any good tutorials would be helpfull.

There are also too many types for me to keep track of.. Please recommend me one that has better compatibility with windows programs and is a good one to use as a server (Not likley but i may try it out). I want the interface to be simple as well. Dont relaly know if there is a diff in the versions though. Im googling like mad you read this but expert or atleast experienced suggestions would help me out allot.

Will stay online untill i can get all the info i need, so i should post back to replies quick . I want to do it all by today and if i am not ready by tomoro for sure.


__Further questions__
How do i download and run the file i want using dos? Ive found 2 that seem awesome and simple... Mandriva and Ubuntu.
______________
Not sure if this in the right place so feel free to move it but please dont just make an annoying post saying "moved" I could use the help and not the usless post

[zen-r]

Wait for ichwar to come online again.

I'm sure he'll be able to help you all the way through it - he's always :drool:drooling:drool: over Linux! ;)

[taha116]

lol yeah, the Penguin, how could i forget!

Well untill then do u think its possible to pull off the install by downloading and running the files using Dos? after i have re-formated my computer completely?

Woh?! zen-r i just realised its you, i was wondering why i never noticed this dude with the fox avatar if he has like 1.2k posts

[zen-r]

Hehe! It's only a temporary avatar for a bit of a change.

I'm afraid I can't really help you with the Linux install.

Ichwar's unlikely to post this late in the day (though you might be lucky if he comes on again in the next half hour or so).

So, you may need to wait till tomorrow for him......

.....or is there any other Linux-Lover able to offer some advice to taha116?

[taha116]

Im sure there are... Thanks for the bump*
I wonder if corey may happen to drop by and for somereson decide to help me out on this one... although the chances of that are like 1/100000000000.236^4.19X3.2164

Sigh.... looks like the numbers want me to wait for ichwar

[tawma1073]

So i dont have any idea what linux looks like, youtubed it, and it looks fake cuz it actually looks good and i guessed linux to look sorta crapy.

Linux has changed a lot in look and feel over the years.

What i am about to do is format my pentium 3 and install linux as its primary OS since my windows XP has been raped with viruses.

Bummer.

I am not sure how to pull this off? I know of the basic command that i run in dos to pull of the format but what do i do fromt there? What is the proper command that will allow me to format everything and still have whatever it takes to install linux. Any good tutorials would be helpfull.

You don't have to do anything from DOS. All Linux distrubutions have an installer that will take care of formatting and installing the OS for you. All you need to do is:

1) Download the Linux distrubtions ISO that you are interested in.

2) Burn that ISO image to a CD/DVD

3) Boot the target machine with the newly burned CD/DVD

4) Follow the instructions from the boot disk.

There are also too many types for me to keep track of.. Please recommend me one that has better compatibility with windows programs and is a good one to use as a server (Not likley but i may try it out). I want the interface to be simple as well. Dont relaly know if there is a diff in the versions though. Im googling like mad you read this but expert or atleast experienced suggestions would help me out allot.

Compatibility with Windows does/does not function at several levels. The key thing to understand is that no version of Linux runs Windows programs out of the box. So if that's critical for you, then it's not going to go well.

OTOH for virtually everything you do on your computer in Windows, there is a similar, if not duplicate, application on Linux. Firefox for web browsing, OpenOffice.org for productivity, Amarok for managing media, and the like. As long as you work to find that similar application, instead of an exact program, there's a good chance that you'll find something that's close to what you're used to using.

As for the interface, KDE has a point/click windowing interface that is similar to Windows.

Will stay online untill i can get all the info i need, so i should post back to replies quick . I want to do it all by today and if i am not ready by tomoro for sure.


__Further questions__
How do i download and run the file i want using dos? Ive found 2 that seem awesome and simple... Mandriva and Ubuntu.
______________
Not sure if this in the right place so feel free to move it but please dont just make an annoying post saying "moved" I could use the help and not the usless post

One last thing. You can run most Linux distrubtions directly from the CD/DVD without having to install it first. It's called a Live CD. Gives you a chance to get a good look/feel for a particular distribution without having to install it first. Generally you can't same anything, but several, such as Ubuntu/Kubuntu actually let you install new applications into the Live CD while it's running.

So don't feel you have to commit to the first distrubution you run across. Play with a few and find out which one feels right for you.

Good Luck.

TM

[zen-r]

I just logged back in especially to Rep you for that post.

It's very comprehensive. Shame taha116 finally went offline so has missed it, but I'm sure he'll appreciate it when he next logs in!

An excellent first post, tawma1073. Welcome to x10 !

[taha116]

Thank you sooooo much, added to rep right away!... When i format everything i will be using dos, i here there is a "S" commad you can add at the end and not sure why, something about system files should i do that when formatting?
Edit:
Ok read this:

I decided on CentOS because it has a lower memory requirement. I am a little confused about it though

http://centos.arcticnetwork.ca/5.3/isos/i386/

Im gona use the first download link wich is the 5.3 version wich i think is still a new and not completley stabled release. Any important info about this that i should know? Any warnings about this distribution?

I believe the link im using is the live Cd thingy... i know its usually for testing but i can also install off of it right?

oh! I get this when registering at their support forums (i wont install untill tomoro)

Secure Connection Failed

www.centos.org uses an invalid security certificate.

The certificate is not trusted because the issuer certificate is not trusted.

(Error code: sec_error_untrusted_issuer)


* This could be a problem with the server's configuration, or it could be someone trying to impersonate the server.

* If you have connected to this server successfully in the past, the error may be temporary, and you can try again later.
At the bottom of the message is the make an exception option... i want to know why though its doing this? I mean obviosly they should be trustworthy but still wth is up with that?


thank again for the feedback

oh and if i dont fomat my drive and try the instilation will it get rid of windows and everything on it ? (that is what i want)

[jensen]

If you're first time to Linux I'd recommend - Ubuntu. Which ever "flavour" of Linux you'd like to try, go for the LiveCD version first. It will be a bit slower than when actually running on your hardisk.

Why LiveCD? Then you'd find out if your PC has issues with Ubuntu Linux. If the LiveCD can run well, there's audio you can hear, there's the screen you can see, there's no problem connecting to the internet ( in short - no drivers problem) Then you can go ahead and install Ubuntu on your machine.

Running Unbuntu Linux on a Pentium 3 is not a problem but what about RAM? Do you have 512 MB RAM?

Check out ubuntu at http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

[med.zrouga]

Mate get ubuntu it's the best
Regards