Complete Beginner seeks wisdom

[moxo]

Hi,
Im currentley using WinME but am keen to get a version of linux up and running as well. My HD is already partitioned the smallest been around a Gig, can this be formatted and a version of linux installed on to it? How exactly do I go about creating a swap drive for this partiotion? (if I need to?) I accept a gig is probably more space than im going to need but space isn't an object so can I?? And if so any thoughts for a version 1st time out??
Any help anyone can offer would be appreciated........moxo

[mychl]

Hi,
I'm pretty new myself, but I've tried a few distros of linux. RH, Corel, and Mandrake. I liked Redhat, couldn't even install Corel, and have used Mandrake 6, 7.2 and back to 7.1. Mandrake is good 'cause it lets you install pretty easy, but you will still need to learn alot to get everything working ok.

Took me a week to get sound, then while cofiguring my modem, lost the sound....But I've learned a lot and I'm having fun. There is a lot to learn here also, keep posting.

Good Luck

[n2linux]

can this be formatted and a version of linux installed on to it

Yep. But if you so decide to install Mandrake 7.2, be aware that the installation can get pretty big...usually 1-2 GB; but if you carefully select all of the stuff you need and leave out the bloat, then it should take about 600-800 MB (including a desktop like gnome or kde)

***edit**
Oh about the formatting...just delete the partition you wish to install linux on and create two parts...one large ext2 and one small for linux swap. Some linux installations, like Mandrake (DiskDrake), doesn't need a preformatted partition.

And don't forget, backup your data.

Good luck

[ 22 February 2001: Message edited by: n2linux ]

[Ig0r]

Debian (with X and GNOME/KDE) can install in less than 400-500MB if you choose other packages right (no games, or *TeX data).

[bdg1983]

Don't worry about the swap partition. Most (maybe all?) Linux installers let you create partitions for Linux and swap during the install process and creating a swap partition isn't nothing stranger than creating any other partition. The documentation that comes with your Linux distro will help with that. And you DO need a swap partition unless you have 512 MB RAM. ;)

Debian or Slackware don't take too much space but some people don't recommend them for newbies. I've heard that Mandrake is pretty easy but I don't know because I've never used it. SuSE might not be a bad choice but there comes so much software with it that you may find your HD too small... however, the size of any Linux install depends on what software packages you choose.

And remember to backup your data.

[chaoscapstone]

For the swap. . .you are going to want to make it at least double the size of your RAM. Mandrake distros usually come with Partition Magic and Boot Magic for your dual boot system. :eek: