A Few Questions before I install Mandrake 7.2

[dcsonic2k]

Hi there everybody! I'm real interested in installing Linux on my machine and getting a good feel for it, but I have a few questions before I install it:

1) Can I use the DiskDrake utility included in the Mandrake distribution to repartition a drive without losing data?

2) I have a D-Link DSB-650 USB Network Adapter. Will it run under Linux and allow me to connect with my LAN to use my cable modem. Detailed instructions on doing this would be helpful.

3) How much space does Linux take up? I have about 1.3GB free to put Linux on. Will it fit in that amount of space?

4) Lastly, how can I make sure that I will still be able to boot into Windows after I install Mandrake? I currently have the option to boot into either Windows 2000 or DOS from the Microsoft boot utility, and I'd like to keep both of those options.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

[jbstew32]

1)yes but there are still some bugs with it...i have used it a few times (once i lost data :(

2)Probably not, but its a maybe...not very familiar with this and the state of the drivers (if any exist)

3)Depends on how much stuff you install :)
it can be under 100MB (VERY basic CLI), or
into the Gigabytes. After the typical Mandrake install, you should have used about 1-2 GB.

4) Getting Win2k and linux to coexist can be tricky when it comes to boot loaders. Linux needs lilo, and Win2k needs its own (the one u now use) There are a few ways to get it to work, none of which are complicated. After you install mandrake, you can choose not to install LILO (the boot manager/linux loader) and then create a boot floppy to get into linux (all during the install) Then you should be able to boot both win2k as u do now and use the floppy to get into linux. After that, you may decide to go ahead and try to use a boot manager on you MBR to boot linux/win2k...but one step at a time...

WHen you install Mandrake DO NOT do the recommended install...make sure you choose customized. You'll know what i am talking about when you boot into the installer. Get it installed and do the boot disk thing, then come back with all your questions and about the boot loader. Why go to the trouble to set all that stuff up if you decide u dont want linux at all in the end, right :)

It's not as overwhelming as it sounds...after all, i was asking the same questions you are about 2 years ago :)

Install it, try it, use it, after a while you will realize that it just kicks windows in the pants

[Tyr-7BE]

1) DiskDrake can be used to create partitions, I'm sure of that. If you're looking to resize partitions, you should probably use Partition Magic or even the dos tool "fips". I'm not sure that DiskDrake will resize partitions. But it will create them beautifully :)

2) Of this I'm not really sure. People say that USB support isn't where it should be at right now in linux. I don't use a lot of USB myself, but those who do say the support sucks. You can take a look at D-Link's website, and if they offer drivers for it then in all probability they will be listed there next to the product. I know that Alcatel recently released USB network drivers, and this was a really big deal, so my assumption is that it's not supported :( However, if you were running a different card (D-Link 530TX or 530TX+ work BEAUTIFULLY under linux and are available for roughly 25 bucks), cable modems and LANs work very well under linux.

3) This really depends on the distro. I know that the default Mandrake install takes up roughly 1.5 - 1.6 gigs, but it includes EVERYTHING. When you install windows, you get a basic paint application, a text editor, and a few system utilities. Mandrake 7.2 comes with over 5 ICQ/AIM utilities, plenty of chat programs, an office suite, 2 desktop environments, I believe 6 window managers, and just loads and loads of stuff that you don't need. You also have the option of installing a percentage of the default install (eg 70% of the default install will only install the top 70% useful/common/important apps/utilities). You should be able to fit a default install on that partition without much trouble if you use Mandy's % utility (it will make you during the install).

4) GRUB is the default bootloader that comes with Mandy. It's nice and graphical, and it will autodetect any partitions that you have. For example, when I installed Mandy, it autodetected that I had windows on one of my partitions and added it under the name "dos". Does your windows bootloader have a config file? If you could hunt down the config file and see exactly what it does that will make it boot into windows and what it does that will make it boot into dos, then you can add those two options to the grub configuration file. I'm sure there are some people on this board who know what to type into Grub to make it boot dos as well.

Hope this helps, and good luck :)

[Tyr-7BE]

1) DiskDrake can be used to create partitions, I'm sure of that. If you're looking to resize partitions, you should probably use Partition Magic or even the dos tool "fips". I'm not sure that DiskDrake will resize partitions. But it will create them beautifully :)

2) Of this I'm not really sure. People say that USB support isn't where it should be at right now in linux. I don't use a lot of USB myself, but those who do say the support sucks. You can take a look at D-Link's website, and if they offer drivers for it then in all probability they will be listed there next to the product. I know that Alcatel recently released USB network drivers, and this was a really big deal, so my assumption is that it's not supported :( However, if you were running a different card (D-Link 530TX or 530TX+ work BEAUTIFULLY under linux and are available for roughly 25 bucks), cable modems and LANs work very well under linux.

3) This really depends on the distro. I know that the default Mandrake install takes up roughly 1.5 - 1.6 gigs, but it includes EVERYTHING. When you install windows, you get a basic paint application, a text editor, and a few system utilities. Mandrake 7.2 comes with over 5 ICQ/AIM utilities, plenty of chat programs, an office suite, 2 desktop environments, I believe 6 window managers, and just loads and loads of stuff that you don't need. You also have the option of installing a percentage of the default install (eg 70% of the default install will only install the top 70% useful/common/important apps/utilities). You should be able to fit a default install on that partition without much trouble if you use Mandy's % utility (it will make you during the install).

4) GRUB is the default bootloader that comes with Mandy. It's nice and graphical, and it will autodetect any partitions that you have. For example, when I installed Mandy, it autodetected that I had windows on one of my partitions and added it under the name "dos". Does your windows bootloader have a config file? If you could hunt down the config file and see exactly what it does that will make it boot into windows and what it does that will make it boot into dos, then you can add those two options to the grub configuration file. I'm sure there are some people on this board who know what to type into Grub to make it boot dos as well.

Hope this helps, and good luck :)

[Molecule Man]

Disk drake actually works about as well Partion Magic. People lose data with partion Magic too.

You can install as little as 300mb in Mandrake, but you will be happier with more.

The USB nic might work, but you will need a 2.4.x kernel. It will probably be better if you get a real nic.

Make sure you create a ERD for win2k and a floppy boot disk for Linux. It will make your life much easier. Theoretically you should be able to have two menus, I started with a the LILO boot loader, then when I chose Windows. I got the NTloader.

[dcsonic2k]

Thanks for the quick responses.

I'll probably be installing Linux tomorrow, but what packages should I make sure to install or make sure I don't install? Thanks.