I have never run Linux of any type on my system, but am thinking about stating with SuSE Linux 8.0. Is there any program that I could download and run to check to see if my system is compatible. I really don't want to go through a database and check. I have an IBM Netvista desktop. It's only about a year old. Thanks for any info!:) By the way, I want to do a duel boot setup where I can keep my Windows ME to sync my Sony Clie handheld and for the fact if I get into any trouble and need to use my computer.:p
clembot
09-02-2002, 05:10 PM
I don't know about a checker program for compatibilty, but suse 8.0 should work with your computer, since IBM probably doesn't put very obscure parts in their machines. However, if it came with a winmodem, it might not work with linux, which is what happened to me. I guess they're just designed to only work with windows.
About the dual boot, if you get a program called partition magic, which you have to buy, I think, you can set it up without having to lose any data. Or, you can back up important stuff, and use fdisk or something to do it.
nickster87
09-02-2002, 05:21 PM
I do not have winmodem if winmodem is a modem. About that partion magic program that you wrote about. Nothing comes with the SuSE software that enables you to do a duel boot? Is Linux worth all of the trouble?:eek:
P.S. Nice Simpson's signature. Milhouse is pretty funny!
nickster87
09-02-2002, 05:25 PM
I jsut checked it out on SuSE's website, and it says that YaST can do the duel boot thing. I guess no need for that Partition Magic program, which I'm thankful for!:p
clembot
09-02-2002, 05:30 PM
1. Yes, winmodem is a modem. If you've never heard the word before, you probably don't have one. You could always check on the box you computer came in or something.
2. The suse installer can set up a dual boot for you, but I don't think (I could be wrong) that it can create new partitions. Check it out by going through the installation only to the point where it gives you suggestions on the configuration (nothing will actually be installed at this point) and seeing if it will create a new one without deleting your windows data.
3. Of course it's worth it!
clembot
09-02-2002, 05:34 PM
4. Milhouse rocks!
5. Ok, if the website says so, then it's probably true.
nickster87
09-02-2002, 05:37 PM
What are the partitions your talking about?
nickster87
09-02-2002, 05:38 PM
Maybe you should just go to the SuSE site (www.suse.com) and see for yourself. Then get me an answer. Thanks for ALL of your help! It's good that there is a forum for this, or I would be lost!:cool:
JSO
09-02-2002, 05:47 PM
Hey, from one newbie to another, Id reccomend suse 8.0 It pretty much does it all for you. Suse will create its partiton for you under win9x and me, BUT will not do it for XP. And so far i have had no major problems with suse. In fact im finding myself getting away from xp as linux offers more stabiltiy and options with less hassle.
nickster87
09-02-2002, 07:51 PM
I have Winodws ME, so I should be set to go, right?
JSO
09-02-2002, 07:57 PM
should be good to go, Suse cannot re-partiton ntfs but can do fat32
nickster87
09-02-2002, 10:06 PM
What is ntfs and fat32? Thanks for answering my newbie questions!:)
DMR
09-03-2002, 05:55 AM
Originally posted by nickster87
What is ntfs and fat32?Two different filesystems used by various versions of Windows. Linux fully understands FAT/FAT32, and can read from and write to Windows partitions formatted as such. NTFS is a more complicated structure, so for the moment Linux can read from NTFS partitions, but can't reliably write to them.
Hello, 'nickster87'.I have never run Linux of any type on my system, but am thinking about stating with SuSE Linux 8.0. Is there any program that I could download and run to check to see if my system is compatible. I really don't want to go through a database and check. I have an IBM Netvista desktop. It's only about a year old. Thanks for any info!:) By the way, I want to do a duel boot setup where I can keep my Windows ME to sync my Sony Clie handheld and for the fact if I get into any trouble and need to use my computer.:pI started out with SuSE Linux 8.0 in 2002 and I do not regret the decision. I triple-booted with Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional, and SuSE Linux for some time. (I had some programs that were not yet compatible with Windows XP -- hence, the triple-boot). :)
I did shell out the money for Partition Magic, which was a PowerQwest product -- a company bought out by Symantec. If you have the money, I suggest that you install a second hard drive for SuSE Linux, if you do not plan to install additional distributions of Linux. (GRUB and LILO let you install multiple "distros" of Linux, although I recommend that that you stick with a single distribution as a neophyte/"newbie.")
If you have a second hard drive, and a small one, say, 40 GB, would be fine, you would only have to use the BootMagic feature of Partition Magic, but you'd not have to create the partitions for SuSE Linux on the second drive, because SuSE will automatically do so for you.
Just install Partition Magic like any other application in Windows Me, and make certain that you follow the instructions for making emergency diskettes. (I just got a free NetVista desktop, and it has a floppy drive, but you could always burn CDs.) I did make use of my emergency diskettes when I installed Partition Magic/BootMagic on my "main" Linux computer.
One scenario in which I recall using the emergency diskettes is that my Linux drive was active when I rebooted after installing SuSE, so I could not access Windows. The emergency diskettes worked like a charm. Then I ran BootMagic, which detected SuSE Linux, and I created a nice graphical menu, with Linux and Windows on it.
Whenever I booted my machine, I simply selected which operating system that I wanted to run, and I never had any problems. (If you buy PartitionMagic, go to Symantec's Web site and download the update for PartitionMagic; I believe it's about 20 MB.)
I felt "safer" triple-booting with Partition Magic, although there are other alternatives for multibooting. Partition Magic makes the process painless and lets you focus on learning Linux. ;)
Regarding your modem, 'nickster87', my NetVista did not even come with a modem. Because I plan to use it as a database server on my home LAN, I don't need a modem for it. If you do need a modem, I suggest getting a US Robotics V.90/52k modem -- a real modem, not a Winmodem. If you buy one retail, you will pay a bit more, but you can read on the box that it is compatible with Windows and Linux. In addition, PCTech101.com (http://www.pctech101.com/) did have a modem compatible with Linux on its site for a while. You might contact them to see if they still have any in stock; it was inexpensive, but I have no idea what brand it was (is).
I got a used Dell Dimension 8300 earlier this year. I built my other Intel computer, on which I was running Linux and Windows. I am going to make the Dell my "Windows computer," and the computer I built myself will run Novell/SuSE 10.1, plus some other distros eventually. I have a KVM switch so that I can use one keyboard, monitor, and mouse to control these two machines.
I believe that the last iteration of SuSE 8 (and this was before Novell bought SuSE) was 8.3. You will, therefore, find that many/most of the RPMs (software in Red Hat Package Manager format) will be out of date. Be sure to sign up for Novell/SuSE's security updates via e-mail.
Your machine should be able to handle SuSE 10.X, if you want more modern versions of the kernel, software, and whatever window manager you prefer.
Finally, when you run the SuSE installer, the installer's default size for the swap partition, which supplements your RAM by "swapping" data to '/swap', is a swap partition size equal to the amount of physical RAM you have installed. You might want to ask here in JustLinux how much swap space you should allocate, before you accept the default.
Many sources recommend that your swap partition be at least 1.5 times the size of your physical RAM, but most people I know don't follow that recommendation.
I still consider myself a neophyte/"newbie," so you might want to ask about swap partition size here in the forum before you start your installation, providing folks with how much physical memory you have. (In other words, I am not going to risk starting a controversy by making a recommendation or telling you what I do.) :)
Good luck! I started with SuSE and have continued to use it.
Cordially,
David
P.S. -- I did research SuSE's hardware compatibility database, as will as Microsoft's, because I was building my own box and wanted the components to be compatible with both operating systems. The result was no problems with hardware compatibilty.
JamminJoeyB
07-31-2006, 02:12 PM
1.5 times the amount of ram you have for swap?!? I have heard double the amount of swap for physical ram, but the idea of running a swap that is 2gb-4gb is sort of crazy if you ask me. I know that double is the recommended, but I only run 512mb of swap with 1mb of physical and have no problems. I think larger swap really comes into play if you don't have a lot of physical. I know that swap size is covered a lot here so a search of the forums will help.
I have no problems running 512mb swap with 1gb of ram.
cybertron
07-31-2006, 02:14 PM
Ahem,09-03-2002, 04:55 AM;)
I kind of doubt that the OP is still around after four years of inactivity.:)
DavidMD
07-31-2006, 03:08 PM
Hi, 'cybertron';Ahem,;)
I kind of doubt that the OP is still around after four years of inactivity.:)At least we are a helpful group! :D
By now, OP is probably CompTIA Linux certified and running a major Linux network. ;)
More likely than not, however, he or she decided not to try Linux. :eek:
Cordially,
David
webwolf
08-01-2006, 01:50 AM
Might I suggest using either a newer version of suse ( they're at 10.1 now ). Or perhaps the heighly appraised Ubuntu ( current 6.06 ). You would be alot more secure with it and it is more likely to support all your hardware. Also a knoppix livecd, contains the program QParted which you can use to resize your partitions ( it's even graphical, and easy to use ). these are only suggestions though.
webwolf
eskaypey
08-01-2006, 02:37 AM
Dude this thread is 4 years old. nickster87 havent had any activity since 09-04-2002..
By now hes probably a happy windows user..
is there happy windows users? :confused:
mrrangerman43
08-01-2006, 05:25 AM
is there happy windows users? :confused:
Bill Gates
shadebug
08-01-2006, 07:20 AM
Yeah but he's not happy because he's using windows
webwolf
08-02-2006, 01:22 AM
Dude this thread is 4 years old. nickster87 havent had any activity since 09-04-2002..
By now hes probably a happy windows user..
Damn I should start reading the post dates. :(
Parcival
08-02-2006, 02:31 AM
Well, let's lock this coffin so the zombie may rest again. :D
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