Soon to be linux Newbie

[StalkingViper]

Hi, last night i ordered a cd with linux mandrake on it, the d/l edition. I am very curious to try this os that i have heard so much about. However with this forthcoming install i find myself with that little bit of dread in my stomach that i will screw my PC up and have to spend hours and hours fixing it (must be from my nightmares with windows lol). Some of my main concerns are video card (tnt2 ultra 32), Getting my cable modem running (@home service) and partitioning my drive( will this be done for me or will i have to do it manually i never did that before). i would spen more time searching through the posts and what not but i unfourtunately have a busy schedule with a full time job and school at night. LOL basically i guess im just looking for some positive reinforcement, please. Oh and i forgot to mention Im BLONDE lmao. Ne way hello everyone. Thanks for your time!

[navy-linux]

Just go for it. That is what I did. I have not regretted it at all. I also have two hard drives in removable trays. I did not have to worry about partitioning a hard drive to install Linux. Make sure you back up your important info that you can not afford to loose if things go haywire during your install. I also run mandrake. I like it. You should not have any problems completing the install. Just do be carefull when you come to the diskdrake partitioning section. I think that if you hit the auto button, it will attempt to put linux on your whole hard drive. Click on an empty space before selecting a partition type.
For the most part, it will be pretty straight forward.
Enjoy
http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif


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Bring the tools to the worker. Don't make the worker go get the tools. Go Lean

[prince_kenshi]

Partitioning is the only possible danger you could be doing. I take it you want to keep Windows and dual boot. If you have your entire drive under a single FAT partition (which you probably do), things could get a little tricky. If you don't want to lose all your data and have to reinstall Windows, I suggest investing in a disk manager like Boot Manager. Backing up stuff can be a ***** and it's really the only other choice I can think of. You don't really need to worry about your hardware, I mean you'll still have Windows to fall back on. Just switch back and forth like I do until you can get everything working. Good luck to you and your Linux installation.

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Prince Kenshi
Son of Bahamut

[ep0k]

Well... I hate to dash your hopes on the rocks of what is yet to come. But in truth.. You will probably mess up your computer. You won't damage it or anything. It happens to just about everybody in their transition to Linux. I did it.. I think everyone here has had that "oh. . . ****" moment when they hit the enter key blindly or 'rm -r'd the wrong directory or something. just make sure that you back up all the stuff you need before you dive in. Sign up for one of those Internet hard drives or burn a CD with all your good data. Then Blow that baby away. You won't FUBAR your pc but yeah it's going to take a while to configure it again and to get used to the new digs. If you got Mandrake 7.2 then your TNT card should be okay. Just make sure that you visit Nvidia's sight to get the good drivers.. I think there is an NHF on that.. And I Know there is one on the @Home stuff. So when you get your CD in, be sure to have plenty of coffee on hand and remember us here at LNO.. Welcome to the club.

-ep0k

Oh... BTW... You did get the "Extras" disk too, right?

[ToolPackinMama]

Originally posted by StalkingViper:

Hi, last night i ordered a cd with linux mandrake on it, the d/l edition. I am very curious to try this os that i have heard so much about. However with this forthcoming install i find myself with that little bit of dread in my stomach that i will screw my PC up

I invested in a partitioning program called Partition Commander and it is fantastic. I have many times repartitioned or resized or moved partitions around without losing a single byte of data with this utility. You can safely create a Linux partition and swap partition, and it comes with a handy-dandy boot manager that will save a copy of your original master boot record for you. If you are going to experiment with different OSs, and especially if you want to safely dual-boot, I urge you to buy Partition Commander. It's easy to understand and use, is affordably priced, and gets my vote as the second most essential piece of software (my OS being the first) that I use.

Good luck with your OS adventuring. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif




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Laura Goodwin
lalaura@altavista.net

[StalkingViper]

Yeah, i did get the 2 cd ver with the extras disk. My hard drive is partitioned the D:\ partition is for system backups. My pc came configured like that. I have a fresh back up on it http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif I just hate having to go through the process though hehe. i believe i should get the cd's tommorrow after i get home from class so i might just be up all night screwing with it. Navy-linux could you tell me more about the disk drake partition thing? Are you in the navy? I was in for 8 years (8 long years lol) i got out last year. I would like to thank everyone for being so nice. On most forums you just get flamed lmao.

[veloctTX]

Well, if it would make you feel more at home we could flame ya also. We aim to please.