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I've got a second hard drive here which I'm not using right now. I feel like having a go with linux (I have a few versions dotted around, Mandrake 7.2 comes to mind).
All I want to know, is :
is it safe to install?
Partitioning and that is not a problem, but I've heard of people having windows randomly stop working after a linux install.
Is this a boot loader thingmy? Is it better to load from a boot disk?
It is a bootloader problem. Linux requires a
bootloader (LILO) to start the operating system. Mandrake 7.2 would work fine. It is
a good OS to learn linux. I suggst that you
have a boot disk for Windows and make sure
that you copy fdisk.com to it. If for any
reason, you can't boot from the harddrive
Use the boot disk and run "fdisk /mbr" It will re-write the bootsector for windows. When you run the install for Mandrake 7.2 it gives you the option to create a boot disk.
DO IT. This way if you have to use fdisk /mbr,
you can still boot to linux and not lose all
that information.
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Microsoft may refuse technical support, and you may void your warranty if you install Linux, they highly reccommend against it.
Have a boot disk aswell, but the bootloaders are generally pretty good.
You may stuff up your computer and have to format all hard-drives if you install Linux.
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Mandrake 7.2 is nice. The bootloader it'll install, unless specified otherwise, is GRUB (GRand Universal Bootloader). It's got a simple interface where you use the up / down arrow keys to select which OS you want to use. You should make a boot disk for both of them just to be safe (You'll be prompted to make a Linux bootdisk near the end of the installation process).
I have not personally had this Win9x boot failure problem I keep hearing about.
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no robbo is a guy who loves windows and only windows he gets great enjoyment bashing linux don't pay him no mind! Murry mandrake 7.2 is a good os to learn i myself use grub bootloader seems to work better for me then lilo fdisk/mbr and fdisk to make sure there is no traces of WINDOWS on it have fun
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just like when I tell people in the windows
forums to be careful with certin things!
while I don't like some of robbos comments he
actully did try to help so I say if he helps
but also post "what he thinks is a warning"
no big deal, although I don't agree!
by the way you don't get a warranty from
microsoft if you call them they will tell you
to get intouch with the PC maker (I know my
friend tried this!)by the way I use linux and mandrake 7.2 is
great for newbies 8.0 is out in beta right
now but don't install it untill it is a full
version.
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I concur with Mandrake 7.2! In fact, I am using it right now! Finally figured out that I had to have serial ports setting in BIOS for specific address/irq, rather that automatic. (sheepish grin)
I also use Windows 98 SE, which is decent. FYI: use a bot manager like System Commander and partitioning software like Partition commander. My mandrake 7.2 install program is buggy, in that it will not setup the swap partition, and the other partition is some sort of unformatted unix (/home). The root (/) partition it did okay.
The other thing, is that you need an external modem to get online with linux, although a couple of linux certified internal pci modems are made. I have the Zoom 56k external.
Finally, do not go with Trident Blade 3D for now, the driver module for 7.2, while better than 7.0, still doesn't work right. MAKE SURE YOUR VIDEO CARD IS COMPATIBLE, by checking out www.linux-mandrake.com
To robbo: the reason there are problems getting linux up and running, is that linux system developers have to write drivers for what is essentially windows hardware.
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Oh please, you do get a warrantee for Windows. You also get free tech support over the phone from them.
I ring them everyday, the nice people have a little code next to my name, they put me to the front of the cues and call me by my first name, usually I'm just ringing to say hi.
If you damage your Windows CD, ring them, for the cost of postage, plus $10AU they will send you a new Windows CD, they did me. Sure you have to proove you have the license and al, but they will do it. How many companies do you know that are willing to do that, most say, you broke it tough luck.I'm getting the feeling MS USA aren't overly helpfull people, as i've heard a few complaints about them, but MS australia couldn't be nicer.
Robbo
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Well perhaps MS australia is good but MS usa
is terriable for tech support, maybe it is
because theres more people here I don't know
but thats the way it is here. And here MS
always refers you to the pc maker for any
warranty issue. maybe if you buy the boxed
version they support you but I'vve never
bought the boxed version.
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Yeah, if you buy a so called "OEM" version, it measn the people you bought it from have muched with it. They infact buy Windows from Microsoft, make changes etc... Microsoft can't supply a waranty for that, they don't own it, nor is it theres to support. Buting a retail version, directly from Microsoft, will give you any help you need.
What warantee issue do you have? They still provide tech support over here for my IBM Windows.
Maybe it's because its in Australias culture to help people no matter what, they probably aren't supposed to help us but they do, rather than the American Culture, which is simply, "make as much profit as possible, f**k the little people, just make profit."Robbo
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Wow for once I whole heartedly agree with
your culture comments! I realize about the
OEM versions but they should at least answer
tech support questions related directly to
the os it's self (ie contro panel installing
drivers etc..) but they don;t that really
bugs me really for the fact that my friends
end up calling me!
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I would suggest Mandrak-linux to get started, it's the easiest to use. You also have the option of installing lin4windows, which doesn't involve any partitioning. It creates a virtual drive which you can boot to with GRUB, the boot manager. This way if you screw something up in the learning process you can uninstall simply by booting to DOS and typing fdisk /mbr, and boom....linux is gone and Win is still intact. And you can always partition later.
But that's just my opinion.
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Mandrake is good, the installation resembles WinME so closely its not funny.
Robbo2,
I have no idea why the Americans are being unhelpfull. The control panel is still the original Windows, and I guess they'd help you if you asked nicely, but I dunno, can't really see why they wouldn't. If your unhappy, try and speak with a manager there, they are required by law to put you through if you ask, tell them why your unhappy, I'm sure they'll help.
MS Australia is about to start free tech support via email, though only from emails ending with ".au", I guess the US won't be far behind, just don't mention you havean OEM version, say you bought it.Robbo
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