I just installed mandrake 9.1 onto my computer. I know nothing about linux, so I decided to try it. I had heard that Wine could run Windows Programs, so I decided it would install my USB Wireless Adaptor through it. Nope. It won't. Wine seems to load, then dissappear. I tried installing USBNET on the network wizard, but it doesn't work. (Note that the Network also connects me to DSL). I decided that it wouldnt work, so i decided to install Windows again. But now, the Windows setup freezes just before formatting the hard drive, and also freezes when I try and use FDISK. Can anyone help me a) Install the Wireless Adaptor (Linksys USB Wireless Adaptor v2.6 802.11b) or
b) Format the damn thing.
?

Thanks,

Andrew

If you really want to format, then just use a windows boot disk. When you see the a: prompt type format c: or whatever yer disk letter is..

use the command fdisk /mbr

If you're still willing to try out Linux;

Install Windows and Mandrake in a dual boot environment

Write a support mail to the manufacturer of your wireless adaptor

Check at www.sourceforge.net if a driver is available. (download section -> system ->hardware -> hardware drivers).

In my opinion Linux is a far more superior operating system compared to the most used one, sadly enough linux users still have to check hardware compatibility before buying equipment. This is especially true of usb equipment. But you know that already I guess.

You can't just format a linux partition
with a windoze boot disk as the partiton
type will be different. You will firt have
to delete a "non-dos partition" and then
create a dos partiton in order to format it
to fat.