---Intro to the Forums---
If you are actually reading this before posting on the forums, you are in the minority. A better, smarter, less-likely-to-make-the-forumites -angry type of minority. This is good.
If not, well, it's still good that you are reading this. Hope you didn't get flamed too much. ^_^
---Before you event think about posting---
Learn to love the search function. If this is your first time using DSL, I can promise you that someone else has had your problem, posted about it and had it answered.
Just click the search button, type in what you want so search for, select "All Forums" and "Since the Beginning".
Hit the search button at the bottom and get your results in a few seconds.
---How to Ask Intelligent Questions---
In order for us to effectively answer your question, you need to give us
some info. Here, I'll show you an example.
***Example Question #1***
hi! i downloaded dsl and it doesnt work!! how do i fix this?
kthxbye!
***End Example Question***
This is a classic noob question. Notice the extreme lack of crucial info as well as the poor grammer and punctuation. The forums are NOT AIM! In addition to providing some system info, using some kind of formatting and punctuation makes it a lot easier for us to determine what your problem is. Although we would still answer and try to help this person, it will likely prove to be a frustrating experience for bother the helper and the one being helped.
Check out this, much more appropriate example.
***Example Question #2***
Hi!
I recently downloaded DSL an for some reason I can't get it to boot!
I md5summed the iso, so it's not a bad download, and it boots fine on my other system.
I am trying to boot on a Dell Inspiron 1000. Cdrom booting is enabled in the bios, and the boot order is set right.
When I put the CD in, I get just a blinking cursor, and sometimes the words "ISOLINUX.....".
What should I try next?
Thanks!
-DSL Girl
***End Example Question***
(Note: this is just an example, this problem should not really exist on as new a laptop as the Inspiron 1000)
Notice that this person gives us some very important pieces of information.
1. She tells us that she has made sure that her end is set up properly, as far as she knows. Her bios are set to boot from cdrom.
2. Although she doesn't give us her exact sysutem specs, she does give us enough that with a quick search at Google, we can find them. She tells us she has an Inspiron 1000.
3. She tells us the circumstances of her problem. It hangs when trying to load Isolinux.
This is a very good "Asking for help" post! This is what we LOVE!
I would send DSL Girl this reply:
***Example Reply***
DSL Girl -
It sounds like you are having issues with Isolinux (the live-cd bootloader that DSL uses).
Grab the boot floppy image from one of the mirrors and use it to make a boot floppy. Instructions to do this are in the "Getting started" section of the Doc site.
Welcome to the Revolution!!!
-J.P.
***End Example Reply***
With this info in mind, feel free to make intelligent posts on the forum so that we can help you work out what ever issues you may be having with DSL!!
The DSL IRC channel is located on
irc.freenode.net #damnsmalllinux