User Feedback :: DSL FAQ Boot camp - Bring a helmet.

Q) Installed DSL 0.7.3 to hdX# with <insert other operating system here> on hdZ#. I have set <insert other operating system here> to boot with lilo. When I edit
/ect/lilo.conf and run /sbin/lilo I get an error message which says it cannot recognize the boot
signature for hdX# (dsl). How I can modify /etc/lilo.conf to indentify the boot signature?

A)
By tjm4fun
Create a mount point for dsl on <insert OS here>. ex /mnt/dsl
then for lilo use something like:
boot = mnt/ds/boot
in the stanzas, any ref to dsl in the boot stanzas must be prefixed with the mount point. then
run lilo, it will now be able to find the correct blocks to build the loader for that distro.
you can make it a temp mount point til you run lilo and it build the loader for that distro.
you can make it a temp mount point til you run lilo and it builds itself, after that it's not needed
til the next lilo build. I put fstab entries in my other distros, so I can read the others, and if I
make any changes, don;t have to remember to remount 2or 3 other distro's temporarily to run
lilo.

Q) I have networked my two computers together. One has Windows XP and the other DSL. I have configured both Windows XP and DSL properly but I can't figure out how to access the shared files on Windows XP

A) You can download a MyDSL file calld 'samba.dsl'. It should create a desktop icon called LinNeighborhood. Open it by clicking on it. A window should pop up. There should be a tree. The top of the tree should be a penguin with the word 'box' besides it (if you haven't modified the name). If you expand 'box', a sub tree should extend out with the name of the workgroup (ie. MSHOME). Double click it and the computers in the work group should pop up.
(ie.

[] [Comment] [Mountpoint]
Box
|_MSHOME
   |_CHRISTA1 Christa's Main

Right click the computer you want to access and select scan as users. A window should pop up, select OK. The tree should now extend and show the shared folders/files in that computer. Right click what you want to access, a menu should pop up. Select mount. A mount dialog should pop up. If you select ok without modification it should save it to $HOME/mnt/<computer name>/<file/dir name>
Feel free to modify the options as needed or wanted though usualy not required.

I hope that helps.

Q) What controls applications that start up at startup?

A) The file '$HOME/.xinitrc'. Make sure that 'fluxbox' is on the last line and that you put & at the end of each command.
& the just means that linux can continue after launching the application.

Q) What are basic file navigation commands?

A) Good Question!

ls: Lists the directory's (the file you are in) contents.
   Tip: Files that start with a period are hidden. To display them type: ls -a
cd: Change working directory (Changes which folder you are currently in). Basic Syntax: cd <path>
more: Displays a file one page at a time. Basic Syntax: more <file>
pwd: Displays current working directory (Which file you are in currently).
rm: removes a file. Basic syntax: rm <file>
WARNING: There is no recycling bin in Linux. Once you delete a file it won't be easy getting it back, if not impossible.
cp: copies a file. Basic syntax: cp source destination

Note: Case-sensitive

Those should get you around. For more detailed explanation look at your man files / documentation.

Q) How do I compile something?

A) I'am sorry, but that quesion is out of the scope of this FAQ but I will give you some pointers. You need a MyDSL file from the testing repository (ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/distributions/damnsmall/mydsl_testing/date.html) called 'gcc1.dsl'. After installing it, you should have gcc, g++, and make. You may want to download bison from apt-get as well. Most programs that you download will include instructions on how to install them. If worse comes to worse, you can ask for specifc help on the boards.

Q) How I have flees in my home. How do I get rid of them?

A) You may have to fumigate your house. Try to find the source of the problem (ie. your pets). You can buy medications and collars to kill the flees on the animals so they don't reproduce. Clean daily (vacume, washing, ect.). Try talking to your local house cleaning company.

Q) Why is everyone mean to me when I ask a question?

A) This happens on every single foum. Questions get asked over and over again and people get annoyed. I recommend that you search the boards and documentation before asking questions. You may find that your question is already answered in great detail. Another tip is to make sure you put your post in the right forum and that you are clear, use proper english and grammer to the best of your ability (no one is perfect), and try to be optimistic.

Q) Can I start a fan site?

A) Sure, go ahead! Make sure that you offer up to date information and correctly convey DSL. Some tips on creating your fan site:

1) Make sure information is easy to find (I should be able to find what I am looking for in under 20 seconds!)
2) Create a community. Offer message boards and other communications.
3) Don't be a web-dramatic. Don't put a ton of large pictures on the page that look really neat and expect it to look good together in unity. The website should be simple and beautiful.

I hope that helps Remember, DSL is a great Distro. Share it with the world!

Q) When will you get all this thread compiled in a text file?

A) When ever we feel that we have enough FAQ's to actually put that work in and make it worth while. That's why I try to add FAQ's everyday as I find more questions and ideas that people frequently bring up or that I think people might have trouble with. Feel free to add your own FAQ's and HOW-TO's under the guidelines that we have provided. Document things well so that you can be very descriptive here.

Q) I don't like linux becuase I can't run all my fancy Windows games like StarCraft, Warcraft, and Doom.

A) Actually... I think we clones of several of those games offered in the MyDSL page. What I mean by clones is that these games look and feel like the orginals but are defiently different (sometimes even improved). I find that they usualy have small, funny, little linux twists . Remember, you can always dual boot between windows and DSL or just run DSL off the CD (The beauty of LiveCD's) but I personnaly use DSL as an OS replacement.

Q) What are some FAQ's you plan on adding in the upcoming future?

A)
1) How to make your own MyDSL ISO of DSL.
2) How to mount CD-ROMs and Floopies
3) A detailed explanation of the colour codes in MyDSL GUI.
4) How to register in the DSL forums (just incase
5) What is the best shampoo?
  AND MUCH MUCH MORE...
See you next time on the screen sav...I mean... In the DSL FAQ's

Till Next Time,

~Kev... Somerville32@hotmail.com

Just make sure you read them over to make sure I am not giving incorrect information