Completely new to Linux
Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: Completely new to Linux
started by: Linux Dragon
Posted by Linux Dragon on Feb. 05 2006,02:51
I downloaded DSL because I'm stuck with a slow dial up connection and it looked similiar to Windows. I've also heard that a Linux operating system can protect itself from viruses and other junk on the internet without the use of specialized, oversized, and over-priced security suites. Since I live in government housing for low income families (frequently referred to as "the projects" by eveyone who lives there, myself included), I thought it was the perfect addition for my computer, which I put together almost from scratch using parts I found in several near-by dumpsters. The version of DSL I got works great as a live CD, and that's what I want to use it for because I really want to keep Windows XP until I am proficient in Linux. It boots a lot faster then XP, has no annoying start-up music, and it also doesn't have the extremely unhelpful puppy that sniffs it's feet every time I search for something. It also displays sytem status right on the desktop in a simple, easy-to-read horizontal bar graph that updates in real time, as opposed to the stupid looking, flashy, and slow Task Manager in XP. My problem is that in live CD mode, I can't access my floppy, external USB hard drive, or internal hard drive and I have absolutely no clue as to what the "My Computer" equivelant is called or where to find the system infromation that tells me what graphics card, CPU, modem, etc. I have. In short, other then clicking icons and using apps like Ted and Beaver, I don't know how to "drive" it. I have also heard that it's possible to run Windows apps on Linux. If there is a way to run Visual Studio on Linux without causing my computer to crash, or if there is a similiar program suite available Linux users, please let me know. If someone can send me an e-mail explaining everything to me, that would be most helpful. Here's my e-mail:unrealnutcase@hotmail.com
Note to development team:
If you guys could include a help file system like the one in Windows XP in your next release that explains everything, I, and others like me, would greatly appreciate it.
Posted by alb1954 on Feb. 05 2006,04:00
On the lower right of your screen is a vertical toolbar. The third item from the bottom is the mount app program. You will see three buttons: two arrows and a line. The arrows take you to your internal hard drive: /dev/hda, your floppy: /floppy, or your external usb drive /dev/sda. Click on the line and your device will be mounted so you can access these devices. The line will turn green when the device is mounted. Click the line again to unmount the device. If you want to access your internal hard drive, first mount it then click on the Emelfm icon which is a file manager. On the right half of the window double click the mnt file(mount) then double click hda1. Your Windows files will be displayed."hd" stands for hard drive, "a" stands for master, and "1" stands for the first partiotion of that drive.
Posted by Linux Dragon on Feb. 05 2006,11:29
Thanks for the help. Now I still have the problem with connecting to the internet (Using the XP system while writing this) and saving my personal settings to the USB external hard drive so that every time I boot from the disk, I don't have to go back to square one. I have a Seagate 40GB external hard drive with three custom partitions on it. All of them are formatted FAT32 and I transfered all my Windows stuff to a one partition, leaving the other two blank. Can DSL detect the two blank partitions and reformat them so they can be used to store myDSL extensions as well as my custom settings? Now about my internet connection. On the XP system, I have special connection software from my ISP and I don't think they offer a version of their software for use with Linux. Could I still connect to the net with Linux? Also, I have heard of some compatibility software called Wine. What Windows applications is it compatible with and where do I get it?
Posted by larkl on Feb. 05 2006,13:23
RE - hard drive and formatting. You should be able to use cfdisk (ie - cfdisk /dev hda1 or hdb1...), followed by mke2fs /dev/hda1). You should consider a frugal install, many use this as it gives you a really bullet proof system. It's in the right-click menu from the desktop. You should be in pretty good shape then for saving things. You can add more desired files to the /home/dsl/.xfiletool.lst file so ensure that they're backed up. You need to search the forum and get the details. You should probably use the grub version of frugal and then you'll edit the menu.lst file to the desired options (like where your myDSL extensions are). Here are my notes from my install < Frugal-grub >
There are others out there.
Re- Internet. I would ask the ISP for the details of how you're connecting. If it's just IP addresses, DNS Server addresses etc, you can set it up. If it's doing some sort of VPN, you may have a real challenge. Can't help with that.
FInally, DSL is PERFECT for your situation. Old hardware, don't want to mess with Antivirus, spyware etc. etc. Good Luck!
Posted by Linux Dragon on Feb. 05 2006,18:34
Thanks, that helped a lot!
I just found an external hard drive in the trash and I've just cracked the log in password on it. It's a Windows 2000 and it looks like someone screwed up the file systems so that none of the appa workd propperly. I know how to delete the windows partition, but I'm wondering if it's possible to boot from the USB hard drive. Also, does DSL require three partitions or will it work just fine with two? And I don't think the Frugal install will be possible because DSL detects my floppy at start up, where all the code runs across the screen, but it says "unknown drivers" or something like that next to it. If there's a way to fix this problem, I'd really like to know what it is. Also, I called my ISP and talked to the computer illiterate women on the other end. She didn't know what I was talking about when I asked her what protocol their connection software used and she couldn't give me the IP adress of the server that links me to the net "for security purposes" 
I have absolutely no clue why she couldn't tell me because the IP adress of the server could be found in the Status dialog box with the Details tab selected. All I had to do to find this dialog box (aside from turning my sytem upside down and inside out for 7 1/2 hours!
) was right click on the double-monitor looking thingy while I was "connected" (well DUH! )Okay, I thought I was in the clear, but guess what? I have no clue how to use cfdisk! Well, I do, but I can't get them to look like the ones in the tutorial or in the installation notes. Where are you people getting "dev" from? And why won't "mke2fs /hda1" work? If someone can please direct me to a tutorial of cfdisk for first timers it would be greatly appreciated. I want to be able to set up DSL, but I can't do that if I don't know how. I have an external hard drive with nothing on it, all plugged in and ready to go. Somebody please help me. It I can just get passed the cfdisk part, then it will be smooth sailing from there.
Posted by alb1954 on Feb. 06 2006,03:42
cfdisk how to< http://72.14.207.104/search?....nk&cd=2 >
Which isp do you use? Depending on your provider you may need the software to dial in, otherwise all you need is the number you dial to connect and your password. Do you have a winmodem? This will give you much trouble in Linux.
Posted by Linux Dragon on Feb. 06 2006,10:19
Okay, I figured out how to use cfdisk. Now I am faced with another problem:root@ttyl[/]#: mke2fs /dev/hda1
bash: /dev/hda1: Permission denied
What the BLEEP! BLEEP! BLEEPIDY BLEEP! happened?!
Someone please help me.