Noobie Question

Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: Noobie Question
started by: fiorenza

Posted by fiorenza on Feb. 21 2005,18:04

Ok, So my xp has failed me again. I hate it. So i went to google, and found out about DSL. So i am wondering, is DSL a good choice for a first time user of Linux? I have never had any experience ever with Linux, keep in mind, so Linux is really fresh.

Thanks

Posted by cbagger01 on Feb. 21 2005,18:56

If you are not intimidated by computers, DSL is a great way to start using linux.

It is a relatively small download (50MB) and you can boot and try it from a CD drive and not change your computer's current setup on the hard drive.

Lastly, you can boot with the "dsl toram" parameter and it will run your entire operating system from within RAM (128MB+ required) and it is super-fast.

Posted by green on Feb. 21 2005,19:53

DSL was the first flaovr of linux that i actually spent any time with.
I think it is an excellent 'beginning' linux as well as a lot more than that.
Read up on the forums and do some things you've never done. I think DSL is a fine choice.

Have fun!

Posted by Caspar_s on Feb. 21 2005,21:37

I think any of the live cd versions are great - because you can try and figure out what you are doing before wiping out your old OS.

Posted by fiorenza on Feb. 22 2005,18:29

i dunno if i should post this in the same thread, but oh well, heres the question:

After the recemendations from all of you good people, i decided to get DSL. So I loaded it and it went great and after a while, got the screen that i should get (a DSL desktop screen). Then it said something about an internet connection. So i ran to get my Belkin 11mbs 802.11b installation disk, but when i tried to eject the disc drive where the CD for DSL was, it wouldn't budge. Since i have two drives, I tried to eject the other disc drive. it worked, but when i put in the disc, it wouldn't run!!! Is it because my Belkin installation disc isn't compatible with linux, or am i doing somthing wrong?!!

Thanks a bunch

Posted by mikshaw on Feb. 22 2005,19:32

Before accessing a data CD in Linux you first have to mount it.
The command is "mount /dev/cdrom" (or /dev/cdrom1 for the secondary drive), but for a new user the easiest way is to use the mount app in the slit (that little box of things in the lower right corner of the screen). Use the arrows to select the proper drive, and then press that little screw button to mount.

The first drive "wouldn't budge" because DSL is using it. DSL loads applications into RAM only when they are used, so it keeps the CD in the drive to access programs when you call for them. In order to pull out the disk, DSL will need to be booted with the "dsl toram" option, which loads the whole system into RAM.

There is likely to be trouble when using a manufacturer's driver disk, as it's almost definitely going to contain Windows drivers only, making the disk useless for Linux.
If that is the case, you'll need to download drivers if your hardware is not supported by DSL.

Posted by green on Feb. 23 2005,02:13

Have you tried the Net Setup options?
Right click on the desktop
System -> Net Setup -> iwconfig