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General discussion

Linux

May 26, 2004 5:11PM PDT

I'm a not-entirely-new newbie and wonder about installing Linux. Would this be too ambitious a step?
I'm running Win 98 2nd ed on a Dell Dimension L566 CX - not the youngest of machines!
David

Discussion is locked

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Re: Linux? - how about KNOPPIX?
May 26, 2004 6:41PM PDT

If you want to play around with the Linux OS, and not have to install anything, look on the net for KNOPPIX.

See KNOPPIX

What is KNOPPIX? (copied for the website):
KNOPPIX is a bootable CD with a collection of GNU/Linux software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. KNOPPIX can be used as a Linux demo, educational CD, rescue system, or adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demos. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk. Due to on-the-fly decompression, the CD can have up to 2 GB of executable software installed on it.

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Re:Linux
May 27, 2004 1:01AM PDT

David,

There's a CNET Linux forum at:

http://reviews.cnet.com/5204-6617-0.html?forumID=11&start=0

You'd get complete answers there. However, one thing that Linux generally does well is run on older hardware. The only problem you may have in almost all cases is with software modems (Winmodems), which almost never play well with Linux.

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Re:Re:Linux
May 28, 2004 8:00AM PDT

Thanks Chuck and Paul - I checked out your suggestions and think that Knoppix is the way for me to go. I followed the download link on the Lnux page and chose Mirror Australia to download as that's where I live. BUT there were so many things listed and I didn't know which one I needed. Could I please ask you for further help?
Thanks
David

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Re:Re:Re:Linux
May 28, 2004 9:13AM PDT

Tathraman: I recently downloaded the Knoppix cd. I downloaded only the 700 (+ or-) MB file, since that's about all you can fit on a cd. I'm not sure what the other files are, since I didn't download them. Be sure to select the file in English, unless you prefer Deutsh.
It took almost 40 hours to download with a broadband connection.
BTW the cd works great. Be sure to read the instructions on how to burn to disk.
Hope this helps.
Good Luck.

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Re:Re:Re:Re:Linux
May 28, 2004 5:11PM PDT

Thanks Ernie - and yes, it did help. Lots.
Best
David

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Re:Re:Linux
May 28, 2004 5:03PM PDT

Thanks Chuck and Paul - I checked out your suggestions and think that Knoppix is the way for me to go. I followed the download link on the Lnux page and chose Mirror Australia to download as that's where I live. BUT there were so many things listed and I didn't know which one I needed. Could I please ask you for further help?
Thanks
David