my adventures in linuxland....suse style.

[=JHF= Smoke]

ok, so, for those who don't know, i decided to try out some linux on my computer.  I originally tried ubuntu, but i couldn't load it (methinks it was a video driver issue).  So i went ahead and downloaded opensuse (4+gb dvd)  got it installed, and at first, messed up my mbr (luckily i knew it would so i fixed it so i can dual boot) but now im at the point that i need to tinker with a few things...1st off, it is only loading in low graphics mode cause it cant figure out what video card i have (geforce 8800GT). And, well, it's just boring...I have only really used firefox (woohoo  ) . and i cant figure out what else i have it for..ok, now the burning question....Why is this better than xp?
to me, it takes just as long to load (as windows, maybe i picked the wrong distro? ) and i have to still find drivers    .  I guess i just don't have the time like i used to have to learn something new...well, i will keep on playin around with it when i can tho...

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

Just like you, I tried out some linux on my laptop to see what the fuss was all aboot.  Used the Ubuntu 7.10 Live CD.  After having to change my boot order (WHY would they have CD LAST???) it worked great.  I didn't expect everything to work... but almost everything did.  Even the dell shortcut keys for brightness etc on the keyboard worked.  Internet worked fine... the only thing I haven't got yet is sound.  Even the .cr2 raw files from my Canon digital camera worked automatically (windows doesn't have anything like that, though Mac does).

I don't have any answers for you, but your thread gave me an opportunity to share my experience.  I guess linux hates you. 

-- JT

[=JHF= -gHoTi-]

I had a hard time getting suse working on my computer as well.  I used to use suse for tinkering

I have had the video problem with ubuntu too and some hardware just doesn't like to be see sometimes (it happens in windows too).  I beleieve I had the same card issues with a friend and through some tnkering i got it to work well enough to install nvidias propiatary (speelung?) driver and all was well.

As for the why use linux?  really that depends on the person I suppose.  I used to be a winders fanboy (ask anyone ).  But no matter how careful, how many antiviruses, how many spyware removers, tweaks, settings, etc.  I always ended up getting something from somewhere.  (Dont lie, anyone here with a windows computer has at least SOMETHING on there they did not install themselves or know about )

I took the plunge just out of "why not" sakes.  made a partition large enough for my one or two game i would need and forced myself NOT to boot into windows for anything.  I knew almost nothing about linux (dabbled, but no real knowledge) and a year later im running a webserver, and starting on a dvr/pvr project on a nix box (THANKS A LOT BONE ), and use this for my primary os.  on a laptop no less.

I think it is faster (i may be biased), i think it looks prettier (without slowing it down), and it's safer (mostly - user error doesn't count for any os ).

It's not for eveyone (yet) and it gets better every day.  In it's defense, microsoft and apple have millions and billions to pay people to improve and fix and support their os'es.  Linux is done by a group that does this in their lunch break, at home, in their free time for FREE and have an (almost ready for primetime) product comparable to the big wigs.  (I sound like a faboy, i know).

On the plus side, livecd's are awesome.  tinker away and a restart brings it all back to stock.

[=JHF= HaveSocks]

As for the why use linux?  really that depends on the person I suppose.  I used to be a winders fanboy (ask anyone ).  But no matter how careful, how many antiviruses, how many spyware removers, tweaks, settings, etc.  I always ended up getting something from somewhere.  (Dont lie, anyone here with a windows computer has at least SOMETHING on there they did not install themselves or know about )

Funny, the only virus on my old rig (that I knew of) was the one that came from YOU through MSN Messenger

That is one advantage to Linux and Apple, they lack viruses

[=JHF= Smoke]

&%$^#&*$%* stupid linux!  i messed up somethin....  MBR is messed up, and i've tried all ways to remove GRUB, and fix the mbr for windows...isnt working....now i cant access the drive in suse either....i will worry about it another time tho, just no gamin for me till this is fixed 

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

Funny, the only virus on my old rig (that I knew of) was the one that came from YOU through MSN Messenger

I seem to remember getting that message too.  From more than one person though.... and on my mac I was untouchable!  Muhahahahahaha... cough cough.

I don't have a purpose in using Linux just yet... I aim to learn more about it though.  I started thinking how much I rely on some of my open source software (filezilla, open office etc) and how well that stuff works.

As for Ubuntu, I quite liked it during my Live CD foray.  While figuring out that the boot sequence was askew, I noticed the USB drive option.  Is it feasible that I could install ubuntu on a 2 gig or so USB key and play with it there - and be able to make tweaks and setup changes still without touching my HD?  Would this be super slow?  I only have a 120 Gig HD on the laptop (opted for speed over space) and don't really want to partition it etc.

Sorry to hijack your thread smoke. 

-- JT

[=JHF= -gHoTi-]

I only know how to fix grub after installing windows - the windows install cd has a recovery option i beleive that will restore a mbr for windows (and only windows)


directions for fixing grub
-------------------------------
Pop in your liveCD (whichever works for you).

Once it is loaded (I am a terminal junkie - beware) open a terminal (accessories->terminal).

(my first step is almost always to do away with the gawd awful black text on white screen but eh)

at the prompt type in sudo grub or su -c grub  (sudo i think is used everywhere, if it complains that sudo is not found or somethng like that go with su -c" == this puts you into a grub prompt and may take a second to load (probing devices and the such)

once you get to the grub prompt (grub>) type in find /boot/grub/stage1 and it should spit out something to the effect of:
hd(x,y)  (where x and y are hard disk number and partition number respectively)

once you have that put in root hd(x,y) where x and y are the numbers you were given above.

then setup hd(x) (note:  no y!) to fix it up .  it should return some info about a splash image not being found (ok) and some kernel info (what it finds).  Hopefully it has placed a boot entry for your windows as well if not lemme know, i can spell that one out too (ive done this once or twice ).

once it is setup, just type in quit and restart, hopefully its all betta

I sure hope you dont get frustrated and give up the life - it gets better i promise!  (hardy is beautiful i might add - upgraded last night and i like - not one hitch )

[Stretchy]

  After having to change my boot order (WHY would they have CD LAST???) it worked great. 

They have it set up to boot your hdd first, so that the os gets running quicker.  Much quicker boot up time that way. 

[=JHF= BONE!!!]

&%$^#&*$%* stupid linux!  i messed up somethin....  MBR is messed up, and i've tried all ways to remove GRUB, and fix the mbr for windows...isnt working....now i cant access the drive in suse either....i will worry about it another time tho, just no gamin for me till this is fixed 

boot to an XP cd and go to the recovery console (you have to press "R" somewhere along the way).  ONce you chose the partition (probably the only windows part. you have) and enter the admin password run the following commands:

fixboot        (this re-writes the boot entries)
fixmbr         (this overwrite the MBR)

once completed, you will either need to get aquainted with a live CD to fix grub, or start from scratch and reinstall linux (windows should be find).

My suggestion is to find an old hard drive to switch out until you feel more comfortable with the dual boot process (or you make a backup of the files on the windows partition:-)).  8 GB should be enough to get started with any distro (unless your using debian........then the old 512MB 5" drives will suffice )   

As far as why?
One word . . . .



Choice





I like to use linux on servers (just built a public internet gateway that loads traffic stats into a MySQL database . . . also does traffic shaping so no one user can eat up all  the available bandwidth . . . .as well as acting as a NATing / PATing router.  All using a 400MB Debian install.

I run RedHat on my DVR thats set up on the big screen TV.  The WAF (Wife approval factor) is very high on this one.  Here are some (dated) pictures of my setup:
http://www.ta-baldridge.com/images/mythtv/DSCF0953.JPG
http://www.ta-baldridge.com/images/mythtv/DSCF0954.JPG
http://www.ta-baldridge.com/images/mythtv/DSCF0955.JPG

I use SuSE to a VMware host for my domain controller, webserver, mail-server, and fileserver. (SuSE has native support for VMWare).

Carry on.   

[=JHF= Smoke]

thx for the replies....
ghoti, i tried that, but when i boot, it still goes directly to the grub stage 2, then just grub>

bone, I cant even access the installation in recovery mode, when i go there, it doesn't give me the option to login to a windows installation...i tried fixmbr anyway and nothing...will try again    im at the point now where i just want to get in there and get a few files off, then, i don't care what happens, i will probably install linux again, but the right way....would it be easier to install linux first? or windows first? i dont care much if i have to use grub to boot...

[=JHF= OBMer]

You can put your drive in an external case (USB or Firewire) and plug into another computer to pull the files off.  Just make sure you set the appropriate jumper settings.  Most of those external drive cases have big stickers in them saying to set the jumpers on the drive a certain way before you use it.

OB

[=JHF= -gHoTi-]

thx for the replies....
ghoti, i tried that, but when i boot, it still goes directly to the grub stage 2, then just grub>

I'll research that one, and get back to ya

bone, I cant even access the installation in recovery mode, when i go there, it doesn't give me the option to login to a windows installation...i tried fixmbr anyway and nothing...will try again    im at the point now where i just want to get in there and get a few files off, then, i don't care what happens, i will probably install linux again, but the right way....would it be easier to install linux first? or windows first? i dont care much if i have to use grub to boot...

I have found (trying it both ways multiple times) that installing windows first is much much easier.  The partition editor in ubuntu (or many  of the other distros) are much more gui'ed and intuitive - but if you know what you are doing in the windows installer (we want something other than white text on blue!!!) it is easier in the long run.  Windows will make the mbr go directly to windows without passing go.  MOST linux distros go, "hey! i see you have windows installed elsewhere, would you like to make a boot entry for it as well?"   This is how I've gotten to know grub (and why I always keep a livecd handy ).

[=JHF= Smoke]

woohoo, i booted (again) the xp cd, and did the fixboot, and fixmbr and it worked! thanks bone!!!  i wasn't doing the fixboot before, just fixmbr, but now it works!
as for linux....well, i will maybe get rid of how it is now, and start again (backing up things first of course...btw , i was able to get ubuntu livecd to load, by choosing safe graphics mode, so maybe i will install that now...and follow the directions again....

[=JHF= Astromarmot]

  While figuring out that the boot sequence was askew, I noticed the USB drive option.  Is it feasible that I could install ubuntu on a 2 gig or so USB key and play with it there - and be able to make tweaks and setup changes still without touching my HD?  Would this be super slow?  I only have a 120 Gig HD on the laptop (opted for speed over space) and don't really want to partition it etc.

Sorry to hijack your thread smoke. 

-- JT

Might want to read up on that here: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/.  It's actually pretty fast off a USB key, and for just experimenting and messing around with it, quite non-invasive.   I currently have my Inspirion 1520 setup where I can boot Ubuntu off a partion on my pink 250GB usb hd when Im feeling Linuxy and it's quite useable that way as well.  I have a FAT32 Partition on the usb drive for moving files between the two.

[=JHF= JimmyT (CDN)]

I might try that.  I also have an the Inspiron 1520.     Thanks Astromarmot.

-- JT