KDE-Forum.org

Hello,

I'm new to this forum, so I'm sorry if:
1) This question already been asked before.
2) This is actually wrong forum.
3) This forum for very much savvy Linux users who get offended by such questions.

My question is below.
I'm very much basic Linux user (using KDE at work). I'd like to install Linux at home on my PC that is running Windows XP.
I have one HD - C: drive.
I'm actually looking for guidelines, if there are any enthusiasts here, who can help me and guide me on installation process.
Perhaps if you in CA we can even meet and do the installation together.
I'm not looking for the urls with some gibberish that is understood only by hardcore Linux developers (one of my PCs already gone due to the reason I couldn't proceed and I had nobody to ask).

All the responses are welcome and again I'm sorry if I've offended someone by this question.

Have a Great Day/Evening/Night!
Andrew

Thanks a lot Jacek!

I already went to another forum that you have mentioned.
I'm about to post my question over there.

Pretty much afraid on formatting and re-formatting my hd by myself, this is why I'd like to find some instructions for "dummies" or someone who is interesting in doing the installation together (no idea for what reason, maybe someone else a bit more experienced then me want to try it as well)

Thanks again!
Andrew

Jacek,

Thank you!
This is not what scares me. I'm planning to have all my important files backed up by burning them on CDs.

I'm actually afraid that if I'm stuck in the process, I have no way to contact someone as I do not have Internet.

But now as I see some friendly savvy people around here, I'm thinking of perhaps getting 2nd PC, so one I'll have up & running and if I have some concerns or doubts I can just post then on such forum.

Thank you very much!
Andrew

Hi Guys,

Thank you for your support!
Well - I went with the safest (?) option and purchased a new Seagate HD.
I've went through the whole new ordeal installing it. Why all the manuals or User guides written for Albert Einstein type of people?
I have also installed Red Hat 9.0 (from the third time.
Myself with no help!!! (And I'm not savvy at all!). I found some issues during the 1st phase of install - Anaconda just hang and this was it. Well - I found work around and actually logged bug for Red Hat. I provided workaround in the bug - hope it will help someone if has the same issue.
Here is my situation now.
I have RH 9.0 installed and I have 2 books - one is huge (Secrets of Red Hat 9) and another small (Moving to Linux). In both just a bit and almost nothing said about how to connect to Internet. Mostly it says everything shall be detected automatically during the install and you are ready to go. And if it is not ready to go? I mean I’m very new to Linux, so here are my questions - PLEASE ADVISE:
1) where do I find the way how I need to establish/setup my Internet connection?
My Win XP on the original drive does has it - I use cable modem.

2) During the install phase I selected password for a GRUB, but it actually doesn't prompt for password at all. How do I setup this?

3) When GRUB menu comes up it lists Windows XP (default), Linux and DOS.
- What is DOS, I mean I know it is an old OS, but is it real; can I actually select and use it? Or is just a reference to the inial partition of my original HD where Win XP resides?
- Also if I do not select anything - Windows XP will launch automatically - and it is really just few seconds. So where can I increase the time for GRUB selection or make it wait until I do select something?

4) When I've installed Linux on the 2nd HD, I have feeling that when I launch Win XP from the GRUB it takes more time as usual (before I've installed new HD and Linux on it). Any idea why? I'm sure if I'll remove new HD - the system will start working faster as it used to be.

5) When I select Linux from GRUB, it starts showing all the messages (like it takes about a minute or so). Message with the entire OK in the end of statement. Is this a mandatory or is it normal. Nothing mentioned in the books I have about this.
It looks like:
Bla-Bla-Bla device OK
Bla-Bla-Bla device OK

Is there any way to remove this text from appearing?

Thank you very much for your help and support!
I really would appreciate if you can point me out to some documentation where I can find out to my answers or if you can explain by yourself in details.
I listed my questions in the priority order, so as you see - Internet is # 1 for me, however I do like to get the feedback on other doubts I have as well.

Thanks again!
Andrew

Hi jacek,

Well, I have a cable modem that is actually an extension from the cable TV.
It is connected to the ethernet card I belive in my PC.

I think the issue is that all these settings like IP addres, proxies etc. and not configured.
I also would like to know if my card has been recognized by Linux, but not sure what command to use.

I think what I'll do is copy all the settings for Internet on my original HD with XP and apply the same on Linux and will try - perhaps it will work..

Thank you for you feedback!
Andrew

Hi Anda_skoa,

I went and started trying to configure my network (internet) connection yesterday.
I think I found the issue - my Ethernet card is not detected, or better to say not supported by Linux. It is just my guess. I checked in the big book of Secret of Linux, there is a list of Ethernet cards supported by Linux and also couldn't find my.
I have: Network Adapter = Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller and I didn't find it in the list of Ethernet cards. And RH also said so - something like: "Failed to find the ethernet card...".

So what do I do in this case? This card is working perfectly fine with my 1st HD (Windows XP)...

Thanks!
Andrew

Hi Guys,

Thanks a lot - you didn't forget me.

Due to the technical (family staff - I didn't get a chance to:
1) Buy another unexpensive PC.
2) Install FC 4/3.

However I got a chance to experiment with my RH. For example:
Success stories: engy:
---------------------------------
a) Somehow I always thought that I'm working from KDE, naa - turned out I was using GNOME. So I learned to switch to KDE -> and it is much better!!!
b) I configured my printer and now it works (at least I succeed in this)!
c) I created new users and feel much comfortable about this.

:scratch: Failures :study:
----------------------------------
A) Somehow my KDE doesnt have Kpackage. Well, I said - it is even better - I'll learn to install the drivers using the Terminal
I've tried both methods - rpm and tar and failed in both:mad:
With tar it said: "Makefile: 18: ***Linux Kernel source tree not found. Stop". I'm getting this after I ran make .
With rmp, it just failed to run it properly, there were couple of errors, after rpmbuild -bb
The worse part of this it was a driver that you guys helped me to found for my Broadcom Ethernet adaptor...and I had high hopes, that after I'll install it - I'll have my window to the outer world be opened...
Driver's name is bcm4400 - I found it on the Broadcom website...

B) I also found that my sound card is not recognized properly, but it bothers me less, as I'm not much into music etc.
Both books I have (I have no idea what they think when they write those books) are written like everything is going perfect - no errors, no exceptions...
:mad: => Especially secrets of Linux...

Thanks again guys!
Have a Great Weekend!
Andrew