New Linux Install/Partitioning Questions

[catacon]

Hey I am currently downloading the Debian Linux distro (through the jigdo option) and was wondering if anyone has done this and knows how long it takes (I am using a 56k modem ) and also if you have any tips on installing. My other question was about partitioning. I have Windows XP Home SP2 on a 40 GB hard drive and I know I will have to repartition the drive for the new linux installation. How do I do this without losing everything (I know to backup before hand just in case) and what should I do it with? Thank you a whole lot!

[Ob1]

a long time. its a large file.
i know on SuSe linux it has an option to resize your current partition on the drive without erasing anything. i dont know if the debian version has that feature. im no expert in linux by any means.
to back up anything, i would say if you have a network setup, then just transfer your files over to the other pc, otherwise, you could use and external drive and transfer the data onto there

[catacon]

Best I can do backing-up wise is burn stuff to CD's and my 256MB USB drive. That should work though. Anything else about partitioning? I think the Debian documentation mentioned something about doing it during installation (like SuSe), but I thought it recommened against it. I will look again.

Yeah, this is taking a long time. Stupid 56k modem! How does doing the jigdo option save time. I know it helps the servers, but how does it help me?

Thanks again!

[Ob1]

o yeah, i forgot about burning to cd to backup. i would recommend using a rewritable disc if your back up is only temporary. as far as linux resizing your partition, basically you boot to the cd and configure all of your settings for installing the OS before any files are copied to the drive. i didnt have any problems when it resized my partitiion. all programs and files worked perfectiy.

here is a link to answer your jigdo questions:
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Debian-Jigdo/

[catacon]

AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

I hate this computer!!! It just disconnected fromt the internet and skipped a bunch of files. Do I have to start over (hope not!)? Is there anyway I can get those files easily. Thanks!

Ob1-That link helps, thanks!

[Ob1]

question, how come you dont have broadband service (DSL, Cable modem)? you can try clicking the same link that u clicked when u started the download, it might continue from where it left off, or you might have to download it all over again.

do you have any friends with a broadband connection that you would let u download the file? and then just burn it to a disc, and be done with it.

[catacon]

We're poor and my parents don't understand the need for a faster internet connection and I don't have any friend (j/k, but that might be annoying for them). I'll just let it keep going and see what happens. Maybe I can get the update that checks for old/missing files and then gets just those. I dunno.

[Ob1]

depending on your friends internet connection, you might be able to download it in a few hours, vs a few days with your dialup.

[catacon]

A few days?! Is that how long this is going to take?

[Ob1]

well the file size is around 650mb correct? when i looked on linuxiso.org thats the size of the debian iso file. and since are only downloading at about 4kbps/second, its gonna take a long time

[catacon]

Yeah, I gave up. I know thats not a good attitude but it was going to take a while even using the jigdo thing (which downloads tons of small files and then will compile them into the ISO at the end). I will now try DSL - Damn Small Linux, which is a 50MB download. Hopefully that will go well. Thanks anyway for the help Ob1.

[Karnevil9]

Why not ask your friend to download it overnight? This way he is not using the internet and by the time he gets up the next morning it is done so it didn't interfere with anything he might do

The last time I checked though, isn't Debian like seven CD's now?

[Ob1]

yep

[catacon]

Actually, my dad's work has a high-speed connection, so I may use that during no-work hours. I just need to decide on a good linux distro to get. Any recommendations?

[Ob1]

i have SuSe and i like it. i had to delete it off my pc for now, cause i needed the space. im planning on fixing my old laptop and putting it on there

www.linuxiso.org

[catacon]

Is that good for beginning? I have not used linux much and don't want something that involves a lot of hard configuration and stuff? I would like a GUI, terminal-based is a little tough, even though I am a programmer. I guess I'm just lazy. How much space does SuSe take up on the hard drive?

[digitalfreedom64]

I'm running Mepis Linux. Mepis is based on Debian, you can either download the 600+Mb cd or $14.95 and they'll ship you a copy.

http://www.mepis.org/

[catacon]

On a high-speed connection, how long do these downloads take, generally?

[Pounder]

just go to linux central and buy the cd their cheap 2$ to 15$

[digitalfreedom64]

I really can't say tom uch about that, I have Direcway and it's rather tempermental about downloading files that large. I downloaded kubuntu Linux a week ago, it was about 650 mb and took me about 5 hours. It would most likely be less than that on DSL.

[catacon]

free download or pay and wait to be shipped...hmm...download. That is if I can use a high-speed connection. I did order a free Ubuntu CD, but I eager to try Linux.

[Karnevil9]

SuSE is about the easiest to use. Also Mandrake or Mandriver or whatever they call themselves nowadays. Probably Fedora too. If you want a Debian based system, then Ubuntu, Mepis, Knoppix or Gnoppix. These are also pretty easy to work with. Knoppix and Gnoppix are live CD's. The operating system can be run from the CD without installing it to the hard drive. Ubuntu and Mepis have live CD versions. If you ordered Ubuntu they will send you both. I like the Debian based systems so I would recommend Knoppix or Mepis. There is also Libranet. A Debian based system that is not that hard to install with a good update system that will let you grab what you want from Debian.

[catacon]

Mandriva, I was confused when I first saw that. I was like "What happened to Mandrake?!". Anyway, thanks for those suggestions.

[Ob1]

suse has a easy to use gui, much like a windows gui
it is fairly easy to use. there are books that can help you understand linux. i purchased a book to help me called linux SuSe bible. its a good book.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...64577395&itm=3

depending on your high speed connection. (512kbps vs 6mbps) it could take maybe 30 minutes to 5-6 hours. it all depends on your transfer rate.

the size of SuSe depends on which compenants you want installed. if you install all the compenents it takes up a little over 5gb, but that one is suse professional, im guessin it would be around 1 gb i think, give or take a few 100 mb's for SuSe personal version

[catacon]

The download is not 5gb is it? Also, how do the Live CD's store files you create, like "word" files and such? Are they saved to the hard drive and then read whenever the CD is put in again, or what? Also with Live CD's, do you have to partition for Linux?

[Ob1]

live cds just run off the cd, there is no partitioning done. im not sure on where you wold be able to save files. i never messed with the live cd, i just jumped write in and installed the actual OS on my drive.
the one on the linuxiso.org website is SuSe personal, and its only 650mb. im not sure of the professional version size when downloading. it takes up 5 discs, it wont be 5gb to download, since its a compressed file.

[catacon]

I am liking the SuSe Bible...DVD included, seems like everything you need to start with SuSe. Thanks for that. I have a B&N right by my house, I may check that out. What does SuSe stand for anyway? And is it pronounced 'soos' or 'sus'? Thanks for all the help guys!

[digitalfreedom64]

Originally Posted by catacon Mandriva, I was confused when I first saw that. I was like "What happened to Mandrake?!". Anyway, thanks for those suggestions.

This should explain what happened:
http://www.mandriva.com/company/pres...corporate/2551

[catacon]

Yeah, I was really confused there for awhile. Any other suggestions for Linux distros.

Hey Pounder, I didn't mean to sound rude by shooting down your suggestion about buying the CD's, I would just rather wait a few hours than a few days to get the distro. Although I did order that Ubuntu disk that takes like 6 weeks. Oh well. Sorry about that!

[Ob1]

Originally Posted by catacon What does SuSe stand for anyway? And is it pronounced 'soos' or 'sus'?

pronounced Susie