Shadrack Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 Hello all! I'm sure this has been posted before, did a search, and didn't find any answers after the 2nd page so..here we go again. I need to install a Linux distro! I haven't messed around with Linux (outside of the uni) since I was 13 (9 years ago)! I'm wanting to run both Windows XP and Linux Mandrake...question is: which one should I install first to make sure I have the best boot options? My guess is I should install Windows XP first, since linux will probably play nicer w/ another operating system already installed then windows xp will. (my guess). Which boot loader should i use? Is LILO still a good choice? Also: how big do my linux partitions need to be? Back in the day, I could get away with 20 megs for my main, and 5 megs for my cache. Do I still need to setup a caching partition? Will 5 gig's be enough? All I plan to be using Linux for is learning PHP, Web Browsing, playing music and watching movies, mostly. And I want it to look beautiful. Thanks guys! -Nic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewy Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 i wouls personally install XP first becase the LILO bootman (use by MDK) will automatically recognise your XP instalation and add it to your LILO boot manager list. Also i wopuld use FAT32 pertitions in Windows so it is easier to share files betweed windows and Linux. i also founf Pargon Ext2FS Anywhere very handy application too. Hope this helps dewy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PseudoRandomDragon Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 I have a hard drive that is totaly dedicated to Mandrake Linux (eight gigs), but if you wish to have two OSes on the same hard drive, it is recommended that you first install XP. After that, install Mandrake. Mandrake does have the abiltiy to resize NFTS partitions, so no need to worry about that. For bootloaders, pretty much choose the one you like. Personally I like grub. Nothing special, just a bootloader. I think that the WinXP restore ability destroys the mandrake partition when used, so keep that in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrack Posted January 7, 2004 Author Share Posted January 7, 2004 Thanks for the reply guys. So 8 Gigs serves you well? I'll use that. Can you not mount NTFS partitions in Linux, dewy? 'Cause i'd prefer NTFS. One more question: if I use up that 8 Gigs of partition space w/ linux apps, can I install on a linux app on a windows partition? My guess is yes, but i'm curious...and I doubt i'm going to fill up those 8 gigs to ever find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewy Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 iirc in MDK 9.2 yes u can mount them. and yes8GB fine i have INSTALLED fedora core,and MDK 9.2 (diff3rent times) on my 8GB HDD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted January 8, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 8, 2004 Thanks for the reply guys. So 8 Gigs serves you well? I'll use that.Can you not mount NTFS partitions in Linux, dewy? 'Cause i'd prefer NTFS. One more question: if I use up that 8 Gigs of partition space w/ linux apps, can I install on a linux app on a windows partition? My guess is yes, but i'm curious...and I doubt i'm going to fill up those 8 gigs to ever find out. Keep in mind that when you mount an NTFS partition, it is read-only. Well, you can write to it, but it is likely to corrupt files, so it is STRONGLY recommended to only READ from NTFS! :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chavo Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 I still keep all of my documents, mp3s and stuff on a Fat32 drive. Anything I might want to share between OS's. As markjensen said NTFS support is read only right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotoLamia Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Yeah Dude... I use XP and MDK 9.2. I only use 5 gigs :) and Linix only takes up bout 3 With all options installed :) Please for you XP Files, Sake Dont Try to Wite on NTFS untill The new Kernal comes out, I believe that is soppose to fix NTFS problems... but if your HD is big enough... or you are willing to sacrice some more space... use NTFS for XP... Use the Linux File System(Can any one help me with the name plz???) and make a Fat 32 Partition so that XP and MDK can Read and write on it... I did that so I can transfer Files to and From :) Chill Out, Be Groovy, --GotoLamia-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PseudoRandomDragon Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 I think that the Mandrake Linux file system is called Journalized FS: ext3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt74441 Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 You're best bet is to keep all of your personal stuff on FAT32 drives. I don't even have NTFS support on my Libranet installation, so theres no way I can screw up Windows XP (It'll find a way to do it on its own). I have 10 gigs for Linux, 5 gigs for my home partition, and 512 for my swap. PseudoRandomDragon: ext3 isn't exclusive to Mandrake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrack Posted January 9, 2004 Author Share Posted January 9, 2004 Ok..got it installed with 4 gigs for linux, 1 gig for linux swap and 3 gigs as a FAT32 for common files. the boot manager works fine, and i got my ATI Radeon 9800 to work with x-windows and gnome. Now I just have to solve the following: 1. My mouse feels really jumpy. I've tweaked with the settings but it is like it jumps around to much. I have a Microsoft IntelliMouse Optical USB/PS/2 (connected through the PS/2) 2. I have to download the linux source files to get my sound card to work (mandrake didn't come with the linux kernel source anywhere on 3 CDS!!). X-Windows finds my sound card (onboard) and has the correct name for it. So i click on enable server, reboot, but then whenever there is any sound it just has this repeating tone. Turning up and down the volume effects the volume, but the tone doesn't go away. Also, any program that try's to use the sound card, some game, umm..totem media player (?), just lock up. I have a linux driver for my sound card...the install looks messy and involves recompiling my kernel...we'll see :) 3. I can connect to the internet with my modem through the network settings in my control center (can't think of what exactly it is called right now BrakConnect..or something). But can't figure out how to make a desktop icon for controlling logging in and out of my connection. 4. When i goto logout and select shut-down..when I reboot back into linux it says something about failing to shutdown properly? So looks like i've got some learning to do, in any case.. If you have any input for any of these problems, please reply :). As for me, i guess i need to start digging through some forums. Thanks for all the help you've provided me! -Nic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sully748 Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 im just about to install mdk on my xp system and i was wondering you ne one had ne helpful suggestions, sites, etc. thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted January 9, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 9, 2004 im just about to install mdk on my xp system and i was wondering you ne one had ne helpful suggestions, sites, etc.thx It's very easy to do! Just do it, and if you run into problems, we will help! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrack Posted January 9, 2004 Author Share Posted January 9, 2004 Umm.. My fonts on my desktop are looking great. But in Firebird they look like crap. Does the font smoothing system not work throughout all applications? I have an LCD btw. So no font smoothing = really ugly not so easy on the eye fonts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted January 9, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 9, 2004 Umm.. My fonts on my desktop are looking great. But in Firebird they look like crap. Does the font smoothing system not work throughout all applications? I have an LCD btw. So no font smoothing = really ugly not so easy on the eye fonts. :( Sorry, I have a CRT at home here. I have a laptop loaded with Mandy at work. I can check there. The rendering my depend of the font type selected, and the size of the font... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaKeY Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 Umm.. My fonts on my desktop are looking great. But in Firebird they look like crap. Does the font smoothing system not work throughout all applications? I have an LCD btw. So no font smoothing = really ugly not so easy on the eye fonts. You need an XFT enabled build of firebird. Look for one here: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewforum.php?f=23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrack Posted January 9, 2004 Author Share Posted January 9, 2004 Cool, that worked great! Thanks. Much...Muucchh better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sully748 Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 hey i got it to work and its running great ... i like it a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrack Posted January 9, 2004 Author Share Posted January 9, 2004 Ok...Here is where I'm at: I managed to download the correct linux kernel-source (#mandrake on efnet insisted that I had to find the exact same one that was w/ my distro). Kinda sucks that it wasn't included with the distro! Grr... Anyway, so I got my Linux sound driver (module?) compiled and installed, like the instructions said. Rebooted, and selected that driver from harddrak (or drakhard,whatever), and was able to hear the correct sound when i hit "Test Sound" from the KDE sound utility. But, when I try to play an MP3 with totem media player, it sounds all jacked up. Really jittery playback coming from totem. I through the MP3 in K3B (the only other prog i could find that would probably play mp3's) and same thing happened. Played around with the settings, but never could get it to work right. My mouse works fine in KDE, but not Gnome for some unexplainable reason. I set both my NTFS mounts as Read Only through one of those drak utilities, but now I can only get to them if I'm root. I tried chmod 755'ing the mount points in /mnt/ but that didn't help. *shrug*. hmmm...thats it for now. I plan on re-compiling my kernel with all the crap i don't need removed... maybe that will improve system performance. right now boot time takes awhile, and it is kinda...well...slugish. Maybe i'm just comparing it to windows xp, and thats my problem. help is greatly appreciated guys! -Nic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sully748 Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 sry for double post but i need to know how to install programs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted January 10, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 10, 2004 sry for double post but i need to know how to install programs In general, you look for the program you want, and download the appropriate rpm file for your version of Mandrake. Alternately, you my download the .tar.gz (tape archived g-zipped) file and follow the instructions included to make and install. Sourceforge.net is a good place to search for programs not included on your Mandy CDs. An example can be found at THIS page, which shows gaim (AOL Instant Messenger client). You will see .rpms for different versions of Linux (FC = Fedora Core, mdk = Mandrake). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted January 10, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 10, 2004 I managed to download the correct linux kernel-source (#mandrake on efnet insisted that I had to find the exact same one that was w/ my distro). Kinda sucks that it wasn't included with the distro! Grr... Hmmm... Well, I am still not sure why you needed to d/l source to recompile for your sound card. VERY unusual... Since your MP3s aren't playing back correctly, there is still a problem that must be found. Not sure what that might be, unfortunately. :no: Does Knoppix have problems with sound on your PC? If Knoppix works, then you did NOT have to recompile to get sound, and maybe something messed up during the process. Knoppix is an EXCELLENT single-CD Linux distro that boots off of CD-ROM and runs from CD and RAM. A great diagnostics tool! I would investigate your mouse with Knoppix as well. Perhaps also download Gnoppix (Knoppix with the Gnome Desktop Environment) A final note is that Linux should NEVER be more sluggish than the equivalent version of Windows. If it is acting sluggish, you are either running too current of a version (trying Mandy 9.2 where XP would be sluggish), or you have something wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrack Posted January 10, 2004 Author Share Posted January 10, 2004 Ok, finally got my sound working, and MP3 playback is fine. My mouse in KDE works fine, just not Gnome. Media Totem doesn't seem to work when I'm logged in as "nic" but it works fine when I'm logged in as "root". It tells me that there are no devices to play back the audio when I'm logged in as "nic". But while logged in as "nic" i can play MP3's in K3B. Are there any better OGG/MP3 players out there? After recompiling my kernel my XFT got disabled so I need to figure that out and recompile (I guess..?). Also I noticed that after recompiling I don't have a slick graphic process bar for boot up like with the original kernel that came with mandrake. I assume that is somewhere in the make menuconfig.. (?). I still can't figure out how to access my NTFS partitions while logged in as "nic". Whenever I try to get to the mount point it tells me "permission denied". I've tried just about every possible configuration through the drakdisk utility. Do I need to edit something in my fstab (?) or something? Can I just use "root" as my normal login and ignore all the warnings about being logged in as root for normal use? I'd rather not, but i have to be able to get to my NTFS partitions (where all my music is ! :)!). Hmmm... I think that is it for now. KDE runs a LOT better then Gnome did. Its real snappy. Haven't tried out any games. Not really interested in games in linux though, just trying to use them as a benchmark. If I can get a good media player running so I can listen while I work, I'll be more then happy. Thanks for the support -Nic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MG-Cloud Posted January 10, 2004 Share Posted January 10, 2004 Ok, finally got my sound working, and MP3 playback is fine. My mouse in KDE works fine, just not Gnome. Media Totem doesn't seem to work when I'm logged in as "nic" but it works fine when I'm logged in as "root". It tells me that there are no devices to play back the audio when I'm logged in as "nic". But while logged in as "nic" i can play MP3's in K3B. Are there any better OGG/MP3 players out there? That's odd (regarding the mouse problems). As for the audio problem, what is the output of the `groups' command? Make sure that you are in the group "audio". Also, for Ogg/Mp3 players, try XMMS, or if you like GTK2, Beep (which is XMMS with GTK2).After recompiling my kernel my XFT got disabled so I need to figure that out and recompile (I guess..?). Also I noticed that after recompiling I don't have a slick graphic process bar for boot up like with the original kernel that came with mandrake. I assume that is somewhere in the make menuconfig.. (?). XFT should still work ... afaik there are no xft options in the kernel. Maybe it could be related to the fact that you don't have graphics acceleration as a module/compiled in? That's just a really random guess though, I really have no idea about that. As for the progress bar, yes, it should be in make menuconfig. Assuming kernel2.6 (i think 2.4's option is in the same place), Device Drivers -> Graphics Support -> Bootsplash Configuration. If it's not there, either Mandrake does it differently, or you recompiled a vanilla kernel (sans Mandrake patches). I still can't figure out how to access my NTFS partitions while logged in as "nic". Whenever I try to get to the mount point it tells me "permission denied". I've tried just about every possible configuration through the drakdisk utility. Do I need to edit something in my fstab (?) or something? Try adding the 'user' option to the mount options in /etc/fstab . It allows users to mount the drive. Also, I'd recommend not running as root. HTH, Good luck :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted January 10, 2004 Veteran Share Posted January 10, 2004 I still can't figure out how to access my NTFS partitions while logged in as "nic". Whenever I try to get to the mount point it tells me "permission denied". I've tried just about every possible configuration through the drakdisk utility. Do I need to edit something in my fstab (?) or something? Can I just use "root" as my normal login and ignore all the warnings about being logged in as root for normal use? I'd rather not, but i have to be able to get to my NTFS partitions (where all my music is ! :)!). As far as reading yoru NTFS partition to get data, you should be able to (at the minimum) open a shell (as your normal user level), temporarily su to root and execute the proper mount command, exit the shell, and then access your NTFS partition via /dev/ntfs (or whatever name you decide to give your Windows directory) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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