Installing Linux

So I want to change to Linux on this computer, which Ive never done or know too much about. So, what do I need to do to do it? And what programs can I install, is there any way to have a chat program like msn messenger, microsoft word, p2p, etc? Thanks!

first, figure out which distro you want. when i messed about with linux, i used fedora core 4. you can download different distros at linuxiso.org. you might want to keep windows installed as well and have both oss in dual boot, or just go with linux - it's up to you. in linux, the chat program you'll probably use is gaim, which i believe supports msn, yahoo, aim, and a few others. openoffice replaces microsoft office, and is included with fedora core 4 (and i assume with other distros). p2p is handled by azureus or a large number of other applications. the only area in which linux is significantly weaker, in my opinion, is gaming. other than that, everything seems to work quite well if you find the right programs.

i think ubuntu is pretty good for a new user.
its pretty easy to get apps and stuff.
chat-gaim (generally included) it supports most all the networks
word-openoffice (openoffice.org) might be included
p2p like torrents are fairly easy to find, but most the stuff is open source so you don't need it unless you want music.

okay, so im gonna go with suse, is that a pretty good choice? im downloading an iso to burn to a cd. do i just put that in and restart the computer to install it, or what? also, are all the general files compatible like jpeg, mp3, etc?

plus karma to mattmag & to turpinetinedreams when allowed. thanks guys!

suse will do fine, and is a good choice for firefox and openoffice. just be sure you know what you are doing before you wipe your hard drive or something crazy.

jpg's, mp3's and all the same are compatible with linux. you might want to check out other apps to open them, but there is not a restriction on file types. i think it is...um, i can't remember the name, but there are apps on suse to help you look at pictures and shiz like that.

will installing all my hardware be a problem (usb flash drives, printers, external burner)??

nah shouldnt be, just search for tutorials and IRC chats are your friend

[quotee8c3194291="therest"]will installing all my hardware be a problem (usb flash drives, printers, external burner)??[/quotee8c3194291]

shouldn't be. linux is much like any other operating system (but better D) and is becoming more widely used. if something doesn't work, you can look for programs to help you out.

over all...you shouldn't have any problems.

Yup, the good thing about Linux is there's enormous amounts of resources on the internet to help you out. wink

alright, cool. so to install it, what do i do?

well, you have to download the disc image and burn it to disc. Suse is a very good choice for your first linux. Get the DVD image as long as you have a dvd-rom. Boot your computer with the DVD in, and the installer will start. Suse does a good job at auto-configuring everything, you can most likely go with all the defaults and be good to go.

i dont have a dvd burner, just a cd burner. but the iso file was only 700 megs, so it worked alright. i havent tried to see if it works though cause im still backing up my files.

I was interested in installing Linux but know absolutely nothing about it. Is that a good enough reason to not bother?

Is there a Linux for beginners or can you pretty much install it and learn after it's on your machine?

[quotea49f0ca121="theysayjump"]I was interested in installing Linux but know absolutely nothing about it. Is that a good enough reason to not bother?

Is there a Linux for beginners or can you pretty much install it and learn after it's on your machine?[/quotea49f0ca121]

As others have mentioned, ubuntu is a good starter for linux. You can get it from here http//www.ubuntu.com/download There is also a great script called automatix, that gets everything up and running for you with little work. (dvd playing, ripping, etc.) http//ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=66563

Jump go for it! The new Suse 10 is very user friendly, and most things you need to do are intuitive. There are a lot of similarites in the interface to windows. It also is a headache free install, atleast for me. I think only the paid for version includes the openoffice and many other apps. All of them are free anyway, its just nice to have them bundled with the OS install. You could get a copy of the DVD from a torrent, but it kinda feels wrong to pirate a linux OS hah!

If you have an extra system, there's no reason not to thrown something on there. If not, the install is easy to setup dual-boot with windows. If you have the entire disk paritioned already, you might want to use a partition tool beforehand to set some free unpartitioned space, then the suse install will use that space automatically.

[quote631a81b152="theysayjump"]I was interested in installing Linux but know absolutely nothing about it. Is that a good enough reason to not bother?

Is there a Linux for beginners or can you pretty much install it and learn after it's on your machine?[/quote631a81b152]
Well, some distros have an ISO that you can download called a "Live Disk". It allows you to boot from the cd-rom and try out Linux before you actually install it. It's like a full-fledged OS on-a-disk.

....I'm a little scared for the OP if he doesn't even know what to do w/ a boot disk, and he's trying to install a completely foreign OS (to Windows users anyways). But, I guess everyone's a noob to begin with wink

[quote2b9b5f13ff="theysayjump"]I was interested in installing Linux but know absolutely nothing about it. Is that a good enough reason to not bother?

Is there a Linux for beginners or can you pretty much install it and learn after it's on your machine?[/quote2b9b5f13ff]
If you just want to try it out, just get a dvd-image or cd-image of knoppix and you can just run it off the dvd/cd.

some of u may remember my dual boot thread this time last week...i ended up going with ubuntu, only i cant install anything cuz they need root access and surprise - the installation never has me set a root password. anyone know how to get around this?

sudo su psswd
then it will ask for password
or google setting root password in ubuntu and you will get it, when it asks for the password i think you just accept on nothing ?

[ud41f76277b]http//help.ubuntu.com/starterguide/C/ch06.html#setchangeenablerootpassword[]http//help.ubuntu.com/starterguide/C/ch06.html#setchangeenablerootpassword[/ud41f76277b]

liEdit Hmm....looks like Admin's script takes out the # when redirecting. Just copy+paste the url for now. I'll ask Admin about it....

[quote455d1e8d39="turpentinedreams"]sudo su psswd
then it will ask for password
or google setting root password in ubuntu and you will get it, when it asks for the password i think you just accept on nothing ?[/quote455d1e8d39]

i tried that but when i went to login as root it told me incorrect username or password (

Read this?

http//techrepublic.com.com/5208-11186-0.html?forumID=54&threadID=189345[]http//techrepublic.com.com/5208-11186-0.html?forumID=54&threadID=189345