Looking for an OS besides WINDOWS, what is this?

[newls1]

I found this on EBAY and it looks intresting http://cgi.ebay.com/FINALLY-AN-OS-THAT-WORTH-MY-TIME-NEW-WHY-PAY-300_W0QQitemZ7188629223QQcategoryZ41881QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Is this a full version, or do you need something else, cause it seems to cheap. Any one ever heard of this before? Thanks

[DanK]

It's Ubuntu Linux. You can download it for free. http://www.ubuntulinux.org/ Also, the screenshots in that auction appear to be of the Kubuntu variety (which is simply Ubuntu with the KDE desktop environment instead of the GNOME desktop environment).

[newls1]

Oh, Thanks Bro......

[timswim78]

It looks like Ubuntu linux, which can be downloaded or obtained on CD for free:
http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

A lot of people love this distro of linux. I am not one of them.

[newls1]

Is it good for a stand onlone OS? Will it support dual CPUs? This seems really cool if it is what I think it is....

[DanK]

I have a Kubuntu system, which I use most of the time for things like web, email, and word processing. It takes a bit of setting up out of the box for some things, such as playing videos. The next update (version 5.10) should be coming out soon, and they do offer live-CD versions. Couldn't hurt to give it a try. :)

When it comes out, downloads will be here:
Ubuntu: http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/breezy/
Kubuntu: http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/kubuntu/breezy/

(Yes, it does support dual CPUs.)

[newls1]

I have a Kubuntu system, which I use most of the time for things like web, email, and word processing. It takes a bit of setting up out of the box for some things, such as playing videos. The next update (version 5.10) should be coming out soon, and they do offer live-CD versions. Couldn't hurt to give it a try. :)

When it comes out, downloads will be here:
Ubuntu: http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/breezy/
Kubuntu: http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/kubuntu/breezy/

(Yes, it does support dual CPUs.)
What is the difference between KUbuntu and Ubuntu?

[insanarchist]

What is the difference between KUbuntu and Ubuntu?

Umm, second post, dude :) (KUbunto uses KDE instead of GNOME for a gui)

[newls1]

Umm, second post, dude :) (KUbunto uses KDE instead of GNOME for a gui)
What is the difference? Im downloading Ubunto now for AMD 64's, will this be good.... Is one faster than the other? and what drivers will support this OS?

[djnes]

What is the difference? Im downloading Ubunto now for AMD 64's, will this be good.... Is one faster than the other? and what drivers will support this OS?
That's why it's a good idea to download the Live CD and try it out. You don't seem to want to read through the site to check if your hardware is compatible or not, so the LiveCD is a good way of testing it out, without actually changing anything on your local HDD.

[insanarchist]

What is the difference? Im downloading Ubunto now for AMD 64's, will this be good.... Is one faster than the other? and what drivers will support this OS?

http://www.gnome.org/

http://www.kde.org/

http://www.google.com (Search "GNOME vs KDE")

Google is your friend :)

[newls1]

http://www.gnome.org/

http://www.kde.org/

http://www.google.com (Search "GNOME vs KDE")

Google is your friend :)
Thanks, I found my answers :p 1 last "Q" do I just use drivers that say for LINUX?

[Geshtar]

I was very impressed with the 5.04 ubuntu livecd, it detected everything on my laptop including its weird resolution(its a dell 700m with like 1200x800 and it got the integrated wireless working too. Once 5.10 kubuntu comes out, it is going on my laptop. I like gentoo for my workstation, too much work for a laptop though.

[djnes]

1 last "Q" do I just use drivers that say for LINUX?
I better repeat it....try the LiveCD first.

[newls1]

I better repeat it....try the LiveCD first.
OK, thank you

[djnes]

I'm not saying it to be a dick...but it appears you've never looked into Linux before, just based on your questions. A LiveCD let's you try out a version of Linux without making any changes to your local HDD. You can pop the CD out and reboot back into Windows anytime you want.

[insanarchist]

It is also incredibly useful in diagnosing/fixing problems with your windows installation as well, I might add!

[newls1]

I'm not saying it to be a dick...but it appears you've never looked into Linux before, just based on your questions. A LiveCD let's you try out a version of Linux without making any changes to your local HDD. You can pop the CD out and reboot back into Windows anytime you want.
OK, so LIVE-CD is NOT a permenant install? And your right, I've never had any kind of LINUX before, but would love to try this! I have a AMD 64 3700+ in my laptop, so this is going onto my laptop. CAn I do a dual boot setup? I also downloaded the full install version and burned it onto a cdr, but it is an .ISO extension, and nothing reads it.... What do I do.... Thanks for all your patiance.

[djnes]

That's because it's a CD image...and you should choose to Burn an Image from your writing software.

Yes you can do a dual boot on your laptop, but you'll need to shrink your current partition(s) to make some free space for the Ubuntu install.

I would highly recommend sticking with the LiveCD for now.

[newls1]

That's because it's a CD image...and you should choose to Burn an Image from your writing software.

Yes you can do a dual boot on your laptop, but you'll need to shrink your current partition(s) to make some free space for the Ubuntu install.

I would highly recommend sticking with the LiveCD for now.

I'm not understanding what you mean by your quote above? sorry for my ignorance, but Im learning. Thanks

[insanarchist]

an 'ISO' is like a zip file containing the entire contents of a CD, except unlike a zip file, it is made with the specific intent of making exact copies of CD's. In order to use this ISO 'image' file, you have to use a CD-burning program, such as Nero, to burn the image to a disk using its 'burn from image' option. You can't just burn the ISO file onto a CD; you'll just get a copy of the file, not the image within :)

[newls1]

Im stuck, PLEASE someone help me. I've downloaded both versions (liveCD, and full version, and cant understand what to do with the .ISO extension. I downloaded a program called ISObuster to read the file, but cant get any further. I have a 4.22GB 2nd partion on my notebook (Im installing this OS on my notebook) I would like to have a dual boot notebook if possible, can someone please help me. Thanks to EVERYONE!

[newls1]

an 'ISO' is like a zip file containing the entire contents of a CD, except unlike a zip file, it is made with the specific intent of making exact copies of CD's. In order to use this ISO 'image' file, you have to use a CD-burning program, such as Nero, to burn the image to a disk using its 'burn from image' option. You can't just burn the ISO file onto a CD; you'll just get a copy of the file, not the image within :)

I got it now, thank you VERY much.....

[HHunt]

A concept that's probably unfamiliar to you is distros.
A linux distro is basically an installer and a selection of programs; it might have customized the programs, and it might have made some of them themselves.
Except for those unique to a distro, all distros will generally let you install the same programs, but by default they will install different selections of them, and they might have different versions.

There's an amazing amount of distros out there, meant for different audiences. Ubuntu and the closely related Kubuntu are meant to be easy and solid, so it's not at all a bad place to start.

I think this is the right place to recommend the Linux/BSD/OSS (http://hardforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=96) subforum.
It's the right place for linux-related questions, discussions on gnome vs. KDE, long and winding threads where people try to convince everyone that their linux distro is the best, and the like. It's a rather calm and rational place. :)

There is a thread there called "Tell us why your Linux distro is the best" (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=567412). You might want to read it.

[eeyrjmr]

I'm not understanding what you mean by your quote above? sorry for my ignorance, but Im learning. Thanks

What he means is an ISO is a file-version of a CD. to use it you need to burn it to a blank-CD to use it BUT NOT in the way you put files on (Nero has an option to "burn CD-image)

once it is burnt you can boot and use the LiveCD.

The other comment is to do with hardrive space. The chances are you hardrive has one partition and it is the size of your windows drive.

To dual-boot you need to "shrink" that partition and add an extra space so that you can then install linux onto it. Partition-Magic is very good.

[newls1]

OK, I partitioned my HDD with a 4.5GB space for this Ubunto OS to install on, I'm now stuck @ the format/partition process with the install. It asks me what file system I want, and I have now idea. I know with windowsXP I use NTFS, and win98 uses FAT32, but there are some that I have no clue what they do. All I want is a fast, and stable PC (this is going on my notebook by the way) Any assistance would be great, thank you......

[djnes]

It should have the automatic partitioning options as a default. As I tried to hint to you before, Linux isn't something you just jump blindly into...you need to do some reading first. The more questions you run into, the more it seems odd you're ignoring the suggestions to try a Live CD first.

[HHunt]

However, to give a practical answer:
XFS and ReiserFS are probably the fastest alternatives. Ext3 is more conservative, but there's tools that can read it form windows.[1]
They will all work fine; I suggest using ReiserFS.


[1] Strictly speaking, most tools are for ext2, but ext3 is an extention to ext2, and everything that works on ext2 will handle ext3.

[newls1]

OK, I dont know exactly what I did, but I got it to install 100%, and everything is great so far. It configured the DUAL BOOT automatically, the only problem left is my NIC card. Under system manager, it shows BROADCOM 54G wireless, but I cant get the button on my laptop to light up? Anyone help me with this? Its like linux sees the correct NIC card, installed the drivers for me, but my notebook, wont let me enable it.....

[HHunt]

So far, so good.
I think the problem is that there isn't a linux driver for that card. It will still show up with a name, since it is possible to ask a device what its name is.[1]

A good place to start would be to see if it has, in fact, assigned a driver to it.
Open up a terminal window, and type "iwconfig" (sans quotes); press enter.
You will get a list of the network devices in the computer. If all of them say "No wireless extentions", no driver is set up.

If so, it's still very possible to make it work by using ndiswrapper, a tool that packages a windows driver so it looks like a linux driver. In order to set this up, it would be practical if you had another network connection. Can you surf the internet if you plug in a network cable?


[1] Something I'd appreciate if windows did, btw. It would make it easier to find out what those Unknow Devices in the device manager are.

[djnes]

I tried that ndiswrapper on my linux laptop, and it worked great.

[newls1]

So far, so good.
I think the problem is that there isn't a linux driver for that card. It will still show up with a name, since it is possible to ask a device what its name is.[1]

A good place to start would be to see if it has, in fact, assigned a driver to it.
Open up a terminal window, and type "iwconfig" (sans quotes); press enter.
You will get a list of the network devices in the computer. If all of them say "No wireless extentions", no driver is set up.

If so, it's still very possible to make it work by using ndiswrapper, a tool that packages a windows driver so it looks like a linux driver. In order to set this up, it would be practical if you had another network connection. Can you surf the internet if you plug in a network cable?


[1] Something I'd appreciate if windows did, btw. It would make it easier to find out what those Unknow Devices in the device manager are.

This whole OS is 100% new too me, where do I open a terminal window at?

[HHunt]

Going from the screenshots I can find (I don't have an ubuntu installation handy), you can use
Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal.
When you want to change anything systemwide, you'll have to be the root user (like the Administrator user in windows). You can open a terminal that gives you root rights by starting "Root Terminal" instead of "Terminal".
(You can't do too much harm to the system as a normal user, so it's considered wise to run as a user with fewer priviledges, and only do things as root when you need to.)

[Grimmda]

It looks like Ubuntu linux, which can be downloaded or obtained on CD for free:
http://www.ubuntulinux.org/


:p