Linux/Unix - Linux Trouble

Author

Linux Trouble

Swigga

2002-03-24, 12:29 pm

Hello Everyone
I am new to Linux and Iwant to start getting into it, although I am a long way from certification. I cannot install get the OS for the life of me and I cannot get past the disk druid. No matter what I do it won't accept any attempts at a mount point or any thing. The automatic partitioning option always fails on every attempt. I am trying to do this on a machine that has three Hard Drives and is running Windows XP Professional. All of the drives are small, purchasing bigger ones is totally out of the question, the money just isn't there. XP resides on a 2.5 GB drive and is used just for that (C:\). A 4 GB drives holds all programs and file storage, that is F:\. D is a mapped drive to a server and E is the CD-ROM. G:\ is set up as a Linux Native partition and is 2.5 GB in size. That is plenty of space for a workstation install. What do I have to do to get Linux to install on G w/o trashing my XP system which is out of the question. I have a big book at about 500 pages, and only gives one page to Disk Druid. The main point there is "If you don't know anything about disk druid, stop here. Use automatic partitioning". That is not an option. What should I do ???
Thanks

ccieToBe

2002-03-24, 12:55 pm

So did you try using the automatic paritioning option with your "G" drive already setup with a Linux partition? If so, delete that partition and try again with the entire "G" drive empty.

What distro and version are you using?

Supertech

2002-03-24, 12:59 pm

I would highly reccommend putting a machine together for Linux only. The learning curve is fairly steep. You WILL do numerous installs (you never get it right the first time). Don't be afraid to mess up. That's where you learn the most. Leave the XP machine alone. This may not be real economically feasible but remember, Linux will run on justabout any X86 processsor. Recycle something and stick one of your harddrives in it and go! Just off with both feet but don't do it on the XP box.

Luck.

When you start feeling brave, network to two together.

Boulware5

2002-03-24, 5:21 pm

LOL, I can't begin to tell you the number of times I have messed up my MBR, deleted my Windows partition, etc trying to install Linux. However, now it's at least a little easier to put it on the same disk as windows. But I have found putting it on a separate HD - or as I have - a separate PC is a lot easier that worying about screwing it up and losing your data. I think now most installs will auto-partition for you and set the mount points, though. While that may erase some screw-ups I doubt it's perfect.

onoski

2002-03-25, 4:40 am

Yep! I agree, get a separate PC for this it would make life a lot easier in learning this steep OS. It would be more beneficial in the end as well, as this is what I have done by installing Linux 7.1 on a 35omhz old PC with 96mb ram using the Server system option. This way you'd get to learn a lot plus play with Apache etc. Happy learning and best of luck in your endeavours. I am beginning to love Linux, and hey am not a Penguin either.

Swigga

2002-03-25, 6:04 am

quote:
Originally posted by ccieToBe
So did you try using the automatic paritioning option with your "G" drive already setup with a Linux partition? If so, delete that partition and try again with the entire "G" drive empty.

What distro and version are you using?

I have tried two different versions of Redhat 7.1 I never even get an option for automatic partitioning.

Swigga

2002-03-25, 6:12 am

I don't have an extra PC to boot but what I can do is use a swappable HDD kit like we have in school. I can throw that in the PC and switch between the Linux and XP when necessary and not need an extra PC. What is the minimum size Linux needs ? I hear all different estimates. So, I should in this case reformat the partition that I wanna use as Fat, set it to master and go from there ?

Thanks

Swigga

2002-03-25, 6:20 am

I do have another PC, but it is ancient and not functioning. It actually works well as a drink stand. It is an old server with 2 486's in it giving us a whopping 66MHz of power !!! Everytime I try to get that up and running I get a CMOS checksum error. I usually replace the CMOS battery in these instances, but this machine doesn't have one. I'm at a loss for that, the machine is a custom build so tech support is out of the question. Any advice there would be to get a new machine...

darguy

2002-03-25, 9:41 am

quote:
Originally posted by Swigga
Any advice there would be to get a new machine...

Swigga-
hey I noticed you are in Philly. Recently I went to my local Microcenter computer store and bought an IBM server with a 200Mhz Pentium Pro processor. It was an old pc they had in the back of the store. It's actually a dual proccesor board, but only came with one chip installed. It only cost me 38 bucks. Had everything but an operating system on it. Perfect for learning Linux. You may want to check at the location near you http://www.microcenter.com. Mine still has tons of them in stock.

2.5 gig hard drive, 64 megs of ram, cd drive and network card. It's now my http server and running great on my dsl network.
Now my question to you Server people is... is it worht it for me to buy another one of these machines for the other processor and more memory?? I think the steppings are the same on some of the PC's that are left.

Swigga

2002-03-25, 9:53 am

I'll check that out, actually I'm over the bridge in jersey, but I work in Philly and I feel like I do live here. SQL 6.5 keeps me busy enough. If they are the same machine, the processors should be the same as well. Ebay has loads of people selling old gear, cheaper than it costs to ship. It is pretty legit too, I've purchased some HDD's there and they were al cool. Mine originally had one processor, but i found another one from one of my students, and it worked out. I had a time getting a driver though. Didn't think I'd need that.

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