probs installing mandrake

gobby

okay, this is a real pain for me and i would be very greatful if anyone could help me out.

i need to install linux on my system. i need it for college as i am doing quite a bit of c++ that requires linux specific operations. ie. fork, threads etc. i already have knoppix (linux on a disk) but it doesnt have gcc on it so its completly useless. i tried downloading gcc and installing it but it just didnt happen. so ive decided to try install mandrake 9.1.

this is where the problem gets even more anoying. i only have one drive and its nearly full. i un-installed a few things that i didnt use often and defragged. when i try to install mandrake i select the 'use free space on windows partition' but it tells me that the drive is too fragmented. so i restart, let windows load and defrag. every time i go back and try install mandrake it keeps telling me the same thing. i must have defragged at least 10 times now. i dont think that this is the problem. ive also gone back to windows and un-installed more stuff to make more space. nothing. still wont work. keeps telling me the same thing.

i really need to get this working. i have stuff to hand up on monday before 9 and the college aint open weekends. im getting quite ticked off with linux, between knoppix and this problem.

the drive is a 60 gig maxtor. its FAT32.

can anybody help me out with this one? ive looked on the net but cant find anything to help. im a my wits end with this.... :mad:

zAbbo

Never tried using the free windows space, i installed drake a fair few times recenetly, i always partition a bit off in windows using partition magic, then install onto it

gobby

unfortuatly i dont have any partitioning software. i used to have partition magic but its long gone.:(

i am basically trying to use mandrake to take care of the partitioning....

zAbbo

mandrake has it built in, never used it tbh, you can resize the partition from there

gobby

well, as ive already said it wont partition for me....

zAbbo

when i try to install mandrake i select the 'use free space on windows partition' but it tells me that the drive is too fragmented. so i restart, let windows load and defrag. every time i go back and try install mandrake it keeps telling me the same thing.

Select custom partitioning

gobby

tried that but when i try to resize the partition it just tells me that it cant do it!!

maxheadroom

What version of windows are you using?

gobby

im using windows xp professional

maxheadroom

Use the logical disk manager (found in computer management in administrative tools) to resize your windows partition. Then tell mandrake to "use unpartitioned space" when installing

gobby

win xp does not even give me an option to resize the partition...

niallb

Umm, Gobby?
Knoppix DOES have gcc on it!
I've used it to build the modules for the lucent modem in my laptop.

NiallB

gobby

well my copy doesnt seem to have it. i thought it was strange for it not to be there but ive looked very hard for it and nothing. it is some strange version mind. its default lang is german. cant remember the version.... 3.2 i think!?

niallb

German is the default - that's the normal version.
Did you press F2 for more information before booting ;-)

Restart and boot with
knoppix lang=us
to get it in english.

Just type gcc in a terminal and you'll see:
gcc: no input files

Where did you look for it?
It's in the default path.

NiallB

p.s. You can "install" Knoppix
by copying the contents of the CD onto your harddisk.
Reading the Knoppix image from disk is a lot faster than
from CD and you avoid partitioning for now.
You can also set up a home directory which will
be stored as a file on your FAT partition.

If you manage to repartition, you can install the knoppix
system using the knx-hdinstall script.

gobby

Restart and boot with
knoppix lang=us
to get it in english.

i knew this...

Just type gcc in a terminal and you'll see:
gcc: no input files

nope. i get,
bash: gcc: command not found

niallb

Originally posted by gobby
nope. i get,
bash: gcc: command not found [/B]

Hmm, on my current Knoppix (3.3) gcc is a symlink.
I know it was the same on 3.2 because the first
time I built the modem module, I used the wrong compiler version.

Try using
gcc-2.95 or gcc-3.2 instead.

What happens if you type in gcc (no space)
and then press TAB twice ?

Try ls /usr/bin/gc* as that's where they should be.
Are you logged in as knoppix or root - or someone else?
Whichever, /usr/bin should be in your path.
Run echo $PATH and make sure /usr/bin shows up.

Of course, you might be running a variant of Knoppix with
no compiler
- it's designed to be customisable - but it's not very likely.
Damn Small Linux is based on Knoppix and is really tiny (<50M)
Where did you get the CD?

NiallB

p.s. Where are you? PM me an address and I'll send you a copy of Knoppix 3.3 if you don't get sorted.