Linux query.

prophet88

I bought a hard drive a couple of months ago and tried to put linux on it. I defragmented, repartitioned and even copied the book word for word on installation. However the OS could not be accepted cause of an SCSI port missing or something but my question is; Just how good is Linux compared to Windows and is it easy for a beginner to grasp? Also i repartitioned 480mb of memory for Linux installation and now it is just lying there idle. Can somebody help me as i am curious as to wether or not i can take control of this space. I tried to repartition again but it didn't work. I cant remove Win 98 from my hard drive as FAT 32 is activated. I would appreciate it if someone could point me to a site where i can get more info on the situation. Thanks....

seamus

Um. Em.

ok, go to www.linuxdoc.org but I'm not sure how help that'll be to you.

Linux and Windows are two highly different beasts. Don't ask on these forums which is better - you'll start a flamefest! Most people accept that Linux is a better OS, but that Windows has more apps and is better for people who don't know much about computers.

You can very much repartition all you like. Don't use windows fdisk to try and remove a linux partition, it won't work properly. Instead, run the Linux installation again up to the point where you are manipulating your partitions, and then sort it out as you'd like. You can delete all your partitions (including any windows ones) if you want, or just remove the Linux one.

If you want to keep your Win98, just remove the linux partition and replace it with a FAT one (linux will do this for you), or you can remove the linux partition, then run fdisk from Windows and create a new FAT32 partition.

I'd write way more but gotta run for lunch.................

dahamsta

Moving to Unix, you'll get better answers there...

adam

flamegrill

First of all, if you want to use linux as your workstation and you are only a beginner i suggest 1) you give it more disk space 2) keep your windows partition, as it will be quite sometime before you will be able to use it as you would windows.

OK, what version of linux have you tried to install?

i dont think its fair to compare linux and windows just yet as they are 2 very different types of operating systems. But to say the least they are both quite good and have their strong points.

Linux however IMO is the best way to go, and knowing the ins and outs of it can be a plus in the future when job hunting. Its probably the easiest way to get used to using Unix. Its a very powerfull operating system which operates using true realtime Mutli Tasking. Windows claims to do this, but alas it does it quite badly .

The easiest way to be rid of linux from your system IMO is to boot from a linux cd and use fdisk (linux fdisk not win blows fdisk) to remove that partition. Or if your using windows 2000, use its disk management system(right click my computer, then click manage).

have a look at the following reference about disk partitioning.
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/sag/x1139.html

there are millions of documents on the web regarding linux and Unii alike. (not sure if Unii is plural of unix :P)

If you have anymore questions, ask in the unix board

Also, if you want/need a new version of linux just ask in a new thread and im sure someone will oblidge. its only a matter of downloading it thou really

Regards,

Paul

Dun

Originally posted by flamegrill

there are millions of documents on the web regarding linux and Unii alike. (not sure if Unii is plural of unix :P)

Not sure if there is an "official" plural, since Unix is a trademark, but I've seen Unices used as the plural a lot by techies and *nix affecionados alike.

Michael

prophet88

Thanks for all the info guys, I'm getting a laptop this week (At last!!) and its got 20gig fitted so i'll have plenty of space to install and tinker with linux. I'll keep you posted and you can be sure of a few more queries about this in the future.

Thanks again

Prophet88