[ILUG] Switching to Linux from Wins98

[Jak]

On Saturday 18 November 2000 21:03, you wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ilug-admin at linux.ie [mailto:ilug-admin at linux.ie]On Behalf Of Jak
> > Sent: 18 November 2000 13:30
> > To: ilug at linux.ie; fianna_simon at hotmail.com
> > Subject: Re: [ILUG] Switching to Linux from Wins98
> >
> >
> >
> > Simon,
> > 	I would recommend leaving Win98 as the default until you get
> > a little further up the learning curve. Unless the installation process
> > can recognise all your hardware components correctly, you may have to
> > figure out some configuration problems yourself. Even if it does,
> > you will still have to configure internet access and email settings so
> > you can ask ILUG the inevitable questions.
>
> Buh? It takes learning to understand moving between boot menu options?

Yes actually, and until he figures it out, he would be thrown in Linux 
without having figured out how to login/do anything/shutdown.
That's why I recommend not letting the install process overwrite his
hard disk bootsector, but use a floppy instead ( assuming the installer has
this lunatic option ).

>
> > 	I would suggest the following : set your PC bios boot sequence
> > to floppy first, then C: drive. Install your bootloader on floppy : with
> > floppy inserted, you boot to Linux, without floppy you boot to Win98.
> > This way, any mistake in installing the bootloader will not prevent you
> > accessing Win98, and if anything silly happens in Win98 and you have
> > to rescue it, it does not affect Linux i.e. Win98 can't wipe the
> > bootloader
> > settings. This can be just a short term solution until you are
> > confident in
> > Linux.
>
> More lunatic soup! Anyway, you can always just fdisk /mbr from a boot disk
> if your bootloader goes belly-up and Windows will reappear.

After he does "just fdisk/mbr", he can do "just re-install Linux from scratch 
and hope the same shit doesn't happen again". This is not very encouraging
for a beginner, and tends to send them elsewhere. Separating the 2 boot 
sequences gives him a failsafe option.

>
> > Of couse, the safest solution
> > is to install a second harddisk, and partition that to your
> > heart's content
> > without risk to Win98. Ask Santa for one.
>
> Buy a new hard disk just to dual boot 2 operating systems... this just gets
> weirder and weirder.
>

I'm not saying it is a necessity, just a means of safeguarding the existing
installation. Having said that, I know someone who choose this route, and
then re-partitioned the wrong disk, so it's not human-proof. Anyway, you can 
never have too much disk space, especially if you end up regularly upgrading
Linux to newer versions, and end up with multiple installations ( again I'm 
thinking failsafe options ).

> > >So, basically what I need help with is:
> > >(1) Is 6 GB enough for all that I want to do with the Linux partition?
>
> Plenty big... Redhat 6.2 full install is about 1.3gigs
>
> > >(2) Do I need to get a boot manager to make Linux the default OS, while
> > >retaining Windows98 as an alternative (an alternative that has
> >
> > more of the hard drive).
>
> No problem, your linux installation will very likely set this up
> automatically.
>
> > >(3) Will I have any difficulties running the machine as a
> >
> > server? (eg: do I
> >
> > >need special cards to be present in the computer?).
>
> Well either a network card or modem if you actually want to serve any other
> machines :)
>
> Later,
> Ross.
>
> --
>
>               [  R o s s  L y n c h  ]
>
> [ Onesphere Technologies ] [             NUI, Galway              ]
> [   ross at onesphere.net   ] [     kernel at student.nuigalway.ie      ]
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