ladymecha

I am about to get rid of one version of Linux [SUSE] and move to another.
now I have instructions on how to remove Linux via Windows XP but the only thing I cant do is create a MS DOS disk... but my floppy drive is shot and I want to see if there is a way to make a MS DOS disk with a CD burner.
the thing is that I am not giving up on Linux, just going to move to another distro without screwing up my computer.
however creading a MS dos bootdisk in my floppy drive is quite impossilble.
now if there is another way to do it I am open... I know that you can restore things via Knoppix but my SUSE uses GRUB and I dont want to screw anything up, I still want to keep Windows XP on my machine until I learn Linux more and once I do... yeh I will dump windows.
but I am a bit tired of SUSE's dependencies.

and also maybe you folks can also point me to another distro as well, but I want to tell you what I tried before:
I tried mandrake, too big on my current structure
I tried Xandros, but it did not pick up my video card
I also tried Yoper, but I find it hard to install.
the thing is that I want to get an easy to use version of Linux so I wont have to compile anything, and if I do I dont want it to be hard...
I know that it is a must to dump windows... I just recovered from a major crash and had to buy XP to get it back.
you see I got a computer with XP pre installed, but no restoration disk.
My computer is also four years old, has 40 gigs of space and not a whole lot else...
my DVD drive: shot
my floppy drive: shot
the only thing I have left to back up my data is my CD drive, and with floppy going the way of the dinosaurs i am looking to alternatives.
But I mind you that I do really like Linux... I just cant seem to get it configured to the way I want it as SUSE seems to like its dependencies to be 100% right.

swemic

If you are just about to "dump" your current installation with a new distro, yout should anly need to start up your computer with the new distro installation cd, and there you will be able to re-format your current linux partitions, just keep track of where your windows installation is positioned, so you will not wipe that out as well.

When it comes to which distro to use, well, it is mostly a matter of taste.
There are a few therads here going on where the question is just about which distro you should choose. Distrowatch is a pretty nifty site where you can get some inputs of different distros.

ladymecha

well I already know what I want...
I want a Linux distro that a windows user would find easy... no command lines and such.
I am fresh into this thing and I want something that would make my transition from Windows easy.
but I also need something that would fit on my compy.

onlinebacon

Xandros is quite user friendly, and does have some windoze support ( by support I mean be able to run SOME windoze stuff) although it is a little complicated so I have heard.

onlinebacon

ladymecha

well I tried Xandros, or didnt you read:
I tried Xandros, but it did not pick up my video card
meaning when I tried to pop it on my computer I only got an error about my PC display settings.

onlinebacon

OK, sorry dude, thought that meant something else for some reason anyway, there is a test you can take, which I will link you too ( it was in the coffee lounge) if you take it, it should help you here it is: http://www.distrochooser.prv.pl/


PS: sry for my first post, didn't read it properly

ladymecha

I took that actually and well I tried most of all of them, but so far nothing seems to work for me.
currently I am just thinking of dumping Linux till I get a new computer.

spencerf

my 2 cents as recently migrated MS user: If you want an operating system that does all the thinking for you and takes away your ability to make important decisions regarding your computing expereicne then stick with windows. There is NO linux distro. which does everything for you like windows does. It seems to me that you do not want to have to mess around with config files, command line, and the such. If this is the case then don't choose linux. But, if you are willing to do a little bit of this and do some reading online then linux can work for you. As for as Xandros goes. I've heard it is really easy. So just because you ran into one snag -i.e your video card--don't quit. Ask for help and your problem may be fixed in a matter of minutes or maybe hours. Who knows.

I at first found myself very frustrated with linux. I too wanted a quick fix from the frustration of viruses and spyware of windows to an easy OS that was just like windows. Well as many threads here have also stated--you need to look at linux not as a variant of windows but as a completely different OS with many many advantages and many disadvantages.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant...it's not trying to be..

And remember everyone here is here to help and generally..it seems to me..like to help.

__________________
All right, brain. You don't like me and I don't like you, but let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer. All New Users Read This!!! If you have a grub problem please look at GRUB MANUAL

techieMoe

Couldn't have said it better myself. Please don't take this as a "we're through with you, be gone!" kind of thing. I am a firm believer that there is an OS suited for everyone, but it's not always the same one. Pick the OS that does what you want it to do. If that's XP, Mac OS X, or even VAX/VMS, the point is the operating system exists for the user. If one OS doesn't work for you, use one that does.

__________________
Registered Linux user #270181
TechieMoe's Tech Rants

ladymecha

well I think i am going to try Fedora core next, as it has all those RPM pagages making things a **** load easier for me...
unless someone can help me get Mandrake on my compy...
Debian sonds good from what I read, but I am not willing to do command prompt