a really new newbie

[chessmaster2000]

i've downloaded a number of distros (as you call them,) to look over before deciding which one to start working with. what i'd like to know is fairly simple and straightforward. what the hell do i do now? (i have only live cd distros). do i install the one i decide on? put it on a dvd and add programs, add kernals? (my only programming experience was using a word processor to make a autoexec.bat file for a mouse under msdos 3.3 over 20 years ago, and that took me a week).
i have win xp on a 300 gb hdd for what i do, but want to put a second os (dual boot) with it. should i do the additions to the distro (add programs like openorg office) using the dvd, the hard drive? i just need some advice, not detailed instructions (i may need help as i go along, but i need a start point first).


(i said i was a really new newbie!) :drown:

[minigeek]

Hi

Welcome to the forum

This link my help with getting you started with linux Linux For Newbies - Wikibooks, collection of open-content textbooks

[jmadero]

First off welcome to linux, it's a great community and you'll find answers to whatever you need.

First and foremost, you don't install "kernals", there is a single Linux kernel that runs the distros.

Second off, programming skills are minimally required, todays distros are almost easier than windows, go with Ubuntu if you want an easy cool distro.

I would install Ubuntu and learn how to use apt-get install. It'll have most of the programs that you'll need including openoffice, firefox, thunderbird, etc...

Feel free to GAIM me (AIM) any time, EKP130.


jmadero

[techieMoe]

what the hell do i do now? (i have only live cd distros). do i install the one i decide on?

Most LiveCD distributions will allow you to install them to your harddrive, so yes. Try them all out and see which one grabs you.

put it on a dvd and add programs, add kernals? (my only programming experience was using a word processor to make a autoexec.bat file for a mouse under msdos 3.3 over 20 years ago, and that took me a week).

I'm not sure what you mean there. Do you have a bunch of ISO files that haven't yet been burned to disc? Most modern Linux systems do not require any programming experience whatsoever. The software comes pre-compiled on the CD/DVD. It is either installed by the distro itself when you put it on your harddrive or you can add it later using an automated package installer program such as RPM or Apt.

i have win xp on a 300 gb hdd for what i do, but want to put a second os (dual boot) with it. should i do the additions to the distro (add programs like openorg office) using the dvd, the hard drive? i just need some advice, not detailed instructions (i may need help as i go along, but i need a start point first).

What distributions have you downloaded? It's very rare that you would need to (or be able to) modify a distribution before you burn it. Most major distributions include OpenOffice already.

For some general new user overviews, we have a special thread here on the forum:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

[chessmaster2000]

Hi

Welcome to the forum

This link my help with getting you started with linux Linux For Newbies - Wikibooks, collection of open-content textbooks

thanks, it's a start point.

[chessmaster2000]

First off welcome to linux, it's a great community and you'll find answers to whatever you need.

First and foremost, you don't install "kernals", there is a single Linux kernel that runs the distros.

Second off, programming skills are minimally required, todays distros are almost easier than windows, go with Ubuntu if you want an easy cool distro.

I would install Ubuntu and learn how to use apt-get install. It'll have most of the programs that you'll need including openoffice, firefox, thunderbird, etc...

Feel free to GAIM me (AIM) any time, EKP130.


jmadero

i may be doing that, thanks.

[oz]

I'm not certain I understand the question(s), but once you've burned the .iso files to their respective blank CDs, you just put the CD in the drive, make sure your BIOS will boot from the CD first, then reboot your machine.

Doing so will allow you to check out any liveCD, and some liveCDs do offer a chance to install on the hard drive, while others might not. In those cases, you download the installable version.

Post back with any other questions, and have fun with Linux.

[chessmaster2000]

Most LiveCD distributions will allow you to install them to your harddrive, so yes. Try them all out and see which one grabs you.



I'm not sure what you mean there. Do you have a bunch of ISO files that haven't yet been burned to disc? Most modern Linux systems do not require any programming experience whatsoever. The software comes pre-compiled on the CD/DVD. It is either installed by the distro itself when you put it on your harddrive or you can add it later using an automated package installer program such as RPM or Apt.



What distributions have you downloaded? It's very rare that you would need to (or be able to) modify a distribution before you burn it. Most major distributions include OpenOffice already.

For some general new user overviews, we have a special thread here on the forum:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

most distros are on my hdd but will be put to cd for reviewing. have the *buntu's, mepis, fedora, mandriva 2007, knoppix, plus others for a total of 12 distros. i'll work with one but look at all to see which i think is best for me. i don't program so (from a little reading) i wasn't sure what steps i needed to take to start using and adding to a distro. and having only used windows and old dos formats, linux is a blank page i have to start putting something on.