burnt

[uubeerdude]

Having heard many good things about linux, I decided to install suse 10.0. Maybe someone can tell me where I may have gone wrong. After purchasing a comprehensive manual (Davies, J., Whittaker, R. von Hagen, W., (2006), Suse Linux 10.0 Bible, Indianapolis, Wiley) that came with the distro, I proceeded with the install intending to run a dual boot system with windows me. On inserting the disk in my dvd rom and starting the install, my external HP cd writer 8200 began spinning up, even though there was no disc inserted. In about a minute it cooked and is now junk. After disconnecting the burnt burner I carefully followed the install to the letter. Once complete I nosed around the documentation, made a few changes with yast, e.g., sound card, graphics settings, and tried to install modem drivers. After I was through I tried to boot back into windows. It would no longer open, but kept giving me the error msg: "the .dll file, winspool.drv is missing". I then tried to reinstall windows over the existing install and was stopped cold by the error message "suwin cause a general protection fault in modulr verx.dll." After then spending two days reformatting I have windows and some other aps and hardware installed, but still have a long way to go. Now my modem, which is v.92 dial up, will not connect at speeds beyond 14400 bps whereas before I was getting in excess of 40000 bps and the modem on hold function no longer works.

There appeared to be no real reason not to expect a good experience with linux. Now I am disgusted. The system ran very well before I tried the install. I was looking for the added security, especially now that ms has ceased to support my os. As much as I would like to move forward with it, I cannot afford to have my system corrupted by what is clearly poor design. I expected some issues, for instance finding that suse does not support my printer, and did not support my winmodem, which I replaced with one that is compatible, and finding it is an absurd amount of work to use. These events demonstrate that it is probably not worth anyone's time with the possible exception of hard core users. Unless it becomes more user friendly it will not even begin to compete with the boys in Redwood. I am proficient with windows as an end user and have found my way through some lower level stuff. I've invested a lot of time, effort, and money to accomplish running linux.

[Dapper Dan]

After I was through I tried to boot back into windows. It would no longer open, but kept giving me the error msg: "the .dll file, winspool.drv is missing".

Did you thoroughly defrag Windows before partitioning for SuSE? Some Windows files will wind up at the end of the drive. Without a thorough defrag, those files then get severed in the resizing process.

Now my modem, which is v.92 dial up, will not connect at speeds beyond 14400 bps whereas before I was getting in excess of 40000 bps and the modem on hold function no longer works.

Installing Linux cannot cause hardware defects in your modem that would cause it not to operate as desired in Windows. You must have something amiss or misconfigured in Windows itself.

As much as I would like to move forward with it, I cannot afford to have my system corrupted by what is clearly poor design.

Linux is not "poorly designed" it's just designed differently than Windows. Did you not want to install Linux because it was different than Windows?

I expected some issues, for instance finding that suse does not support my printer, and did not support my winmodem, which I replaced with one that is compatible, and finding it is an absurd amount of work to use.

I don't know about your printer but had you asked here before purchasing a modem that was purported to work with Linux, many of us would have suggested you purchase an external serial modem. Almost all work right out of the box with little if any configuration needed.

These events demonstrate that it is probably not worth anyone's time with the possible exception of hard core users.

None of us were "hard core" Linux users until we learned Linux. All of us had to go through the same initial process of learning it as you have attempted to do.

Unless it becomes more user friendly it will not even begin to compete with the boys in Redwood.

For the most part, Linux users and developers are not interested in competing with the boys in Redwood. They are mostly interested in making Linux work for themselves.

I am proficient with windows as an end user and have found my way through some lower level stuff.

Linux is not Windows. All of your Windows experience will not help you. You must learn Linux on its terms. Trying to base understanding of Linux on previous Windows experiences will only give you headaches and a lot of frustration.

I've invested a lot of time, effort, and money to accomplish running Linux.

Then don't stop now. Read the linked article in my signature. If you want to give it another go, I (and most all the others here) are more than willing to assist you. We are at your disposal when and if you decide to try again. Good Luck.

[uubeerdude]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I am happy enough to agree with some of your points. You are correct that I did not defrag within the last five weeks. I have seen attitudes ranging from yours, which seems to be pretty measured and admirably loyal, to rabid ranting about ms and the notion that they are the minions of satan. There is a competitive thread running through the open source project, albeit not in all circles. The rest is, to a point, speculative. I had read in depth before commiting to this and my son bought me the text and distro as a gift. The book is pretty advanced, so I pulled up a lot of information from the web over the last several months. It isn't that I did not have a better than rudimentary idea that linux is a different animal.

The first time I tried the install the cd burner kept spinning so I aborted the install and searched for information. After booting back into windows worked fine. Afterward I started the install again, it continued to spin, and that is when I smelled the burning components.

Yeah, some of this is sour grapes, but there are real issues here too. I will continue to work with it because I see a dedicated community, a lot of potential, especially after seeing many of the aps available, the flexibility, and the security, not to mention valuable skills to learn, and will work more toward getting the support I need here.

Thanks again.

[Dapper Dan]

If you have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to post them. We have a good bunch of folks here who are willing to help. Most will give a polite and easy to follow solution. Those who aren't polite are usually dealt with by the moderators. Welcome to Linuxforums!

[bigtomrodney]

I have seen attitudes ranging from yours, which seems to be pretty measured and admirably loyal, to rabid ranting about ms and the notion that they are the minions of satan.

To be fair that attitude really comes from new users who think it is the norm to act like that. I apologise on their behalf as it doesn't usually last. Also you'll find a lot of younger users (though not all) are prone to this kind of attitude.

I hope you'll find that we're not all like that

Anyway as Dapper Dan said we're here if you need us and will certainly do our best to help.

Tom.

[uubeerdude]

I don't think I can say anything more clearly at this point than "thanks."

[FLCEGuy]

I had a similar experience but with a different outcome. I wanted to install SuSe (9.1 Personal) on my old Dell with Win ME. I read up on the issues and decided to get a spare drive because of the partitioning issues. 3BTech has a 7200RPM drive for about $16. I created a small partition for ME and installed it first. Then, I ran the installation of SuSe from CD. It found ME and offered to install as a dual boot. I've used GRUB and LILO boot managers in the past. If you get a choice, select LILO. In the installation setup you can edit and choose which OS to make the default. That beats having to find and edit a configuration file later. I later screwed up SuSe trying to install updates and the boot loader wouldn't come up. So, I booted from my ME setup diskette. All I had to do was copy the boot files to C: with the SYS utility. Unfortunately, this utility isn't included on the bootup disk by default. You should make an ME boot disk from Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, StartupDisk tab, the copy a few extra tools from the Windows\Command directory including SYS.COM, ATTRIB, DELTREE, and EDIT. They should all fit on the boot diskette. If your Linux boot loader ever fails, you can get back to Windows ME by booting to diskette and at the a: prompt typing SYS C:
That should restore the hidden boot files to the boot sector (MSDOS.SYS and IO.SYS). Everything else is still there and has nothing to do with Linux so there should be no reason to have to reinstall. Linux runs on a separate file system and partitions except for the dual boot loader files. You shouldn't have had to reinstalled ME. As for your CD getting burnt, I've seen some odd behavior of my old CD drive opening and closing after installing Linux, I can't say I've ever heard of any OS burning up an optical drive, but I suppose a really bad driver could cause it to run continuously. It still shouldn't overheat enough to burn up. Sorry you had such bad luck with Linux, especially SuSe. I like it a lot compared to ME and still recommend running both on that generation PC.

[uubeerdude]

Thanks FLCEGuy,

I am considering how to approach this. I wonder if I should once again reformat. I want to get back to Linux, but need my windows system working right so I can continue to use it while find my way around. At this point it is functional, but the following issues are causing a lot of frustration.

Since the failed SUSE install I find problems with connecting and with video issues. Again, the v.92 modem will no longer connect, although the drivers are still in the system and not able to be uninstalled through the add/remove programs dialogue. This after I again tried to install it and get it working. With the OEM modem installed I am now having trouble connecting to a server that I use regularly. It is necessary to repeatedly disconnect and reconnect. Since I reinstalled the drivers for the NVIDIA fx5200 VGA the system will not shut down properly. It is like it goes on standby, but will not come back up without a hard boot. When I walk away and come back to find that it has powered down it is again necessary to hard boot, in which case I lose my work and connections. Script errors keep coming up that are preventing me from troubleshooting power options. Using the shutdown command from the start menu appears to shut the system off, the power light goes out, but the drive continues to run. The same problem occurred when I first installed it, but after a subsequent reformat was resolved. I have downloaded more current video drivers and will be working with them. I think I may have to reformat and reinstall windows with the nvidia card connected, but will have to wait for a more opportune time. I still have to replace my backup hardware and have projects going on.

I like the idea about running linux on a separate drive, although I would think it should not be necessary. I have Partition Magic and adequate documentation to find my way around partitioning in SUSE. In fact, I recently gave my old 10gb drive away, having replaced it with a 60gb device, anticipating the SUSE install. I will copy the boot files you mentioned and hold on to them.

[Doog]

and finding it is an absurd amount of work to use. These events demonstrate that it is probably not worth anyone's time with the possible exception of hard core users. .

First off Linux is not windows. All things that require work and effort are worthwhile. Because when you are done the system is yours you put it together.And you can be proud of what you learned and accomplished.

I really don't think that linux caused your CD rom to burn up.
As far as the modem and video... it sounds like XP don't have the right drivers installed.
Once you get XP running with no problems then do a scandisk/defrag and install Suse.

Pay attention on the install what hardware it is installing.
Once you get 10.0 installed and it boots....any changes you make just do one change at a time. That way if something does go wrong you will know at least what you was doing or what it was that caused your problem.
If you can't get something to work research the problem on the forums or google is a great tool. Sometimes you just need to walk away from it and come back later.

Myself my first install with 10.1 I had to take a break a couple times. My computer even got called a few nasty names.

It would seem that you have the desire to make linux work and that is a big step.
30 days from now look back at how much you have learned about linux. And I hope you will be smiling.

Once you get Suse setup it is really a solid OS. No worry about virus's or spyware which free's up some time and worry there.

Like the other members said ask questions that is how we all learn.
Good Luck with your install.

[FLCEGuy]

Considering the number of problems you have had, the loss of drivers, reformatting and starting over, etc. it seems a no brainer to me to go with a second drive and keep Linux and Windows separate. Seventeen bucks won't break you but it will help reduce the complexity & sources of your problems.
http://3btech.net/whlamadate103.html

Gather all the appropriate drivers for your hardware for ME before you wipe the drive and start over. Be sure you have appropriate security software such as an outbound firewall, anti-virus, and several good anti-spyware applications to keep your machine free from all the Windows exploits. I recommend AVG, AdAware, Spybot Srch & Destroy, and Secure firewall...all free downloads.

Since ME is no longer supported or updated, download Firefox 2.0 and use that browser. It has phishing support and blocks dangerous scripts by default. It is much less risky than the last update of IE 6 you get on ME.

Finally, install necessary software that doesn't include Spyware. Avoid the free or cheap cookbooks, games from companies your attorney can't reach, and anything else that isn't highly recommended and downloaded by at least 50,000 tech enthusiasts. Backup your registry before installing each new application (start, run SCANREG). If something does cause problems restoring the backup registry may be the only way to undo it.

By the time you've finished all that, your second drive should arrive. Install it and use your BIOS startup options to determine which drive you want to boot from. With your Linux CD/DVD boot to the new drive and have fun. You can include an option on the Linux boot menu to run Windows from the other drive or keep each drive pure and independent switching bootup options in your BIOS. It only takes a few seconds on startup. Good luck.