RF Generation Message Board

I have some sort of HD problem. The system will turn on but XP will not load and after running a check the HD says it's ok. I guess there must be a partition problem. I'm downloading ubuntu now and plan on using it to move files to another computer until I get a new HD. Can a dumbass like myself firgure it out?

Ubuntu or Knoppix?

It is soooo hard.  You will never be able to use it, unless you have a a comp-sci degree

I have Ubuntu installed. It's not bad. I'd try fixing XP first if the HD is okay. There should be an option to do that that will not wipe the HD.

Knoppix is so easy.  Just burn it to a CD, put it in the drive, and turn your PC on.  You DO NOT have to install it to the HD, and is an ideal way to introduce yourself to the Windows-free LINUX world.

It comes with the GNOME or KDE desktop so you should be able to navigate and copy your files to a USB HD in a somewhat familiar windows/Mac -ish environment.

Ok, I've been at it for a while and it tells me that the drive can't be mounted. I've tried checking the partitions, but the dos apps aren't doing anything. I guess I'll just take it out and try to get the files off with the office computers.

There are dozens of great Linux distros available, most will give you a basic function machine and have Live CDs that don't require HDDs. Knoppix and ubuntu are among the best and more user friendly than most others.

But if your unfamiliar with Linux, you should think about taking that HDD out, making it a slave drive on another system and copying the files over. Or buy a external HDD enclosure to put it in that will treat it like a USB drive, it doesn't get much easier than that.

delete system32

Tan

The problem is I don't have another computer with a newer OS. I think the best is this crappy HP with Windows ME.

I guess I can use it to pull the important stuff then try wiping it.

Linux is a pain in the arse to start with. I started with Kubuntu which had errors left, right and centre. At the same time as I was downloading Kubuntu I sent off for an official Ubuntu disc which only took about a week instead of the "Up to 10 weeks" that I was expecting. Ubuntu was better than Kubuntu but because I didn't really know how to do things, it was very hard and frustrating.

I use Ubuntu on my media centre. Now that I'm used to it and I know to search the UbuntuForums (http://ubuntuforums.org/) it's not too bad. I only signed up to download a file someone attached to a post. All my questions have been answered already.

James - Are you on dial up?  Why did you send away for a disk?

I sent off because Tan told me to. And its nice to have a professional CD that didn't cost me anything. I wasn't bothered about waiting because I thought Kubuntu would be used for a long time, but by the time I received the Ubuntu CD (Only a week) I had already gotten so pissed off with Kubuntu that I decided to forget about it. But then I tried Ubuntu and it was mostly fine.

The other advantages besides have a nice professional disc and case with a row of decals (not in pic) are the fact it's a factory pressed disc not a burnt one. Burnt discs are more prone to a shorter lifespan that factory pressed ones. The manufacture process is different, and factory are more scratch resistant and are more resistant to sun damage.

Handy if you travel, no need to worry whether older drives are picky about burnt optical media as some tend to be, and when using ubuntu's shipit service you can order multiple discs in different configs all of the same quality. Worth the wait versus a 15 minute download IMO.

^Reasonable points.  It just seemed like a waste considering how volatile Linux distributions are.  I guess I've never been in a situation where I couldn't download it in short order.  (My old university maintained LAN copies of the popular distributions, so I could have the DVD iso in about 5 minutes.)  I guess what I'm saying is, if I wanted Ubuntu, and wanted the pressed disk, I would just used both methods. 

Still a XP and OSX person at the moment.  Linux is nice, but I've got no reason to switch.

I'm on a 2Mb line which barely gets above 1Mb, so it takes a while to download large files. I think the Kubuntu download took a total of 25 or so hours through torrents.

My main problem with Linux, other than having to work hard to get it to do anything, is that I can't play proper games on it.

When will you ever be in a situation where you are line "Oh shi.. I NEEDs tah put me some linux on this computer from 15 years ago yo.  I just wish I didn't take all of my CDs to the tanning bed with me cucka.  Bitch, I am abouts to blow this shit up RIGHT MOTHER FUCKING NOW!  Fuck waiting the 15 minutes to downloads that shit cracka."

When?  because I know what is going to happen.

You are going to download it, and it is going to sit i some box with all your other outdated CDs that you will never use again, but don't want to throw away.

This

If I can figure out how to set up my internet connection I'd be good for a week or two. Thank god I've got a few files backed up that are work related.

 - When's the last time you seen a copy of Win98 for sale?
 - Thousands of PII's and PIII's out there that needs OS's that are too slow for XP.
 - Linux live CDs also make great hardware diagnostics tools.
 - Still a lot of folks who don't have the bandwidth to download large files like that.
 - Once you upgrade to the next version you can give the older disc away to someone who has never used Linux. No install = worry free experimentation with it.
 - Great for traveling because you can use a fimilar OS on a foreign PC without worrying about leaving cookies, or history or passwords.

Someone has an old PC they want to find a use for. Maybe a dial-up net surfing machine at the cottage, a web machine for a child or grandchild, school, library, community center.

Yeah look at me! Got the internet connected now to try and fix my disc issues later.

I am guessing 1998?  What is your point.

-Anyone who is smart enough to install linix is going to have a computer made before 1995, so the optical drive issue is mute.


-OK.  so why do you need a pressed copy?
 

 Then why would you use linux.  I don't know about you, but I have to update every other day. And wait, what the fuck does that have to sending a pressed CD.



Why would they install an old OS when you can downloaded and burn a new one.


 

So you are going to keep your old pressed CD that has an OS with potentiality dated security flaws.

If it can't run XP, then it should not be on the internet.  The proliferation of flash is the reason.

I'll try and tackle this again with a few rebuttals because I feel generous today, despite the easy answer I had posted earlier which would've suited me just fine:

At least 20-25% of PCs on the net right now are 1gig and older systems with thousands of them for sale used just about everywhere. A 600mhz PIII can hardly run XP under most circumstances, so it's Linux or a burnt copy of an obsolete OS. Most of those same systems are on dial-up which stubbornly refuses to die as a service, especially in remote areas.

Many older systems have picky optical drives that depending on the brand of drive and disc can cause read errors on burnt media. This is even more so on those older systems I had mentioned. Many older systems have burners that predate buffer underrun protection and wouldn't be ideal for burning something as important as an operating system.

Pressed discs have the foil layer of the disc between two layers of plastic while burnt discs have the foil closer to the surface. Burnt discs can be sun damaged and are more prone to read errors because of scratches.

Some ISPs have download limits per month, why waste 700 meg or a gig or two if you don't have to?

If you've ever used Linux before, you'd know that different versions offer different advantages, even older ones. Sometimes the best fix for a problematic copy is to revert to an older one that may have better compatibility. Never underestimate the difference the kernel version can have.

As far as traveling, If your in a hotel that you can't get a net connection in your room but they have public terminals, you can use a Live CD to surf the web. It leaves no tracking information nor passwords because it doesn't use the HDD at all. Same goes for schools, libraries etc.

Take ubuntu for example, each version is supported for a year or two after it's been released regardless of how many versions come after. So there's no worry of security flaws not being addressed. You can use their shipit service over an over again for each new version, so why not have a nice looking copy without the black marker? Enjoy the free decals, the free pressed disc with it's own case, and order a few copies to share with people you know?

Don't get me wrong, I download distros as well as order them via disc. I just prefer the discs more. Even ordering 4 copies for free saves you a buck and an hour of your time from downloading, burning and buying discs.

Way to handle that reply with class, Tan. It's something your counterpart apparently doesn't quite understand yet.

Well my first response wasn't so classy, then I figured maybe a few other people would want a sensible answer for their own curiosity. :)

Ubuntu is extremely easy, and has brought Linux distros to a whole new level.
An easy level, for once.