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 Posted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 11:13 Post subject: Linux Questions |
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I read in Wikipedia, but I just need to double/triple check, does it require drivers? (didn't quite get the "Device drivers are integrated directly with the kernel." whether it meant drivers aren't required or after they are installed, sorry, late night, early morning, work, then having to fix peoples computers is a pain, only have 2 hrs or so to myself to do this post) cause my work mates computer, which has WinXP Pro keeps restarting after a minute of reaching the login screen (login screen comes up, go into an account, BAM), so I went into safe mode, turns out hes got an "Anti-spyware program" called Search And Destroy, note the lack of Spybot, couldn't install Spybot with an installation file on the computer so burnt a CD with the installed Spybot on from my comp and got rid of it, still restarts, he had AVG and alot of spyware but apart from that no visible problems, so I gave up, since its a second hand computer I doubt he has a driver CD (Asked him to look) and its a real old computer (T connector BOOYA) so was hoping to make some use out of it by installing Linux...if drivers weren't required :3 (Maybe thats just a Mac), so was hoping for some tips on an easy to use version of Linux, thanks....and sorry for the noobness but better to ask a stupid question than do something stupid, cause then its too late.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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| Posted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 13:19 Post subject: |
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Well when you install Linux (Ubuntu, SuSe are my choices), you can just go ahead and work around as you wish. There are drivers for ATi if I'm not mistaken, but I've never installed it, and it worked fine... You can always look in system tools (I haven't used Linux for some time) I believe there is some kind of aptget in there so you don't have to mess with terminal (altho it's good that you know some basic commands so you can work in Linux)...
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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| Posted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 22:17 Post subject: |
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if the drivers are open, like most are, then they're almost always either inside the kernel or as modules you can just enable (modprobe modulename)
but if it's closed, like ati and nvidia drivers, you have to compile and install them
it's not too complicated, but basic knowledge of how to work in a unix environment would help
if the hardware is older than six months, you're pretty much guaranteed to have drivers for it, and with very high probability already in the kernel
videocards are probably the biggest gap in this regard, as they contain licenced proprietary code, so you have to download them seperate
basic software rendering and basic acceleration functions should still work with the simplified free drivers
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| Posted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 22:34 Post subject: |
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Well, I would guess he got it 3-4 years ago or something cause its got a 40gb hdd and its using a low end graphics card, I haven't been able to install PC Wizard to check what it is (I know Safe mode only uses the minimum, no drivers and such, but would it stop most if not everything from installing?).
Since I couldn't find the problem and theres no driver CD, making a reinstalling WinXP Pro a bad idea, I thought there might be a version of Linux that could be used by people that aren't so computer inclined, just for using the internet.
(Sorry that this is more of a continuation of my first post, just hoping for any replies on something I haven't thought of yet as well as input on a version of Linux, thanks for the information though, I have used Ubuntu at my old computer course once, never really got past the installation though so nor I or they have much unix knowledge, but its better to have Linux on and have no knowledge of unix than WinXP and no drivers....or so I think)
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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| Posted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 23:15 Post subject: |
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Have you tried repairing Win? If that doesn't help, you can install SuSe, it's, for me, the most user friendly Linux (if your friend doesn't know how to work in terminal and basic input codes, he could still be able to work in it, and it wouldn't be hard to find basic codes on net)
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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| Posted: Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 23:44 Post subject: |
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Pretty much all of todays linux distributions are very userfriendly (assuming you just want to do some office work, browse the web etc).
Try SuSe, Ubuntu or Fedora and you should have a working Linux box in 30 minutes.
If you wish to try it without actually installing it all these distros have preinstalled DVD images you can download and boot from to try Linux without it actually touching your HD.
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| Posted: Thu, 25th Sep 2008 09:08 Post subject: |
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Yeah, the pre installed DVD images is what we used at my old course as well, I'll try that first and see what he thinks as opposed to rushing into it, he says hes gonna buy a new high end anyway for games and stuff so I'm assuming this will just be for youtube and bebo, I have tried to use the repair console "on the CD", found instructions, but I get real frustrated cause the "easy instructions" always backfires and I can never find it and my friend just says "Its on the disc" then sends me on my way, well, when I first fully ran Spybot it got rid of a lot, then I tried to go start the comp again to no avail, same prob, then I ran Spybot again and 2 that I removed had returned.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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| Posted: Thu, 25th Sep 2008 14:01 Post subject: |
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not repair console, you have to go past that screen, go to install, and after when it asks you do you want to clean install, you can choose to repair it (I think it just re-writes the Windows folder). But if you don't want to mess around with it, just delete the whole thing and make clean install 
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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| Posted: Tue, 30th Sep 2008 00:45 Post subject: |
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Does it mess with the made accounts or just redo the OS?
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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| Posted: Tue, 30th Sep 2008 10:12 Post subject: |
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just redo the OS. For ex. you buy new hardware but your old windows are just good, and were working fine on old hardware, when you plug in new hardware sometimes windows won't start up. Then you just have to repair it like I said and everything will work fine (just install new drivers). Documents and other programs will work fine. Some things like msn, wmp or internet explorer will be reversed (back to 6 or whatever default came with OS). And I think updates won't work if you dl them on old OS...
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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| Posted: Tue, 30th Sep 2008 11:58 Post subject: |
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It said that the accounts and My Documents (which is basically accounts but meh) may be deleted, but if this doesn't work then theres not much else I can do anyway, it'll be Xubuntu-ized either way I guess, see if it works, might install SUSE (Got 2 live CDs of it so try them first) if Xubuntu is too complicated.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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| Posted: Tue, 30th Sep 2008 12:55 Post subject: |
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I think that every Linux installation is kinda same... And don't worry about loosing My Documents, I've repair my win thousand times and all of my files are here
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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| Posted: Tue, 30th Sep 2008 13:33 Post subject: |
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Ah Ok, well I tried doing it but it kept saying "cannot read CD" or something to that effect that it couldn't carry on so I just couldn't be bothered and installed Xubuntu, he already has a new computer with Vista so I don't really see this as a great loss, sides I can install Wine on it, see how it runs, thanks for your help though, really informative.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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| Posted: Tue, 30th Sep 2008 17:28 Post subject: |
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no problem! Glad I could help...
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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| Posted: Sun, 5th Oct 2008 01:04 Post subject: |
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Yeah, when I do what you said (sorry this is a buried thread but meh) and go install on a hdd that already has it, it prompts me to delete the partition, anyway around this?
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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| Posted: Sun, 5th Oct 2008 13:51 Post subject: |
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Nope, mine doesn't have repair like that, it just has Install, and delete from memory, its Windows XP Professional Corporate, but I'm guessing my friends isn't since he got it second hand (previously stated, just refreshing), could that be the cause? (Not sure if Corporate is any different from standard in terms of installation)
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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| Posted: Sun, 5th Oct 2008 19:01 Post subject: |
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I have to agree I don't know if Corporate ed has anything to do with it, I doubt it tho, the installation process should be the same for all windows xp (or?)... Try getting pro or home ed. and repair it with that cd (cracking it shouldn't be the problem )
"Quantum mechanics is actually, contrary to it's reputation, unbeliveably simple, once you take the physics out."
Scott Aaronson | chiv wrote: | | thats true you know. newton didnt discover gravity. the apple told him about it, and then he killed it. the core was never found. |
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| Posted: Mon, 6th Oct 2008 00:13 Post subject: |
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Yeah, but cracking is, what I view as, a patch up job since theres an "official way" (Corporate Edition), but I guess if theres no other way.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400 Black Edition (3.2GHz)
Mobo: ASUS M3N78-VM
RAM: OCZ Gold DDR2-1066 2x2GB
GFX: XFX Radeon HD 4890 1GB
Audio: VT1708B (Integrated)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W
OS: Windows 7 (x64)
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