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| Thread ID: 52025 | 2004-12-07 08:13:00 | Linux hardware support for upgrade??? | Pseudonym38 (6511) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 300481 | 2004-12-07 08:13:00 | I am hoping to upgrade my current computer in the next few weeks, but i am not sure whether my computer will support the new hardware I am planning to install. My computer is currently set up as follows: CD-ROM drive (dead) 4GB HDD 64mb RAM Windows 98 standard floppy drive etc I am planning to upgrade to this configuration: Samsung DL dvd burner 120GB HDD 128mb RAM Debian Linux My problem is this, I need to know how (if at all) i can set up the DVD drive so I can use it to install the OS etc, but I dont have a clue where to find linux compatible drivers and what order i should go about the install. Hopefully somebody can decipher what i mean and provide some help. PS, i was also planning to keep the 4GB HDD installed for running the OS and have the 120GB HDD exclusivly for storage. THANKS |
Pseudonym38 (6511) | ||
| 300482 | 2004-12-07 08:53:00 | 4gb will be enough, plus using the 120gb HDD for extra Docs etc. Go down to DSE - Invest 5 bucks in Knoppix-3.4 Its based on Debian and will give you a rough indication. The latest Knoppix-3.6 is a lot better though, and Knoppix-3.7 will be out shortly. I would recommend something else though for a first-time Linux user, as Debian isnt the easiest to install. Try providing us with things like Motherboard details etc. Cheers Chill. |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 300483 | 2004-12-07 09:56:00 | If you like the look of Debian but are new to Linux, you might be better off with one of the Debian based disto's. Debian itself is fairly conservative so may not support all the latest goodies you have without some customisation. Of course you could always go for Debian unstable, which is more stable than the average distro's unstable, which will be a little more bleeding edge. A good place to start is http://distrowatch.com/ where I see Mepis is up to #8. It's a better hard drive install IMO than Knoppix and can be run as live CD in the same manner as the latter. I also see it's using the 2.6.9 kernel. |
Murray P (44) | ||
| 300484 | 2004-12-08 00:52:00 | The DVD will behave just like an ATA CD when you put a CD in it. Your bios might even report your CD drive as an "ATA CD/DVD" drive. The BIOS code doesn't care. :D | Graham L (2) | ||
| 300485 | 2004-12-08 00:53:00 | P.S. The bios might be old enough that it doesn't like the big harddisk. You'll probably find that Linux will handle it OK (but Windows won't) if that's the case. | Graham L (2) | ||
| 300486 | 2004-12-08 02:14:00 | Mine doesnt show up as an ATA Disc? Have two, hdc and hdd and they're fine. If it were external it would be /dev/scd0 but Im guessing its not |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 300487 | 2004-12-08 02:16:00 | isnt the cut of for hard drives 137 gigs or is that something different | noone (22) | ||
| 300488 | 2004-12-08 02:27:00 | Quite right. CD and DVD drives will show up as /dev/hdX because they are ATA disks. That's what ide/ata means. It's Linux which calls them /dev/hdX. The BIOS will list them as ATA (whatever). They show as SCSI in Linux only if the ide/scsi conversion is being used. That's to suit software. The BIOS will still recognise them as ATA drives. I took the question to be about booting from a CD in a DVD drive. The answer was ... it will work just like a CD drive as far as the boot operation(which can't use anything but the BIOS code) is concerned. |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 300489 | 2004-12-08 06:07:00 | I have used linux before, i just have never had to install/ set it up. I have also used Knoppix on the computer a while ago (in the good old days when the cd drive worked. As far as the version of linux i was planning to get installed this time, i've had my eye on the copyleft Enhanced CD set, (http:) Below are some links to more information on the specific components that will be going into the system: optical drive (www.samsung.com) HDD (www.qmb.co.nz) My current motherboard is an Intel 82443BX Pentium (r) II, but this will hopefully be replaced next payday Thanks |
Pseudonym38 (6511) | ||
| 300490 | 2004-12-08 06:30:00 | Erk! your link sent me to MS and Windows XP. Just about fainted with the shock ;) This'll get you there: www.copyleft.co.nz |
Murray P (44) | ||
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