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Thread ID: 107423 2010-02-15 09:48:00 Recommend a Linux Distribution for me. Sweep (90) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
858739 2010-02-15 09:48:00 Currently running Win 7 Pro 64 bit on an AMD Athlon X2 4400+ with 2 Gig RAM. I have Mint 8 and I was just going to install when I noted that it does not support my Creative X-Fi sound card. It also said there was no O/S installed on my PC currently which I thought was rather strange.

I have 2 x 200 Gig Seagate SATA drives and an empty 80 Gig IDE drive. Linux will be installed on the empty drive. The 200 gig drives are not to be used as one is a copy of the other for backup purposes.

I want to dual boot Win 7 and the version of Linux I finish up with.

The main reason I want to get into Linux is so I can use GCC or similar to write programs and compile into stand alone applications.

I also have an IDE DVD writer and know how to download and burn an ISO.
Sweep (90)
858740 2010-02-15 09:51:00 You need a bloody degree to install Mint lol. I tried it a few weeks ago. Talk about bloody annoying. It was worse than trying to install Ubuntu. At least I didnt have to figure out what the install was talking about. And I managed to install and update it (prior to 9.10). Since this is buggy as Speedy Gonzales (78)
858741 2010-02-15 09:57:00 Well it sort of worked as a live CD but I want something I can add to as my needs grow etc. I want to be able to listen to music while writing programs but as I said it would mostly be for compiling. Sweep (90)
858742 2010-02-15 10:11:00 Mint is good, but if you want something rock solid, get Debian. Netsukeninja (13296)
858743 2010-02-15 10:18:00 OpenSuSE FTW!!!

Or Fedora if you prefer KDE.
Cato (6936)
858744 2010-02-15 10:54:00 Mint is good, but if you want something rock solid, get Debian.

Mint is crap. I thought I already said that I tried Mint 8.
Sweep (90)
858745 2010-02-15 11:12:00 Well so far I have recommendations for Debian, OpenSuse and possibly Fedora (If I want KDE)

I do have a printed book for Redhat Linux for dummies Ver 7.3 BTW.

I don't mind using a command line interface at times.

It I program then syntax is very important or it won't compile will it!
Sweep (90)
858746 2010-02-15 11:37:00 try this
pclinuxos.com
or this
https://www.mepis.org/
or indeed
http://www.archlinux.org/
all three are capable and hopefully
one will support your sound card

linux driver for xifi card here
opensource.creative.com

good luck
KarameaDave (15222)
858747 2010-02-15 11:51:00 OK. Tried the PClinux link and I note:-
Sound card
Any Sound Blaster, AC97 or HDA compatible card.

Creative Labs X-Fi cards are not currently supported.

So goodbye to that one. I do, in fact read before I download.

I will check the other two you mention.
Sweep (90)
858748 2010-02-15 12:00:00 I note the driver for your card is in beta status
in the last link in my post.
This suggests to me that it
will not have been assimilated into the Linux kernel yet.
So maybe none will support it out of the box, so to speak.
your first compilation task may be the sound card driver.
KarameaDave (15222)
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