Re: newbie debian installation questions (very long post)

From: Trufflesdad (twager_at_btinternet.com)
Date: 09/08/03 

Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2003 07:05:13 +0000 (UTC)

Rameses wrote:

> PC Configuration
>
> PIII -- 800Mhz
> 256Mb RAM
> 16Mb Graphics Card (nVidia Riva TNT2)
> 30Gb Hard Drive (IDE)
> Connexant SoftK 56 Modem
> HP DeskJet 840C (connected via USB [preferred] or via the Parallel
> port)
>
> -How do I partition the hard drive for Debian GNU/Linux r3.0 and
> Windows 2000 (to use until I find my Linux legs).
> -Will my graphics card be supported? (will I have any trouble with
> anXious)
> -Will my modem be supported?
> -Can CDs made under Windows be read in Linux?
> Configuration used to burn CDs (as much detail as I could get)
> - ISO Level 1
> - Mode 2/XA
> - ISO 9660 Character Set
> - Joliet Secondary Volume Descriptor and directories using Unicode
> - ISO relaxations
> - Allow Pathdepth of more than 8 directories.
> - Allow more than 255 characters in path.
> -Will the printer work? (i.e. are drivers availible on the Instalation
> CDs (1 and 2), or are they downloadable?)
>
> I have read 'Dwarf's guide to Debian GNU/Linux', released in 2001. I
> would like to know if the installation instructions in it are
> applicable to Debian GNU/Linux r3.0 . I have read thru the chapter on
> the installation, and am fairly confident that I should be able to
> come through with no major mishaps. Please tell me if the
> instructions in the guide are any good, or if I should find another
> guide.
>
> Also, what terminal emulators and Window Manager(s) should I choose?
>
> I should also say that this is the first time I am installing a Linux
> distro (besides Mandrake 7.2, but that installer did everthing for me,
> so it doesn't really count). After installation, and configuration of
> the desktop environment, I will probably not have the time to learn
> Debian in great detail. I will have some work to get done on a
> computer. Mostly typing and printing reports and maybe spreadsheets.
> I need to know if I can do this in Debian with out having to go into
> it too much (i.e. after setting up the printer and drivers, etc.)
>
> I know that I will need to learn Debian pretty well, but the above is
> a worst-case senario; assuming I do not have enough time to do much
> else after the installation.
>
> In case you are wondering why I would like to move to Debian so
> urgently, its because I have had it upto my eyeballs with Microsoft.
> Also, its time that I really started using my computer to its full
> potential, and I don't mind getting my hands dirty (which I why I did
> not opt for Mandrake, or Red Hat).
>
> Thanks in advance for your time,
> Rameses
>
> P.S. What does the Linux community, in general, think about Red Hat's
> BlueCurve initiative? It's proprietary isn't it? But doesn't that
> mean that developers won't be able to get at it for thier own uses? I
> thought thats what GNU/Linux was supposed to be; a freely developable
> OS.
Get yourself a Knoppix cd...This is Debian based and will pick up all
the hardware ..If you decide you like it it has the tools to
install itself to the hard drive... 

-- 
Regards
  Ted Wager
   Knoppix Linux user