? for Linux people

What distro would you recommend for a dual boot Linux newbie? I have copies of SUSE and Mandrake (circa 2003). Should I download a different distro or use one I already have? Thanks!

SuSE installs are slightly more geared to people that know the product. They have almost every Open Source Application included and you get choices. Mandrake decides some of that for you. Also, RedHat is a good alternative too. The big differences in the disto's is what Open Source apps are included, the installer programs, and the system management interface. If you are completely new to Linux Mandrake might be more to your liking.

...Although, I just downloaded and installed (Dual with XP) Fedora Core 3 and I've got to tell you, it couldn't be easier and Fedora is a very, very elegant distro.

I'm going for the Fedora now. Damn good DL rate too!
Thanks again
:thumbsup:

I've seen it set up on other machines, and it's the distro I was wanting to use with a spare hard drive I put in my current system. But, after spending hours downloading the DVD iso, burning it, and trying to install, the Anaconda installer hangs at:

sbin/loader ....

This is very early in the process, before the GUI fires up, and there's nothing done to the drive yet for me to troubleshoot. I can't find anything in any of the Fedora forums that even suggest what might be happening.

I installed SuSE and had no problems, but I want a more robust setup than it gives if I'm going to use it quite a bit. I've also used Knoppix with no issues.

I'm just lost.

So many flavors to choose from.
Last month, I installed 11 different flavors of Linux, looking for the best fit.

You can go here and download ISO's of all these versions and try them out FOR FREE!!

http://www.linuxiso.org /


For my rather generic box, only three versions recognized almost all my hardware, and installed without hassles.

SuSE 9.1
Knoppix...Kanotix
Ubuntu

The sole hardware exception common to all versions was my scanner (HPScanjet 4470C on USB). Most versions correctly identified the scanner, but the software interface failed to initialize. In Linux defense, my scanner is NOT on the hardware compatibility lists.

I really like Mandrake, and worked hard to get it installed, but was unable to get my Net Card working. I even bought and installed a NetCard that was on the Mandrake Hardware Compatibility list and no luck. During BOOT always the same error message {NET CARD eth0....FAILED}. I spent several late nights trying to "build a kernal with a tarball"..lots of fun, but no success yet. Someone with more Linux experience could get this working.



I also downloaded and installed :

Mandrake 10,,,10.1...10.2(peek)

Debian 3r4 (over my head)

Fedora Core 3 (over my head)

Slackware 10.0 (over my head)

Lycoris (almost a disaster...maybe a bad disk)

Knoppix...cool and easy

Kanotix Bug Hunter(a Knoppix knock off update)

SuSE 9.1 (smooth and easy)

Ubuntu 4.1 (Warty) (my favorite)

Many of these have released a "LIVE" disk that you can run from the CD. Simply boot your box from the CD and get a look at the fully functional distro. Of course, it is slow, but you can get an idea if your hardware is compatible.

Distros known to have a "LIVE disk:
Knoppix
Kanotix
SuSE
Ubuntu


My suggestions for playing with Linux without trashing WinDoze.
I am migrating from WinXP, and will be using WinXP as my primary OS until I am comfortable with Linux.

Partition Magic 8.0 has a tool to partition the HardDrive for Linux installations. I used it without problems.
AVOID LETTING THE LINUX INSTALL PROGRAM PARTITION YOUR HARD DRIVE.

PartitionMagic doesn't run well from within WinXP, so you will probably have to boot from the PMagic floppy to create the Linux Partitions. Put the Linux partitions at the end of your HardDrive (or on a 2nd HardDrive). I am using about 7 Gigs for the Linux partitions and that is plenty.

(I have a small hidden partition with WinME. I can boot to WinME and use PartitionMagic8.0 to set up the Linux Partitions without ANY problems)


Almost all of the Linux Installs recognized the pre-partitioned Linux Partitions and asked if this is where I wanted to Install. Say YES.
(Note: Fedora Core was vague at this point in the install, so I backed out, not willing to risk my Windows partitions).

Linux will automatically install a boot loader (Grub or Lilo) that will let you choose either Windows or Linux at boot.
Both worked on my system without problems.


Removing Linux from your Box without trashing Windows

Easy.

Step 1) Use LILO (or Grub) to boot to your Windoze System and use PartitionMagic to delete the Linux Partitions. If you are using XP, you will probably need to boot from the PMagic floppy (since XP seems to hate PartitionMagic).

Step 2) Boot from a floppy that contains the Dos partition utility FDISK, and type FDISK /MBR. This will remove the Linux boot loader (Lilo or Grub).
My system was ALWAYS restored to the regular Windows configuration after these two steps.

Caution Note: My DOS boot floppy is from WinME and contains the latest preXP FDISK command. I don't believe XP comes with FDISK, so make sure you have a BOOT Floppy that has a functional FDISK utility that can work with large Hard Drives. I KNOW the FDISK in ME will work. I believe that Win98se DOS Floppy will work, but cannot vouch for it. FDISK was unable to read or delete the Linux Partitions, PMagic was necessary.

I have read online that you can use the XP BOOT CONSOLE to restore the MBR (master boot record), but I have never used that method.


Summary: After looking at the versions listed above, I preferred Ubuntu. SuSE was equally as functional, my choice was subjective. I currently use Ubuntu to browse the Internet and play with the Linux system. I am still using XP for my Graphics Software and Games.


Linux has a HUGE online community that is very helpful.
I have bought a How To book on the nuts and bolts of Linux (Inside Linux, Tobler) and am working my way through, learning to work from the command line. The Learning Curve is steep and a little frustrating at times, and I have background in Command Line Dos. But overall, it is fun. I am learning the system of the future and can always boot to WinXP when necessary.

bvar22 for the informative reply.
I also found this:http://shots.osdir.com/ where I could look through screen shots of all the distros. Ubuntu looks very good as well as SUSE. I liked what I saw of Fedora and it seemed to be pretty straight forward in it's installation. I think I'll go with Fedora and either sink or swim. I'm always up for a challenge.
Thanks again and the penguin be with you!

version of SuSE?

Newer usually better. (I've 9.2, which is much faster and stable than 9.1)