Unformatted hdd

I'm a total noob. I tried to install an older version of Ubuntu into an old Pc but it was too much for it and I gave up - my technical knowledge didn't reach to more demanding linux OS (i.e. I have no knowledge of command language, DOS or otherwise).

I have two linux live distros but after using live Linspire disk that forced a complete reformat of Windows drive :mad, I'm not so keen on them. So I decided I'll try again, but this time in a machine of its own, when I find my old mobo/AGP graphics card/the original Athlon 1.3GHz processor (I gather there are confusingly two forms of Athlon processors) - the original Athlon. I have a couple small PATA drives, up to 4GB and if I find a converter, I could use 160 GB SATA1 HDD...

Will the popular linux distros format my drive automatically, without any formatting in it at all? And will my rig be powerful enough to cope with latest Ubuntu or Kubuntu? What are the requirements of these two operating systems? And would linux recognise my router, Netgear DG834G or does anyone know if there are drivers for it?

 

Most distros should recognize that Netgear DG834G router in fact it runs on Linux under the hood!
Check this out on how to work with this router.(pretty cool actually)
http://www.asininemonkey.com/netgear-dg834gt-hacking.html

 

The newer 'buntus may find all your hardware, but if you are new, you may find Mint a better choice. Or even some have suggested, the latest version of Mandriva. Any of them work with a Live CD that you can download and "try before you install."

Search the threads here that I did not like Kubuntu at all..... your mileage may vary.

 

mandriva may be a bit powefull for your system - i use it with 2gb ddr400 and a 3.4 prescott,

i would go with BoredOutOfMyMind's choice of mint or pclinuxos is another exellent choice, i have pclinuxos running fine on a 512 pc133 and 1.1gb athlon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCLinuxOS

it can be run from live cd or usb flash drive,

if you want to install then you should be able to find the partition and formating tools, with an easy walk through to help,

i've never had any problems with any flavours of linux and a router, all they are bothered about is your network card, most auto-detect and configure this, so as long as your router is connected to the 'net then there should be no problem

(just as a note - i've never had much luck with ubuntu or kubuntu on my system, but mint installs fine:confused)

 

Thanks guys. I've never heard of Mint pclinuxos - everyone seems to talk about Ubuntu, probably because it's so similar to Windows. I played with SuSe v.9 once for ten minutes and with M- something or was it RedHat but although they had similar outlook, I liked SuSe a bit better, don't know why... Basically, being a nob, I like the idea of gui similar to Windows, to ease me into linux world bit by bit.

What aobut live CDs, don't they need formatted environment to work? The hard drives are not formatted, unless there is some way of using Sata1 with IDE port.

I'm still not sure if the formatting tools will be on live CD and if I can get rid of Windows altogether, once I I've chosen my distro?

 

mint linux is based on ubuntu and pclinuxos is based on mandriva,

live cd's don't need your/any hard drive to run as they are loaded into your memory, so the more memory there is the better they will run (basically)

formating tools are on live cd's as the hard drive partitions that linux needs are usually ext2 and ext3,

do you want to get rid of windows ?

 

Yes, this machine will be linux only, a kind of "teaching machine", i.e. for me to start learning the ropes of linux. I've heard that kde (or whatever ubuntu is using) is maybe easier for noob...? Let's say that I will learn to dual boot linux, so I can try also different distros -based on the same kernel - how will I know what kernel the distro is based on, if I start exploring different distros?

 

:cool That does sound good idea, especially even before formatting the HDD. So I was wrong about KDE and it's Gnome that I should perhaps try first.

I just wonder, not that this question will be relevant for a long time, but would there be any problems with distros using different kernel, if I managed to create dual boot into different distros of linux? I suppose not, because windows and linux use different kernels (?) I'm just idly wondering...

 

the kernel is the heart of linux and the 'add-ons' are what make them all different,

some will be for desktop use - others for specific jobs

think of beer - the heart is alcohol, the rest is taste:yum

best bet is live cd's (as others have said), if one works and you like how it is - install it, what have you got to lose

there is a good list here

http://www.livecdlist.com/

and this is a good site to look around

http://distrowatch.com/

don't be put off by the price list, most are free with donations to help the good cause

 

i dual boot windows 2000 and pclinuxos at the moment, i also have my mandriva hdd still in the pc case, i may tripple boot, havn't decided yet,
i've also multi booted suse, fedora, mint, zenwalk, mepis and a few others, with various combinations - just info

 

I like the word FREE because a) I'm perpetually broke b) I could use the money to pay for a tutorial for something useful c) I also like to pass my knowledge and skills free: I don't get paid for what I do (mostly I get donations of food and clothing that no-one else wants any more), so I'm perpetually broke.

I have all the hardware and software I need for myself, my main reason for learning linux is that I can help people in developing country with little money to enjoy the benefits of computers, mainly for work and education. For example, I have a friend in university who would like to write his assignments with a computer at home but he was shocked to learn that a netbook (UK price) would set him back for 6 month's salary. Unfortunately computers peripherals are not really any cheaper in there; I suppose the demand is so small in a place where a big propotion cannot read and struggle to pay for basics, such as food... How lucky I am! And actually quite rich - it's all what you compare with, isn't it?

 

Thanks hawklord. Now I just have to find all the components to build the pc - providing they're not damaged in storage, which is in several mate's houses (my stuff in general). lol

 

no problem