I'm a total n00b...

tropicaldawn

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Joined

Feb 16, 2006

• Oct 19, 2006

• #1

So my father randomly comes home and tells me he has come into possession of a new PC. (Bit dodgy sounding but let's not go there. )

Anyways, he says it has no software and would I be able to install it all myself? I said I could.

Now, I don't know whether it even has Windows or not so I'm preparing myself for the prospect of installing Linux.

Is my understanding of Linux correct?

I download Linux on my current PC.
I copy it onto a CD.
I turn on new computer.
I put in CD.
I follow instuctions.
I now own a computer with an operating system.

 

Neuromancer

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Joined

Oct 11, 2005

Location

Tau'ri

• Oct 19, 2006

• #2

Yah pretty much... installing linux is easy assuming there are no HW conflicts..the fun starts afterward, when you cant access your CDROM drive because its "not mounted" LOL

Im sure you will get plenty of support here though


Also when you say "copy to cd" You will need an app like imgburn, nero or alcohol to burn it as a bootable CD.

 

OP

tropicaldawn

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Joined

Feb 16, 2006

• Oct 19, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #3

Neur0mancer said:

Yah pretty much... installing linux is easy assuming there are no HW conflicts..the fun starts afterward, when you cant access your CDROM drive because its "not mounted" LOL

Click to expand...

I get that with XP too.

Neur0mancer said:

Also when you say "copy to cd" You will need an app like imgburn, nero or alcohol to burn it as a bootable CD.

Click to expand...

Please tell me these come in open source flavours!

 

Suicide Al

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Joined

Jun 16, 2003

Location

Shawano, WI

• Oct 19, 2006

• #4

nero has made a copy that runs on linux. Looks like they offer it in .rpm and .deb packages found here.

 

splat

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Joined

Apr 6, 2002

• Oct 19, 2006

• #5

I'm not sure about open source cd burning software for windows, but you can also get some linux distro's to boot off a USB key. DSL (damn small linux) comes to mind, but I think Debian can do the same, so that would completely remove the need to burn a cd. if the old PC won't let you boot from USB, you can download boot floppies for DSL that will tell the pc to use the USB Key as the CD drive.

but yes, you pretty much download, burn, boot, install, enjoy.

 

OP

tropicaldawn

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Joined

Feb 16, 2006

• Oct 19, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #6

Is is all I need to burn it onto a CD?

Clickyness

 

splat

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Joined

Apr 6, 2002

• Oct 19, 2006

• #7

should work. i found this too
http://www.download.com/CDBurnerXP-Pro/3000-2646_4-10409087.html?tag=lst-0-1
never used it myself, but looks promising

 

OP

tropicaldawn

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Joined

Feb 16, 2006

• Oct 19, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #8

I am intrigued by the fact it isn't a 200mb download on top of a 700mb ISO download, and doesn't become useless in 30 days.

Will give it a shot.

 

OP

tropicaldawn

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Joined

Feb 16, 2006

• Oct 21, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #9

Phew! False alarm, it came with Win2000 Pro. And a Pentium 4 3ghz HT which was nice.

 

splat

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Joined

Apr 6, 2002

• Oct 22, 2006

• #10

tropicaldawn said:

Phew! False alarm, it came with Win2000 Pro. And a Pentium 4 3ghz HT which was nice.

Click to expand...

score! Win2k pro is definitely my favorite windows OS.