A Conversation for Linux Users' Group
Now I actually *have* linux!
J'au-æmne Started conversation May 30, 2003
It's terribly exciting; I got a new computer on Tuesday, and have just installed Mandrake 9.1 on it! This may not seem like a big deal but I was absolutely petrified of it...
Now I actually *have* linux!
MaW Posted May 31, 2003
Hurrah! 
Did you find the installation quite easy? Mandrake's got a very good installer, I last used it at version 8.1 so hopefully they've improved it even more since then.
Also, any problems? Terribly unencouraging I know, but I've never managed to get a Mandrake box to run stably for me.
Now I actually *have* linux!
J'au-æmne Posted May 31, 2003
It was all pretty straightforward. it autodetects like, everything, I was worried it might have a problem with plug-n-play because it says you should do something to the system bios settings, well, my computer was pretty sure that it didn't want to let me at them, but I figured that I may as well try with linux on the grounds that if it all goes wrong, when the computer is brand new with no files on (hardly) is the best time to do major operating system installing...
me and the computer had a bit of an argument regarding a cdrom which it didn't want to give me back, but other than that, it seems to be working okay.
Now I actually *have* linux!
J'au-æmne Posted May 31, 2003
I'm enjoying it so far! The games that ship with mandrake are worth it alone 
The whole mounting and unmounting thing is something I'm trying to ignore right now, and I haven't yet figured out how to get it to play a dvd under linux, but I think I'm doing well...
So like, if you have any tips of things which make the linux experience easier, I'm more than happy to listen... 
Now I actually *have* linux!
MaW Posted May 31, 2003
Read the documentation! I know it's an old one, but it's still one of the best. Also, don't be afraid to go and play with things. Carefully, of course. It is the best way to learn though.
Don't do anything as root unless you absolutely have to.
NEVER type 'rm -rf ./.*' - especially as root. It will erase your entire filesystem from / on down, no matter where in it you happen to be at the time. Most people who do this think that it's going to just erase all the directories with names beginning with '.' (i.e. Linux's version of hidden directories, often used to store program settings inside $HOME), but they forget about the '..' directory, which represents the parent. Coupled with the -r recursive option... you get the idea.
For DVD playback, you'll need either Xine or MPlayer (there are others around, I find Xine to be the best for my own needs, some people prefer MPlayer or Ogle or something else), and libdvdcss, which contains the DeCSS code so is of questionable legality in some parts of the world. As far as I understand it it's not illegal in the EU yet... basically it provides the descrambling code for DVDs, allowing you to play them. Xine has fairly decent menu support these days as well, also subtitles, audio tracks and (I believe) fairly complete multi-angle support. Well worth looking into, check for RPMs for Mandrake for it.
Now I actually *have* linux!
There is only one thing worse than being Gosho, and that is not being Gosho Posted Jun 1, 2003
While you're here MaW, can I draw your attention over this way - F80869?thread=280172
Hello J'au-æmne 
Seems like forever since we last bumped into each other. Glad you've got linux up and running 
Now I actually *have* linux!
J'au-æmne Posted Jun 1, 2003
Hmm... Well I've tried to install xine, and libdvdcss; I can't find any rpms for anything (I looked where they were meant to be, allegedly, and there were none there) so I tried to build them form source. I *think* I did it right, but I probably did it in the wrong order (xine first), and although to begin with xine was admitting that dvds exist, and that the one in my drive had a name, after installing the other thing it went into total denial.
So far I've also tried to install teTex and it failed for some reason, neither Andy or I could work out why - it didn't claim to have met any errors, yet the binaries just weren't where they were supposed to be, and I've felt too intimidated to try to install xemacs.
So I think it's Linux : 5 and J'au -aemne 2, as I manged to install both linux itself and nano. And I can't even write the 'ae' anymore! Windows xp is looking ever more attractive, but linux does have good antialiasing of text...
How're you doing, Gosho?
Now I actually *have* linux!
There is only one thing worse than being Gosho, and that is not being Gosho Posted Jun 2, 2003
Pretty good thanks
Now I actually *have* linux!
J'au-æmne Posted Jun 2, 2003
Well, I can now see dvds.... ...I just can't hear them.
Now I actually *have* linux!
njan (afh) Posted Jun 29, 2003
*sneaks by*
http://freshrpms.net is .. well, wonderful for rpms. In case you hadn't found a source for all of your packaged needs yet.
Now I actually *have* linux!
njan (afh) Posted Jun 29, 2003
oh.. wait.. mandrake.. try http://www.rpmfind.net/.. 
Key: Complain about this post
Now I actually *have* linux!
- 1: J'au-æmne (May 30, 2003)
- 2: MaW (May 31, 2003)
- 3: J'au-æmne (May 31, 2003)
- 4: Phil (May 31, 2003)
- 5: J'au-æmne (May 31, 2003)
- 6: MaW (May 31, 2003)
- 7: There is only one thing worse than being Gosho, and that is not being Gosho (Jun 1, 2003)
- 8: J'au-æmne (Jun 1, 2003)
- 9: There is only one thing worse than being Gosho, and that is not being Gosho (Jun 2, 2003)
- 10: J'au-æmne (Jun 2, 2003)
- 11: J'au-æmne (Jun 2, 2003)
- 12: njan (afh) (Jun 29, 2003)
- 13: njan (afh) (Jun 29, 2003)
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