Maximum PC

Ive been trying to install Linux and actually get it up and running so i can learn all about it. But when i installed Redhat it wouldn't boot no matter what i did so now since red hat is no longer be made i tried to install Mandrake 10.0 but its not booting into the GUI like it was for the first 5 time i booted the computer, plus the install when i tried to add developer, database gaming, and a few others it would start the install and then freez in the middle of the install. After i got it working with out thoes added packages i tried to install an RPM on GAIM and it said the siginatures were invalid so im at a loss for what i should so. Im going to try installing Suse in a little but im not sure its going to work and im not sure why the two past installs haven't worked. Oh plus once i got the bootloader working it won't boot into my windows XP particion. Any suggestions would be great thanks.

you could try using Knopixx runn it off a cdrom see it will work right then do a hd install of it.

Sounds like you got ahold of a crappy download or your CD is starting to die as it's not reading everything off the CD right.

I downloaded the files from linuxiso.org, i was thinking if trying suse next do you think it would be worth the $30 to buy the package directly from Suse

I think it's worth the $30.

Don't think it's going to help you with what you posted above though.

Well if it isn't a good download then maybe it would work although i seriously doubt its a problem with my cd drives. Ive got two cd drives and ill make sure i try both tonight for mandrake installs but one is a 6month old sony DVD burner and the other is a regular DVD drive ive had for over 3 years with no issues. I was thinking of trying to FTP install of suse before i buy a disk.

try knoppix first. That'll let you know if your system is going to work with linux and x, it's a great test disk. If you like it install it, and you are running a varient of debian.


http://www.knoppix.net/

or use this personalized flavor http://kanotix.mipooh.net/viewtopic.php?t=2150 Kanotix is what I run on all my machines, it's awesome and fast.


jaz

Hmm, I have to disagree with most. I don't think that it is the CD, but rather the system. Could you post the specs of the computer for us? Also, it would help if you posted the error that you are getting when you try to boot.

If you want to learn about GNU/Linux, stay away from the GUIs. Go back to windows if you like guis.

Use slack, debian, or gentoo...or at least something centetred around CLI (command line interface) as opposed to guis (graphical user interface). You won't learn @(*! if you stick with a GUI system.

I guess you could change your runlevels to allow redhat to dump you to CLI, but you might as well use slackware at that point.

Here is a tip...learn to compile from source too, it teaches you a lot about how the system works.

If you want a rough intuition between winblows and linux, you can think of /etc as a less cryptic and useful Winblows Registry.

Flame on.