Linux and..

[mogster]

Okay, so if I install Ubuntu... what do I do about drivers?

I have an X800XL graphics card, ATi provide drivers for linux. Does this mean the drivers install "out-of-the-box" onto Ubuntu?

I also have a speedtouch 330 modem. From the speedtouch website, there's a link here, with downloads for Mandrake, Fedora, and debian (!?).

Finally, will I have to do anything for my SATA hard drive?

Provide "dummy" steps on what to do.

[darth sephiroth]

Originally Posted by mogster

Okay, so if I install Ubuntu... what do I do about drivers?

I have an X800XL graphics card, ATi provide drivers for linux. Does this mean the drivers install "out-of-the-box" onto Ubuntu?

just use the driver install guide to install it (download it first )

I also have a speedtouch 330 modem. From the speedtouch website, there's a link here, with downloads for Mandrake, Fedora, and debian (!?).

Ubuntu is based on debian, so that's the one you want, if. IF it doesn't work on it's own.

Finally, will I have to do anything for my SATA hard drive?

ah the good old days, when linux didn't work on sata... no more!

Provide "dummy" steps on what to do.[/quote]

download an ISO (use alternate installer, the other one has troubles) found here (if it doesn't work then go to downloads section of ubuntu homepage and look up Uk and try one of the three).
(alternatively order a CD, comes in packages of 1 live and 1 install)

insert and boot to CD. Now choose the top option. let most of the install go by itself untill the partitioner.
at this point, you have three choices:
1. "use free disk space" keeping your windows install intact.
2. use another partition, keeping your windows install intact.
3. dump windows and spend hte whole sh* on linux!

(create an at least 3gb swap partition, just create a new partition like you would normally in the installer and make it a swap of 3 or more GB. doing this seriously increases performance sometimes. Use free disk space if followind choice 1)

now let the rest of the installer go on its own untill it's done. as before the partitioner simply confirm many options, make the most suitable choices (nothing advanced, actually even easier than windows most of the time)
now when you are in. Connect to the internet (most probably you won't need ANY drivers for this. the only thing you have to worry about it passwords) by clicking on the globe icon on the top bar and now find the ATI driver page and download and follow instructions. when driver is installed. reboot if it becomes necessary (most likely not) and now you will never need to reboot again! ever. and unless you wanna become a computer-über you'll probably never have to use the terminal, unless you get package troubles synaptic can't handle, and even then whatever webpage you looked it up at will tell you exactly what to write in

now find some of the VERY many different applications under "add aplications" to fill all your computing needs (WINE to play your favorite windows games!)

[mogster]

What about firewalls?
and generic software?

[darth sephiroth]

Originally Posted by darth sephiroth

now find some of the VERY many different applications under "add aplications" to fill all your computing needs (WINE to play your favorite windows games!)

i believe i mentioned something along the lines of this. it is found on the bottom of the "application" menu. Acessed like the start menu, only in the top left corner by default.

Linux has three start menus. One for all your programs, one to explore your computer and the network you're on, and one for all your system settings.

and anyway, just set a really difficult root password and hackers who pass whatever antivirus with firewall you get from the application manager won't be able to log in unless you've typed it in sometime in the last 5 minutes and he's somehow logged in on the same account, at the same time!