Hello, > Okay, I'm a newbie who's tried to install Debian 4-5 different times > during > my life, starting with Potato, then the version of last year, and now > Woody. Debian installation can be a bit tricky for the uninitiated :-) Congratualtions, you've chosen the best distribution. > Each time, I get a little farther, anyhow. Here's my situation: > > Loadlin Dual boot situation, Win98 [15 minute bootup time, due to their > content-provider-oriented OS which means everyone > owns my system except me. Bootup also requires my presence, since it > immediately stops and asks me what user I want to be before doing its > 12-minute warmups] and Debian Woody Linux with KDE [3 minute bootup > time]. You don't need Win 98 - Linux is at home with networking (dialup). > Last week: Replaced the monitor, remembered me kernel, remembered my > root password (hard) and personal password (easy), and got started using > KWord / AbiWord. Aaahhh, that's better than MS Word, but I *absolutely > hate* having to save as RTF, shutdown, reboot into MS Windows, wait for > 3 minutes by my computer, and then wait another 12 minutes while it > decides to let the mouse work, and then set it printing. I would love > to have a printer on Debian. > > So... > > #1 I don't know if Loadlin works yet, but I'm not sure how to install > other bootup systems, and I really don't want to take away my dos > capabilities at this point. I'd like to keep Loadlin, would like to > avoid LILO LILO does not mean you loose your windoze (however, I once did have a problem with mbr being eaten away). Why are you avoiding LILO? but would accept something else -- but I'd need a page on > how to install it. Loadlin is something I understand, if someone can > point me to a working copy. As of May, it was broken. > Or maybe the BZImage2 compression was broken, but in that case I have to > have a way to recompile the BZImage2 (if that's been fixed). BZImage sounds like too much work... Kernel can also be compiled in the following way: you should have kernel-package installed. become root (or use fakeroot) After choosing the option for the kernel in usual fashion (I use make xconfig) you run make-kpkg clean. Then make-kpkg --revision=your_kernel_name kernel_image then you install kernel dpkg -i your_kernel_name.deb > #2 I'd still like some pointers on getting my ALSA started, my > printer started, and (ideally) my CD-RW going too ALSA I am not sure of. However, printer can get started in the following way: you need lpr (or lprng), gs, gs-fonts, magicfilter (CUPS system works too, but what I am showing is more generic). Then you run magicfilterconfig --force This will allow you to choose your printer. If you have problems, read the fine materials available on magicfilter and gs. To configure CD-RW you need to enable IDE-SCSI your hda is your HD, then hdb is your CD-RW. In LILO (and you should be running it) you put line append=" hdb=ide-scsi". in /etc/fstab you put entry /dev/hdb /cdromiso9660 ro,user,noauto 0 0 In case of having another drive, do the same thing, but using hdc, or whatever letter it is... just continue adding devices on append line within the "" > #3 I'm beginning to wonder: do I really have the wrong distribution, > considering that I can't seem to get a good install? I picked Debian > because of the online list servers and the wide user base, but is there > something better for learners that would really help a person learn > Linux? I personally read the fine materials available (Linux Documentation Project)... There used to be documentation project available for newbies on sourceforge Or should I just keep on persevering? I have no problem > persevering, but I'd like to know that I'm actually going forward. Persevere!!! There is plenty of people here willing to help you. Take care, Davor
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