Linux

[bgast1]

I think I finally got everything up and running. Now I just have to learn to use it.

Edit:
Yep, got everything installed now, both Windows and Linux work as they are supposed to. I will have to change my screen resolution in Linux, and check to see which driver is installed for my video card. Where do I look to find that information?

Also, are there any tips any of you can send my way to help keep me from breaking my Linux install?

And should I break my Linux install, is there a way to easily delete it and re-install? I know Mepis was pretty easy in that regard, but it has been so long since I have even looked at Linux I forgot what I did.

One other question. I have heard that Firefox has become full of holes under Windows and that IE7 is the best way to go in Windows. But what about Linux? Suggestion on browsers?

 

[Padma]

I think I finally got everything up and running. Now I just have to learn to use it.

Edit:
Yep, got everything installed now, both Windows and Linux work as they are supposed to. I will have to change my screen resolution in Linux, and check to see which driver is installed for my video card. Where do I look to find that information?

Also, are there any tips any of you can send my way to help keep me from breaking my Linux install?

And should I break my Linux install, is there a way to easily delete it and re-install? I know Mepis was pretty easy in that regard, but it has been so long since I have even looked at Linux I forgot what I did.

One other question. I have heard that Firefox has become full of holes under Windows and that IE7 is the best way to go in Windows. But what about Linux? Suggestion on browsers?

Number one for not breaking your install: Don't run as root. Be sure you have a user-level account for your normal use. Those apps that require root access (e.g., PCLinuxOS Control Center) will request your password. To do other things, you can always open a terminal window, and type "su<return><root password>", and access it from the command line.

Otherwise, if you restrict yourself to installing only apps from the PCLOS Repositories, via Synaptic, you shouldn't break anything.

And if you do hose things so badly you need to reinstall, just insert the Live-CD, boot the system, and re-install.

As for a browser, the PCLOS default is Firefox. Works great. Or you can try Opera. It is in the repos.

As for your video card problem, make sure you have the "ati-dkms" package installed from Synaptic. (Might require a reboot.) Make a copy of your current /etc/X11/xorg.conf file just in case it doesn't work right, though. See this thread at PCLOS forum, for more help. (The folks there know this stuff way better than I do, and are usually pretty willing to help. They're also commonly as old as we are! )

 

[bgast1]

So, if I understand your post correctly, I go through Synaptic and look for anything that has to do with my video card and download and install it?

Also, I have a new sound card which it appears Linux has no drivers for it. I have on board sound, but I can't seem to get any sound anymore. The new card is a Sound Blaster X-Fi, the one for gaming.

Edit:
Well, I broke it already. Tried to install drivers and I am now at a black screen with lots or writing on it. How can I get back to where I started or do I have to reinstall. That screen, I think is basically telling me it didn't like what I did to it, and is asking me to log in.

 

[Padma]

Okay, that's just init level 3, the multi-user interface without a GUI desktop.

Log in, and try the command "startx", which will start the desktop, if it can. If it doesn't work, copy your backup of the xorg.conf back to /etc/X11/xorg.conf, overwriting the current one, and try rebooting. (You *did* make a backup of xorg.conf, right?) That will get you back to where you were before you made changes.

 

[bgast1]

On the back up. Well um, honestly, um, no. I didn't know how. But a bigger problem for me now is sound. I can't even get the live CD to recognize my on board sound. It appears that there is no driver for my new sound card (sound blaster X-fi extreme gamer), and probably never will be for Linux, because Creative is very much in bed with MS. This sound card really made a huge difference.

Edit.
OK, I've re-installed. Sound still doesn't work, yet. I don't even know how to open my CD drive. Before I do anything, yes I want to back up that file and install my printer so that I can print some stuff that I read.

The other thing about Linux that I like, is that the Desktop looks better than Windows does. At least it does to me. I don't know whether it's the colors are sharper or what? The font is different? I don't know, it just looks cleaner.

 

[Beam]

As far as In understand your main issue is with sound atm? Best option is to post a question at the PCLinux forums Padma gave you a link to and see if some of the experienced guys got a solution. You're right Creative (not just them) are in bed with MS, nevetheless the Linux community most of the time if not always are able to find a solution.

One of the things that helped me getting the right drivers for my nVidia in Ubuntu is Automatix. Since PClinux also is deb based I guess it should work there as well. Just Google Automatix and you'll find it.

Iirc fonts in Gnome distros are antialiased so that's the reason they look better.

On a side note: a friend of mine installed Ubuntu 6.0.6 on his very new box and it didn't recognize his very new wireless LAN. After an upgrade to the latest Ubuntu release (7.0.4) iirc everything was sorted pretty well except for his Lexmark printer but this brand is notorious in Linux in general.

 

[GVBN]

Yeah it seems that X-Fi is not supported
http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/index.php?vendor=vendor-Creative_Labs

Since PClinux also is deb based

It's rpm based

 

[bgast1]

Well, I have been hanging around alot at pclos forums. I have my Linux box up and running ok now. My on-board sound card is working in Linux. X-fi is not supported and probably never will be. That is a huge sacrifice for me because I am very particular about my sound.

One question that I asked over there, but haven't got an answer for though, is I understand that the Audigy 2 card is supported. The question that I asked is, if I bought and installed an Audigy 2 card, a.) Would it give me significantly better sound than on-board. PCLOS, sees my onboard sound as Intel, but the drivers are C-media. and b.) Can I also install it along side my X-fi card or will they conflict with each other?