here we go !!!

[Krashing Kev 0]

Ok the day has come to join the rebellion. all my files are backed up to cd and i'm about to format my hard drive and install red hat 9 linux for the first time. any major advice before i go for it ?

[caudell 0]

Use another version of Linux, preferably Mandrake 10.0 rc1 which is available for free download.

[jimf43 0]

Quote:

Ok the day has come to join the rebellion. all my files are backed up to cd and i'm about to format my hard drive and install red hat 9 linux for the first time. any major advice before i go for it ?

You aren't giving us your level of expertese, or the hardware information that we'd need to give you advise. So if you're 'going for it', good luck ;-).

[Dapper Dan 0]

My advice:

 

Don't use RH 9, use Fedora instead.

 

Install everything. It will make life as a new Linux user much more enjoyable when trying to install things later. Once you get the hang of things, you can start deleteing the progs and apps you don't use or need.

 

Make sure you mount /home on it's own partition.

 

Be prepared to do more than one install. Sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right.

 

Be prepared to run into difficulty with some hardware issues. You might get lucky and not have any, but it isn't likely you won't have some.

 

Google is your best friend! If you have a problem, google it. There is almost always someone with the same problem you are having, and solutions will be avaiable.

 

As a new Linux user, I would stay away from Mdk 9.1, 9.2 and 10.

 

If using RH 9 or Fedora, make sure to install apt-get rpm! It will make the difference between Linux heaven and dependancy hell!

[Krashing Kev 0]

Ok in answer to some and thanks to dan.

 

1)

. i know linux exists and it is probably the way foreward but that is about it.

 

2)

hardware i will be using on is a quirky old pII 55o hewlett packard with a funny chipset that wil not accept xp

 

3)

i wish i knew i think of myself a s a bit of a windows gur who has just had enough and needs to stay ahead of the game.

 

4).

o in other words total linux newbie but with enough sense to ask and an other machine running win to get help.

 

Many thanks to all

 

Kevin

[jimf43 0]

Kevin,

 

In view of what you've told us, first read this thread:

http://www.linuxcompatible.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1379

 

Also I suggest that you download one of the bootable CD distros like Knoppix and check if all of your hardware is viable in Linux. Actually Knoppix is very nice, and a pretty easy install if you decided to use it. You may have to run a somewhat minimalistic setup, but, it should work.

 

Good luck.