.Introduction
.Choosing
 Distribution
.Install
.Using
.Install
 using VMware
.Conclusion

23-9-2005 (Updated 31-1-2006)

.Introduction

In this log I am going to describe my effort to installing a Linux distribution in my Fujitsu Siemens Amilo A laptop. It was not an easy task. So this log may help some newbie in Linux.

.Choosing Distribution

Choosing a distribution is a hard step. There a lot of them out there! Firstly I tried Fedora Core 4. I had tried before Fedora Core 3 and I was satisfied. But FC4 really disappointed me. I downloaded the dvd iso image and I burned it. Then I reboot my pc and FC4 initial screen appeared. It asked me if I want to install FC4 and I pressed enter and then Kernel Panic!! I had checked the iso image I had downloaded using the MD5 provided and I was sure that it had no problem. So l Googled around to find a solution and I discover that FC4 has a bug. In some pcs it crashes during installation. What you have to do is when the initial screens appears and it asks you what to do you just type nonsense and then you press enter. A command no found message appears and then what ever you do the installation goes smoothly! So a distribution with an installation bug? No this is not for me! Then I tried Mandriva Linux. For this distribution you have to download only a CD ISO. The installation was really easy but there was some problems in greek characters and in adding-removing programs. So despite beeing promising this distribution disappointed me also. Then I tried to download Suse Linux 9.3. During this try I learned 3 very useful things: A)Never install a 32bit distribution on a 64 bit processor B)Fat 32 cannot support files bigger than 4Gbytes so downloads your isos in a ntfs partition and C)use an FTP program to download the isos. Do not use your browser! (B and C thanks to my friend Vrettos). After hundreds of unsuccessful attempts to download the dvd iso I finally installed this distribution and that is what am I using now. I wanted also to try Debian Linux which we use in our university but two dvds isos are too much to be downloaded.

On January this year I tried Ubuntu Linux 5.10 a Debian based distribution. Trying this distribution made me change my thought that "Never install a 32bit distribution on a 64 bit processor". The 64bit distribution seems to be a chaos. Lot of packages missing and I was unable to install any application. So I decided to give a try to 32bit distribution and here I am! I am really excited. The OS is running so smoothly and installing and unistalling applications seems easier than any other Linux distribution. But what I like more about Ubuntu is their support. In their web site (http://www.ubuntu.com), in support section, you can find useful, step by step, guides which will help you get your hand on it. Be careful! If you are really new to Linux read these guidelines!

.Installing

Installing Linux is not hard, in contrast to what is said. The procedure is very simple. But there are some things to be careful. If you install Linux in the same disk where you have installed Windows be sure that there is a lot of free disk. It would be better if you have already created a Linux partition using a program such as Partition magic. Be sure to choose the right keyboard mapping when prompted. When the time to install the graphical interface comes there is the big question: KDE or Gnome. Suse come with KDE as default. The truth is that KDE is more beautiful but Gnome is lighter. So if you have enough resources install KDE or else Gnome. Of course you have the choice to install both of them! You have also to install C/C++ tools. Suse doesn't install then by default, but they are rally necessary if you want to install a 3rd party program later on. You have also to be patient the process may take up to an hour!

.Using

When I first used Linux some question occurred. I am sharing the answer with you. This part of the log will be updated as long as I am using Linux

Q. How do I choose between KDE and Gnome if I have installed both of them?
A. In the log on screen there is a session button on the button of the screen. Press it and choose the desired desktop environment

Q. My files open in Konqueror with a single mouse click. How do I make them to open using double click?
A. Go Control Center -> Peripherals -> Mouse and there you can choose files to open with double click

Q. In Gnome every folder opens in new window, how can I change that?
A. Open a folder, go edit -> preferences -> behavior and then click always open in browser. From now on your folders will open in nautilus and every folder will open in the same window

Q. Where can find somebody to ask for help?
A. I think http://www.linuxforums.org/ is the best place

Q. How can I uninstall Linux?
A. First remove the boot loader. In order to remove the boot loader you have to boot with a windows cd-rom. When the system asks you whether you want to install windows or to repair an already installed choose repair. In the command prompt type FIXMBR which stands for fix master boot record. Then your pc will boot directly to windows. From there you can format the linux partition

Q. How can I configure which JVM Ubuntu will use?
A. Type in a terminal window sudo update-alternatives --config java
 

Q. How can I mount a windows FAT partition?
A. Type in a terminal window mount WINDOWS_HARD_DISK_NAME /media/windows -t vfat -o iocharset=utf8,umask=000

Q. How can I play mp3 in Ubuntu ?
A. In order to do that you have to install the mp3 codecs. You can do it by typing in a terminal window sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.8-mad
 

More to come...

.Installing using VMware 

I want Linux only for some of my school assignments so it is really bthering to reboot my laptop every time I want to use Linux. VMware is the solution. VMware is a genius software (www.vmware.com) which creates a "virtual pc" so you can install everything you want in that virtual pc. You can access you virtual pc through windows, which means you can access Linux through windows! The virtual pc has full functionality although it's a bit slow

.Conclusion

Linux is not an OS for desktop usage. It takes ages to turn on and shut down and installing a program seems to demand a Phd. When you install a program it asks for further packets which ask for further packets which....So installing a program it may take even an hour. Also I cannot understand why you have to download a whole DVD in order to have an operating system. I don't think that the average internet user have this possibility. Linux is great for network experimenting and network applications. If you are a network related student Linux is a must.