Hey Longshot, Many paths lead you to Linux. In short, the Linux kernel copyright requires any distributor to also keep full source and distro's available for interested people. (I am not a laywer, this may be a little wrong in some details). In picking a distribution, free or not, you will have to think a bit about were you want to go. At present, you can even find distributions on a single CD that boot and run right of the CD, without requiring installation on your harddisk (startup is of course slower than when you install truly on HD): Non exclusive list: MandrakeMove download: http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ftp.php3 (download ISO and burn your CD) Info: http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/mandrakemove/ Knoppix: http://www.knoppix.net/get.php Both these CD based versions are amazing in being able to recognize widely different hardware hosts. In my experience I found these to work troublefree with the most recent hardware as well as with the most primitive 200MHz processors with only 128K memory. The recent configurations run much faster of course. I think that this is probably your best start if you don't know anything about Linux. If you know more already, you shouldn't have any trouble in picking a distro right for you - free or paid for. As to the question of Linux superiority over Windoz. A lot of BS floats around about this. I would say: do you remember the days that big DEC, big IBM were laughing at M$'s NT? Not too long ago though! Little NT racked up some impressive growth figures. You could have figured at that time that perhaps they were doing something right. Have you looked at the growth figures these days for little Linux compared to big fat Windoz? Haven't we seen this before? Longshot, this is a simplistic answer of course, but there is some merit to it though! Good luck with your Linux trial, nononsense
Thx! I am going to try linux for first time replacing win2000 on one of my computers i use to tool around. Here's tohoping all goes well.
Everytime I boot up I get this message saying setup.ins not found so remove reference of it in registry. Furthermore, my add/remove programs is not working i.e. the remove button is grayed out so I can't ever remove a program I don't need. I have a feeling the registry is corrupted thru the years. Is there a way to solve this? I am leaning towards getting my win 2K disk and re-installing my OS. If I go this route, that would reset registry back to a new one correct? Does that mean that I then would have to re-install my apps like Excel, Word,Access,etc. Thanks in advance.
backup your drive first before you do it http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25199&highlight=external+hard+drive+back+up
Is there a book like "doing the above for dummies"? Even these instructions are over my head. I am really interested in taking these (or similar) precautions, but have absolutely no idea what to do. Thanks in advance for any further help, Banker
I am only running with two drives at present, having retired the Maxtors. Both drives are masters, one on each IDE channel. I did have a third drive running as a slave on one IDE channel during the changeover period. Running Win XP Pro SP1, ASUS mobo.
To gnome OK, I've got a question for you... (not trying to be a smarty-pants). When you select your BIOS to recognize the 2nd HD as backup when it is "installed", doesn't XP assign it as "Drive D:", and wouldn't you then be unable to boot from it if you had to? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello again: I haven't updated to BillyG's new XP so I'll answer with the older Win95-98-etc operating sys. ( I'll assume standard CMOS) One HDD =C:, Two HDDinstalled = C: and D" with the added HDD as D: The HDD's cables going to the IDE ports are labeled primary and secondary. Each cable can handle two HDD's so C: and D: could be on primary port or C: on primary and D: on second port. OK: Much more interesting with 3 HDD's and each HDD partitioned into two or more partitions. I've had C:,D: E: F:,G: and H: show up just fine..when I was playing with 'puters that I was making up for relatives. The BIOS chip will assign the drives on the boot-up. Primary partitions are first in order ..with all other partitions following in their order ..taken when viewed from the primary IDE ports first and second IDE port last.. WHEW.... loooong way to go here. No real problem when ya do it a couple of times.. The large drives now make this a waste of time using more than two HDDs. Changing the CMOS to "not-installed" on one HDD will also change the order assigned when running more than two.. It's easier to demo than explain.. but it works just fine.... ag pilot
To John Lyden See my post to gnome. I don't know what XP can do but using Win95-98-ME- etc your only choice is primary or secondary IDE port on the motherboard and first or second plug on each cable. With that said; The drive letters are still assigned on the bootup with primary IDE port looked at FIRST for installed HDD and then second IDE port looked for installed HDD's.. Then it goes back to primary IDE port to assign any "EXTRA" partitions that you may have made with the FDISK.EXE program. Splitting harddrives into two or more partitions isn't as common anymore. Hope this help a little more.. ag pilot (I think this is my 13th post..4 good luck)
To gnome and John: Your wanting to controll what drive letters shows up for your hard drives and its partitions can only be controlled by placing the drive in the correct location.. That's using Win 95-98-ME etc. The newer XP may have a better method. Now I'am outta here and back to looking at charts for the next winner........... agpilot
Ah HA!... You're in for a treat when you move to XP. Microsoft has stated that one of its objectives in XP was to "prevent HD cloning"... I presume that's so you won't clone and put it into a different box without buying the OS a 2nd time??. Most clone routines include hooking up the 2nd HD to the Primary IDE cable in the secondary position and running the copy function from the CD. This ends up with XP identifying the 2nd HD as "D:", and even when you reposition it as the only/Primary, it retains the "D:", and won't boot (so I'm told). Soooo....... A solution is to hook each HD to a separate IDE ribbon as Primary, and boot from the floppy drive to run the copy program. In other words, you want to avoid booting XP while both HDs are attached to the IDE controller.