If you want to try Linux on Windows, Try Knoppix

[Garibaldi]

I just wanted to share with you about Knoppix, a linux distrobution that boots and runs from the cd. It doesn't put any files on your computer unless you tell it to (hd, persistent home, or poorman's install) and it has a great user environment, KDE. I would highly recommend it. All you have to do is go to www.knoppix.net and at night download the 700 mb iso image file. Then burn it to a cd, insert the cd in your drive, reboot and it should start up.

[Capmaster]

I just wanted to share with you about Knoppix, a linux distrobution that boots and runs from the cd. It doesn't put any files on your computer unless you tell it to (hd, persistent home, or poorman's install) and it has a great user environment, KDE. I would highly recommend it. All you have to do is go to www.knoppix.net and at night download the 700 mb iso image file. Then burn it to a cd, insert the cd in your drive, reboot and it should start up.

How fast is it? I would expect a CD-only OS to be woefully slow.

[Garibaldi]

Actually its quite fast, much faster than you would get with an emulator. I think you can run it with qemu, which I have had bad experience with, so I wouldn't recommend it. If you think that the cd speed is too slow, which doesn't seem to be a problem for me, you can make a seperate FAT 32 partition on your hard drive and install it there, and then edit your BIOS to choose either linux or windows on startup. What I have done is create a Persistent Home file and saved my Configuration file on a small FAT 32 partition of my hdd. The persistent home like a my documents/program files all in one, and the config file keeps my installed settings, ie printers. This works great, it boots off the cd but the speed is great and I have personal settings. Also, Knoppix will auto detect your hardware and TCP\IP settings, so you don't have to mess with that, just pop the cd in and its running. It also works with klik, a program that will automatically install software for you. I tried downloading and running topologilinux (see www.topologilinux.com) but it wasn't nearly as good as knoppix, it felt like I was running win 95 without any programs. Also, Knoppix comes with something like 2000 programs pre-installed like The Gimp, Xine, Mozilla, and Open Office. It uses some type of compression to get 2000 MB on 1 700MB cd.

[Ripper2860]

Just a short comment ...


KNOPPIX RULES !!!

[Garibaldi]

KNOPPIX RULES !!!

I can definitely agree to that! What setup are you running?

[Ripper2860]

Knoppix 3.6 loading the 2.6 Kernel. Installed a new disk drive and have not setup the Knoppix config files, etc., but Knoppix just never ceases to amaze me with the completeness of the distribution, the speed, and versatility. The fact that they can cram all that into a 1 CD self-booting package is just incredible.

[bazooka]

You could also try Damn Small Linux. It is a live cd as well.

[Garibaldi]

Knoppix 3.6 loading the 2.6 Kernel. Installed a new disk drive and have not setup the Knoppix config files, etc., but Knoppix just never ceases to amaze me with the completeness of the distribution, the speed, and versatility. The fact that they can cram all that into a 1 CD self-booting package is just incredible.

I agree, its amazing how all around great it is. One question, how do I install programs that I have downloaded from the internet (not klik)? I tried kpackage and running:
su
apt-get update
apt-get install kpackage
but I get an error during the apt-get update process. I tried cd to the directory of the extracted .tgz file and typing make and install, but it won't work. Is there an easier way? Also, what is the difference between 2.4 and 2.6, should I just run 2.6 because its better, why doesn't it do that by default?

You could also try Damn Small Linux. It is a live cd as well.

Isn't that just a command line linux distro, no KDE, XFCE, or Gnome?

[bazooka]

Knoppix 3.6 loading the 2.6 Kernel. Installed a new disk drive and have not setup the Knoppix config files, etc., but Knoppix just never ceases to amaze me with the completeness of the distribution, the speed, and versatility. The fact that they can cram all that into a 1 CD self-booting package is just incredible.

I agree, its amazing how all around great it is. One question, how do I install programs that I have downloaded from the internet (not klik)? I tried kpackage and running:
su
apt-get update
apt-get install kpackage
but I get an error during the apt-get update process. I tried cd to the directory of the extracted .tgz file and typing make and install, but it won't work. Is there an easier way? Also, what is the difference between 2.4 and 2.6, should I just run 2.6 because its better, why doesn't it do that by default?

You could also try Damn Small Linux. It is a live cd as well.

Isn't that just a command line linux distro, no KDE, XFCE, or Gnome?

No. It has a gui as well.

[mujahid7ia]

Slax is a CD-OS that is based on slackware, small distro

http://slax.linux-live.org/

[Garibaldi]

Quote:
You could also try Damn Small Linux. It is a live cd as well.

Isn't that just a command line linux distro, no KDE, XFCE, or Gnome?


No. It has a gui as well.

What is the gui, XFCE, Gnome, KDE? I'm guessing that I could install any of them anyway. I tried out the first disk of topologilinux and I wasn't that impressed. Granted you install it to the hd without partitioning but you have to insert the cd at startup. Also, it looks like win 95, not a good memory. It also had very few apps, I'm guessing the rest come with the 2nd cd. The final blow though was the fact that I would manually have to specifiy my TCP/IP settings- Knoppix auto detects the IP address from the DCHP server. All in all I think knoppix is better than topologilinux. I will try Damn Small Linux though.

PostPosted: Sep 13, 2004 14:43
Slax is a CD-OS that is based on slackware, small distro

Is slax a gui too (ie KDE, XFCE, Gnome) or is it command line with (console)?

[gitreel]

Quote:
You could also try Damn Small Linux. It is a live cd as well.

Isn't that just a command line linux distro, no KDE, XFCE, or Gnome?


No. It has a gui as well.

What is the gui, XFCE, Gnome, KDE? I'm guessing that I could install any of them anyway. I tried out the first disk of topologilinux and I wasn't that impressed. Granted you install it to the hd without partitioning but you have to insert the cd at startup. Also, it looks like win 95, not a good memory. It also had very few apps, I'm guessing the rest come with the 2nd cd. The final blow though was the fact that I would manually have to specifiy my TCP/IP settings- Knoppix auto detects the IP address from the DCHP server. All in all I think knoppix is better than topologilinux. I will try Damn Small Linux though.

PostPosted: Sep 13, 2004 14:43
Slax is a CD-OS that is based on slackware, small distro

Is slax a gui too (ie KDE, XFCE, Gnome) or is it command line with (console)?

I forrgot. It has been awhile. I believe it is gnome.

[Cobra]

I downloaded and tried out Knoppix v3.6 - it is extremely impressive. I am a Linux newbie, and it seems to be a complete system that even I can use with ease.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to try out Linux.

Cobra

[gitreel]

Damn small linux is based on knoppix and is small enough to put on a business card cd.

[Garibaldi]

I downloaded and tried out Knoppix v3.6 - it is extremely impressive. I am a Linux newbie, and it seems to be a complete system that even I can use with ease.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to try out Linux.

Cobra

I was in the same situation, new to linux, but love Knoppix! It has so many great features and its auto-detect hardware and internet! Once again, I too would highly recommend this!

[mastersmurfie]

I second (or third or fourth) the Knoppix suggestions. Been playing around (not seriously-yet) with it for a few months now and have been quite impressed with it. A couple of things that impressed me most were the fact that I didn't have to spend a week reading "Teach yourself Linux in 24 hours" and that I was able to boot my computer with the disc, and immediately have internet access. Now to find out how to hear sounds with it...(don't really want to install it to HDD just yet...want to keep learning for a while...)

mastersmurfie

[Garibaldi]

I just downloaded and burned slax, a live-cd version of slaxware. Its alot like Knoppix, only it has less programs. Its only 150mb download so that is nice. Here is the site: www.slax.org. One thing that is better than knoppix is that the mouse doesn't "stick" like knoppix. In knoppix you can't really notice it unless your trying to make an anchor in gimp in a specific spot and you can't get to it because of the mouse tracking. Slax is good for just quickly starting linux for basic operations, ie internet, playing cds, and watching videos. It also autodetects TCP\IP settings, which is great. The only thing I couldn't get to work that I have tried is my printer. I tried typing xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx for my tcp\ip settings in the location box but it gave me an error. Overall I am sticking with Knoppix for my major linux use but for quick linux startups, I may use slax! If anyone has heard of or tried other linux live-cd distros, please tell me!

[fritzi93]

Thanks for the tip, Garibaldi. I DL'd it today while I was out and have been playing around with it all evening. Pretty cool.

Got one problem, though. My DSL modem is bridged, and when running Knoppix, PPPoE authentication fails, can't find anything in the help files. And Sprint DSL tech support must be staffed with morons. After I state the problem they send me instructions on how to bridge the modem! Too dumb to live.

Any ideas welcome.

[Garibaldi]

You can try to rescan for the TCP\IP settings inside Knoppix, I had to do that once because my internet wasnt working. You go to the K menu, and I think system or utilities, and the there is a program for detecting TCP\IP settings from the DCHP server. Let me start up knoppix and post the exact instructions for you. Just a sec.....

[Garibaldi]

I downloaded suse linux- Live Eval version last night and burned it to a disk. I booted it up, its great! It seems faster than Knoppix, I don't know why. The program list seems comparable to Knoppix, only the KDE window environment is a little difference. Also, as I am typing this it is highlighting in red mis-spelled words. I would also highly recommend trying SUSE LINUX LIVE-EVAL Version, you can find it here:
http://www.suse.com/us/private/download/ftp/live_eval_int.html
Also, I can't figure out how to make like a persistent home or save my settings in SUSE, could someone help or direct me to some documentation. There is some on the suse website but it seems geared toward all the suse distros, so it isn't much help. Thanks.

[Cobra]

What makes it an evaluation version? I thought all Linux distros were free.

[bazooka]

The distros are free but the support is not.

[Garibaldi]

What makes it an evaluation version? I thought all Linux distros were free.

I was wondering about that too. I hope it only means that the live-cd version is good for evaluating suse. I heard someone say that the live-cd version of mandrake, called mandrakemove wouldn't let you save your persistent home or config files. Also, I can't get suse to recognize my hdd or 2 other cdroms, 1 is via usb and the other is internal.

[bazooka]

Usually the distro is free, but the companies charge for the manuals and the support.

That is why you will find them for sale in stores.

[Cobra]

I did wonder - I spotted a lime green SuSe box for sale for £69.99 once. That's almost as much as Windows XP Home OEM.

[fritzi93]

You can try to rescan for the TCP\IP settings inside Knoppix, I had to do that once because my internet wasnt working. You go to the K menu, and I think system or utilities, and the there is a program for detecting TCP\IP settings from the DCHP server. Let me start up knoppix and post the exact instructions for you. Just a sec.....

Thanks, guy. If I could just find WHERE to go to enter the settings manually, I think I'd be home free. The GUI is so damn obliging and helpful, it can't bear for me to do it myself. :P I'll try again this evening, don't know my way around the OS yet.

[Garibaldi]

It looks like the live-cd distro of suse is an eval- look here:
ftp://ftp-linux.cc.gatech.edu/pub/suse/suse/i386/live-cd-9.1/README.txt
You can still use it as an os but you cannot install it to the hd. I guess it should work fine for just a live-cd, what do you think?

[Garibaldi]

Thanks, guy. If I could just find WHERE to go to enter the settings manually, I think I'd be home free. The GUI is so damn obliging and helpful, it can't bear for me to do it myself. I'll try again this evening, don't know my way around the OS yet.

I'm really sorry this took so long! I got distracted with suse linux. Anyway, go to the K menu, Knoppix, over to Network/Internet/ and finally to Network Card Configuration. This will bring up a terminal window. It will then ask if you use a DCHP server, you probably do so say yes. It will detect the settings and close. Then try the internet, this should resolve it. Otherwise you may have to unbridge your connection. If I may ask, why is it bridged?

[fritzi93]

Well, it's bridged because the geniuses at Sprint couldn't figure out any other way to get me connected to their DSL service. And THAT took several days on the phone trying to get it resolved with several techs, being put on hold for at least 8 hours total. Long enough a couple times for the batteries on my cordless to die, and having to start over. At the time, my computer was one month old. I have no technical expertise concerning DSL modems, but I wonder what kinda crap they gave me (part of the deal was they supplied the modem), and if a new modem might fix the problem.

However, I got a good deal, for which I had to sign up for one year. When time's up, I'm switching to cable and gunna tell Sprint to f**k themselves.

Thanks for the reply, I'll get it sorted eventually. Hey, tried all the variations mentioned so far. Damn Small Linux really is bare-bones. Knoppix, on the other hand is amazing considering it all fits on one CD! Next I'll have a look at SUSE. This is a lot of fun.

[bazooka]

Damn Small Linux really is bare-bones.

That is why it is called Damn Small Linux.

It was designed to fit on business card cd's.