Hi. I've been a windows user for 7 years or so, and along the line have heard of Linux quite a few times. However, when I was newbie to even Windows, I got hold of a Linux CD, incorrectly installed it and was left with no operating system.
This pretty much scared me away from Linux for ages, until now.
Yes, now I'm fed up with Windows crashing all the time, and I've decided to move to Linux. And make it my sole operating system. As I speak, I the first Mandrake 9.1 .iso downloading (ever so slowly, at 2.7KB/s), and I've decided to read up all I can about Linux before I install it, as you probably guessed.
Anyway, I need to bestow you with all with a load of potentially boring and frustrating questions, and I'd be very grateful if you'd anwser them for me. And by the way, I added my system specs at the bottom.
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Onto the first question. I use AOL as my ISP (nuff said). And, after asking AOL's technical support if there's any way I could connect through Linux (I knew it was VERY unlikely), they said no.
I did a search on google for 'conneting to aol on linux' and got some information about PengAOL. I downloaded a copy of it from sourceforge (the tar.gz one), and had a skim through the documentation that came with it. It says something about compiling. I've compiled with dos-mode compilers before, so it should be easy enough with a different compiler.
I also did a search on these (and a few other) Linux forums, and there's a few people who've also tried PengAOL and needed help, but they've never received any anwsers.
Have there been any sucess stories with PengAOL before? And will it work in Mandrake-Linux?
Also, I did a lot of searching in Mandrake-Linux compatability databases to see if my hardware worked with Mandrake. However, none of my searches turned up with any anwsers, so maybe it's broke or I'm just doing something really stupid. The two things I'm most worried about with compatiblity is if Mandrake will support my Netodragon modem, and my Nvidia Geoforce 256. Is there anyone with these peices of hardware that can use Mandrake?
That's all. And I bet you're thinking, "you didn't have to turn two questions into a novel." -- at least, I'm thinking that.
||System Specs
[NB: When I say certified by windows, I mean it's been 'digitally signed' by Microsoft Windows XP Publisher]
-SYSTEM SPECS-
Current OS: Microsoft Windows XP, Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack One.
AMD Duron(tm) Processor
1.31GHz
256MB of RAM
HARD DRIVE: FUJITSU MPF3102AT (Capacity 9766MB)
(I will be adding a hefty 80GB harddrive to the computer soon)
2 partitions. Partition 1 (C
has the WinXP installation on it and pretty much everything else, and Partition 2 (which seems to have no disk letter yet), is going to be used for Linux, I hope. It hasn't got a file system yet, either. So it's genreally empty, and it's 7970MB big.
DISPLAY: NVIDIA GeForce 256 (Microsoft Corporation)
Located at PCI bus 1, device 0, function 0.
Driver Version 2.9.5.8, Certified By Windows.
CD-ROM: Goldstar CD-RW CED-8080B
Located at Location 0.
Driver Version 5.1.2535.0, Certified By Windows.
FLOPPY: Floppy Disk Drive
Located on the Standard Floppy Disk Controller.
Driver Version 5.1.2600.0, Certified By Windows.
KEYBOARD: Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Location: Plugged into keyboard port
Driver Version 5.1.2600.1106, Certified By Windows.
MOUSE: PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Location: Plugged into PS/2 Mouse Port
Driver Version 5.1.2600.0, Certified By Windows.
There's also some 'advanced settings':
Sample Rate: 100 reports/second
Wheel Detection: Assume wheel is present
Input Buffer Length: 100 packets
Fast Init is ON (ticked).
MODEM: Netodragon 56K Voice Modem
Location: PCI Slot 1 (PCI bus 0, device 8, function 0)
Driver Version 2.92.4.300, Certified By Windows.
(Driver Date 11/29/2001)
There's alot of modem settings here, as you would expect. I don't think they matter, if someone really does want them, just say in the thread and I'll post them up.
MONITOR: Plug And Play Monitor
(Standard Monitor Type)
Location: on NVIDIA Geoforce 256 (Microsoft Corporation)
Driver Version 5.1.2001.0, Certified By Windows.
Er, and if it's of any use to you, studioworks 57T5 is written on the front.
NETWORK ADAPTERS:
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Ethernet NIC
Location: PCI Slot 5 (PCI bus 0, device 12, function 0)
Driver Version 5.396.530.2001, Certified By Windows.
In the advanced section:
Line Speed/Duplex Mode: Auto Mode
Network Address: Not Present
Receive Buffer Size: 64K bytes
VIA Compatable Fast Ethernet Adapter
Location: PCI bus 0, device 18, function 0.
[This device is disabled. Code 22]
Driver Version 2.66.0.290, Certified By Windows.
SOUND CARD: Because I don't have the sound drivers installed, it isn't telling me anything useful. But I do know it's by Avance Audio. But that's all I can remember of the top of my head.
If someone made me type that out all again, I would scream. Really, I would.
Thanks in advance,
Warolex,
The self proclaimed master of idiocy.
EDIT> I changed a few words at the start. Nothing important, really. And now, when I read my post, I sound like a totally boring old man. =/
EDIT2> Two edits within the space of 5 minutes. I really do need to hire a professional proofreader for my posts. It changed...another few words.
Linear Mode
