Laurel Amberdine wrote:

> On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 02:01:24 +0000 (UTC), Gregory L. Hansen
> <glhansen@steel.ucs.indiana.edu> wrote:
>>
>> I got a cheap computer from eBay for a Linux box, a Kayak XAs, monitor
>> cables finally arrived so I could see what I'm doing. I got Mandrake
>> from
>> eBay, a 7 CD set for around $5 including shipping. Couldn't figure out
>> why it was so cheap.
>>
>> Installation was fun and easy for the first disk. When it said to insert
>> the second disk it just hung there, and eventually said there was an
>> error
>> installing some package, continue? Yes. Error installing another
>> package, continue? Yes. Eventually I gave up, started over clicking
>> "cancel" to skip CD 2. It said to insert International CD 3, so I stuck
>> in the International CD which was my CD 7, and it didn't like that. So I
>> tried my CD 3 and it didn't like that. Eventually the install finished
>> with just the first disk.
>>
>> Maybe that's why it was so cheap. There's still stuff on the other
>> disks, but it's as if the Install disk were made for something else.
>
> I've had a few installations go like that. I bought some Debian disks
> where only the installer was readable. It loaded up, partitioned my hard
> drive, then couldn't read anything else, leaving me with a lovely blank
> partitioned drive.
>
>> If I have a working setup, I can add stuff later. But my monitor is
>> stuck in crappy mode, the 640x480 strobe light.
>
> Ack!!
>
>> It's an AuroraVision that
>> doesn't appear in the hardware list, but I'd entered the settings and it
>> told me I'd have to restart GNOME before the setting take effect. Which
>> is kind of frustrating because on my Mac I enter a resolution and refresh
>> rate and it's set immediately, and if the screen goes wonky it resets in
>> a
>> few seconds. I know immediately that something is happening and whether
>> it worked. But when I restarted Gnome the settings didn't take effect, I
>> still had a cramped strobe light. I've found a few places to enter
>> monitor settings, but it didn't seem to take in any of them.
>
> Setting up X can be really complicated. I have no idea how Mandrake does
> it.
>
>> My modem settings didn't seem to take, either. It's an ISA modem that
>> came with an Optiplex PII 233 MHz, however old that is. There are no
>> markings on the modem that I know how to relate to a brand or
>> manufacturer, but the computer said it detected a modem.
>
> If it's a Plug-n-Play modem you'll probably need the isapnp tools to give
> your modem the magic wiggly bits to know what it's supposed to do. Or
> something. (I haven't done that in years. PCI is nice.)
>
>> But my ISP
>> information doesn't seem to take. I enter the phone number, user name,
>> password, DNS servers, etc., and test the connection and nothing happens.
>> Then I go back to the networking wizard and most or all of the fields are
>> blank, or all but the first few digits of the phone number were gone.
>> Weird.
>>
>> What's going on there?
>
> Hard to say. One of the files that didn't get installed right might be
> one that is needed to store the information you're trying to enter. And
> getting the modem to work is a whole other issue, of course.
>
>> I'd like to think I could spend $50 on "real" CDs from the Mandrake store
>> and all the problems would be solved, but then I imagine spending $50 and
>> being exactly where I am now, except $50 poorer.
>
> Two questions: do you specifically need *Mandrake*, and do you have a CD
> burner on your Mac?
>
> You might want to consider Debian, which can be downloaded and installed
> completely over the internet. Having a CD burner will make it easier, but
> I've done it from floppies. You can get a minimal install going with a
> few floppies, then get your modem going (with, ah, luck and persistence)
> then download the rest of the system.
>
> I've also got copies of SuSE 8.1, Redhat, er... 7.2, 7.3, 8-something, and
> maybe 9 around, along with Debian "Woody". I could make copies of any of
> these and mail them to you.
>
>
To get Mandrake working, you need CD2. If you were unable to install files
from it, there is no wonder that things aren't behaving. Were the disks
for a Mac? I doubt very much whether you would finish up "exactly where
you are" by purchasing reliable CDs. What version of Mandrake is it? The
latest is 9.2 - just out. If you are just starting out with Linux, I would
advise you to take up Laurel's offer. Play around with a distro - even an
old edition - and get a feel for the features you want.

HTH,

Doug.
--
Registered Linux User No. 277548.
They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place. My typing is
about as accurate. Apologies for any typos that slip in. - Doug.