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Getting Started in Linux


My Win 95 machine is showing signs of a crash to come. Win 95 was reinstalled but it is still a bit weird. I run my life and a couple of small businesses off it, so it's time to think of a real backup machine.

Talked the office into lending me a Pentium 100 with an Ethernet card and a monitor for the duration. I'm going to install dual boot Win and Linux 5.2 as I've always had a sneaking admiration for Unix and all reports say Linux is rock steady and doesn't crash.

Talked to my favourite technical sales guy about extra bits of hardware, for the loaner. Need a HD and CD ROM Drive, maybe a sound card. Bought the full boxed set of Linux 5.2 plus Powertools from Red Hat. Received it pronto and I'm reading the manual.

Started Links list below as I study up on what's out there. Most of what I need is in the manual that came with the boxed set. I have O'Reilly's "Unix in a Nutshell" and the CD that came with Powertools has all kinds of Library pages, so I don't have to spend a lot more money on glossy third party books - yet. With the help of my friend Johnny Yan and some really excellent advice from the TLUG (Toronto Linux User Group) mail list I got the 6 gig drive partitioned for a dual boot of Win9* and Linux.

Windows installed like a pig. I had the BIOS configured for about 1/10th the speed it was capable of *sigh*. Linux installed well in spite of this.  I watched with fascination as program names, some familiar to me from my Amiga days, scrolled by as they installed .

Created Root and User IDs and learned how to Log Off. Got X-Windows interface up and running. Played with the paint program from the CD and ran a few more things. Early days yet. Feel like I'm in a living crossword puzzle and if I get the right word or combination of words I get to run a program :-)