OSNews

Greetings all, get a fresh cup of coffee, I'ma gonna vent:
I'm pretty new to Linux, downloaded some Distro's (.ISO),
burned 'em, tried 'em. Only a few found my sound, video, and Lan. I have a buncha computers (bout 15). Found Win98, 98SE, and ME, pretty easy to network.......fairly easy to set up sound, video, and MODEM. MODEM MODEM MODEM
Bought a SS50 that had WinXP(Home) installed, it dint like networking with my Win98 so I dumped it. They're either WITH me or AGIN' me.....
I am semi-retired and a computer tinkerer. Build most from scratch.
I have learned to love Partition Magic, Norton Utilities, Ultimate Boot Disk, Gdisk, Ghost, ZoneAlarm, AD-aware, Aspy32, AVG(anti-virus), RegCleaner, TWEAKUI, X-Setup, Desktop Architech, Rain, Crazy Browser, Mozilla, MealMaster, MBprobe, Nero, scroll mouse and trackballs, LCD panels and smaller form factor computers, www.pricewatch.com , Anandtech forums, Tom's hardware, www.distrowatch.com , and eBay. Next computer I build will prolly be a SpaceWalker SS40 w/AMD 2100+ or wherever the best price break is, 17"LCD, DVDRW/CDRW.
Don't like many self-starting programs, trackers, or phone home programs ....do like self starting desktops.
Used to be really good in DOS about writing batch files and menus and even some programs, even some with graphics.
Through many operating crashes I learned that I didn't want the OS to set the whole hard drive up as one partition. I keep system critical files and utilities on C: and big stuff on D: Winamp... ..Mealmaster.. ..Map n' Go..and my Download directory. Also put .ISO's there until I can burn them. Keep all drives less than 8.4gb so 4k blocks are used. My typical drive size is usually <5gb. Faster scandisk if something goes RONG!
My E: drive is usually a full backup of my C: drive.
F: and G: are to play around with (Nuxes) and keep Ghost backups (compressed images of other drives, especially C:)
YOU DO KEEP BACKUPS DON'T YOU!!!!!!!
I backup C: to E: about twice a week (3 minutes). I make a new Ghost image of C: about once every two weeks (20minutes). I copy the image to a different harddrive (kept seperated) at least once a month (20-25 min). The only files I have ever lost are a few emails!!!!!! System corupted after getting them from ISP..
I KNOW BACKUP!!!! I also know exactly where my emails and new data files and downloads are and can sync across a LAN in a matter of minutes......I don't lose no stinkin emails now!!!
Even with firewall and virus checkers my C: got corrupted occasionally (not lately), but I can be back up and running at 99 and 44/100 % (just like IVORY soap) in 30 min.
I learned I could get drivers for most things off the net, not all worked, but a lot did. Sound cards and Modems sometimes were hard to set up. Linux drivers are harder.
Since I've tried to start using Linux (a really humbling experience. .when the installation dumps you into a terminal (BSD.Slackware).. ..and doesn't even ask "Where would you like to go today?"). I don't know, how about for a walk???
Well to my Destop for starters..........
I keep trying Linux Distro's and not a single one ever found an internal (especially onboard) modem. So I bought an External serial modem and most will let me use that. But, some of my BookPC's and really small computers don't have serial ports????? In Windows I
can use a USB Lan and a USB modem, haven't really tried them with Linux yet, but I'm not holding my breath. But I still will try them.
If anybody really wants to open the flood gates for LINUX, the answer is "Get them freakin Winmodems to work in Linux.. ..PcTel. ..Motorola ACM-?...Lucent...Ambient...Conextant.ETC." There are millions and millions of BookPC's out there waiting......
The new Mandrake is COOL. Still trying it out.
I haven't fooled around much with my DSL and Linux yet, but I will.
I have been able to get highspeed internet on some linux by seting up my main machine (Win98 on AMD1700+ as a Proxy Server and telling the linux browsers to use the proxy server). But once I did that with Lycoris (which BTW found video sound LAN), it refused to let me use the 56K dialup anymore...tells me it already has a route to the internet and It couldn't find anything in my secrets file that would let the server authenticate. ..boom. .disconnect. What the heck is that? Use ta work????? I don't have no secrets??? I know it has something to do with file permissions???? and logons and passwords
Lycoris is COOL, I'll hack some more on it.....
Downloaded ELX....that's COOL, too. Found my onboard sound but my video was buggered (no I'm not Aussie) so it gave me a terminal. I dint give up tried installX, XF86Setup, startX, configureX, Xconf, Xconfig, and even frigX...no luck. Went to my Win machine, got on the internet and searched for just a couple of hours....and ran across an instruction....Xconfigurator......now why dint I know that....cause I'm a NOOB. AND I DINT RTFM!!! But I dint have the FM!!! I got two FM's on order now. In the Army that stood for Field Manual..but I don't think that is exactly what the Geeks mean?
ELX up and running, Sir! Great I din't even try to configure my LAN yet... Setup root password,user,user pasword....great.
Setup KPPP with ISP info, found External modem easily....Started KPPP......it wanted my root password for permission OK??? But WHY??? At least it let me proceed!
I gotta learn more about PAM ...that bitch.
So I goes to WWW.grc.com to see what others can see....my netbios was wide open, ports closed...not stealth (bummer). Oh shoot fire Lordy Mercy. Gonna have to find me a firewall......hunt's it up....it's "firestarter".....
I forget if I used the Built in update thingy or downloaded it manually...whatever but when I try to run it I have to have been logged in initially as root or PAM bitch slaps me and says I don't have permission to run it, and it can't find a log file. But, logged in as root, started KPPP, then firestarter, then Mozilla, then WWW.grc.com ...then I probed netbios and probed ports and got STEALTH.. .... COOL ....only problem is now my bookmarks from user din't get transfered to Mozilla run as root, and probably everything I try to download will not necessarily be available to user if I download as root????? Or will it....or does it all depend on PAM's decisions??? Hope PAM is in the FM!!! I want to kick her ass. Found a little about Pam in man and info...but just enuf to make me dangerous or dangerouser.
Seems to me like I saw a new offer for Lindows that let's you download current and will give you final release plus two years of Click 'n Run for $99??? Am I lexdixic what or? Plus thirty days tryout?
Plus family installs on multi-computers...no per seat blah blah.
I prolly shud wait until I get the FM's, cause I AM gonna hack this permissions thingy.....but what the hey......I'm gonna try it (LINDOWS).
Got a PCI modem ordered that is supposed to be DSP and do LINUX, we'll see. I'd like to meet the dude that came up with that winmodem crap, he needs a SKITA...(read Swift Kick In The A$$)
REDNECK SEMI-HACKER NOOB