Help a noob move into linux

[LOUISSSSS]

i've been using winxp for 8 years and would like to move onto linux (any kind)

i will be using the machine for: CS:Source (+ a few other games, but would be happy playing onlt CS:S), watching movies, and general desktop usage.

i dunno how to install any drivers or anything with linux. where can i find drivers for my audigy2, my wireless USB, my webcam, my video card...etc

do i just install linux from a boot up cd like winxp and they will find and install drivers on their own??

this is my first time exploring into linux... so any help will do

 

[dig314]

I have ubuntu on a backup ANCIENT PIII rig.

Just go to www.ubuntu.com, download and burn the lastest ISO.
Boot from that CD. It SHOULD have an option to run ubuntu from the CD without installing ubuntu.
This should give you an idea of how well your hardware is recognized.


LiveCD will run WITHOUT installing:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

Dig

 

[Nothinman]

i dunno how to install any drivers or anything with linux. where can i find drivers for my audigy2, my wireless USB, my webcam, my video card...etc

Generally things just work out of the box because all of the drivers are already there. You might have to enable the restricted drivers for your video card to get 3D but that should be about it. As dig314 says, boot the LiveCD and see what works, that'll give you a good indication of how much work, if any, that you have to do.

do i just install linux from a boot up cd like winxp and they will find and install drivers on their own??

It works even better because just about every driver is included out of the box.

 

[KeypoX]

you will be real happy with your system in your signature with ubuntu.

 

[hans030390]

If you're doing any gaming, honestly, just don't do it. It is not worth the hassle.

Dual-booting is, however, acceptable.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i'm having trouble getting online with Ubuntu 8.10. my wireless usb device is: Linksys WUSB54GP.

can someone please help me get online? this is my first time using linux

 

[lxskllr]

Try this Wireless networking can be a real PITA with Linux. I also suggest getting familiar with Google. People aren't particularly helpful on the different Linux forums, and they don't like holding hands ;^)

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Does Linksys have any drivers for your comp?

 

[Nothinman]

People aren't particularly helpful on the different Linux forums, and they don't like holding hands ;^)

Depends on who you talk to, many people are fine helping people out. But you should at least try on your own at first because it's usually quicker since a lot of the time there's already a website, thread, etc from someone trying to do the same thing as you.

Does Linksys have any drivers for your comp?

You should almost never go to a manufacturer for Linux drivers, they're almost always crap and usually need you to compile them yourself.

You need to figure out what chipset you have and go from there, but Linksys likes to change chipsets without changing model numbers so you might have to do some digging. A little googling says that you might have a RaLink chipset so if Ubuntu ships those modules you might be set.

 

[hans030390]

I totally missed it when you said you'd be using wireless. It's a pain...another reason I wouldn't bother with it. I had to go through all the same things as you when I tried out Ubuntu...decided it wasn't worth it.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i dont know what chipset i have.

all i have is the model number: WUSB54GP (Linksys Wireless-G USB Adapter)

 

[ultra laser]

Given your computing needs, you're better off using windows.

 

[Nothinman]

Given your computing needs, you're better off using windows.

Why? From what I've read the source games run just fine under WINE and everything else he mentioned can be done natively in Linux.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

except i can't get my internet to work without drivers for my linksys WUSB54GP. does anyone know how to get this thing working?

 

[SickBeast]

Louis your WIFI drivers should be built in by default.

Try administration -- hardware drivers.

You should see an option to enable the driver in there.

Good luck! :beer:

 

[Maximilian]

If you really want unneccesary headache and frustration just smack your head with a hammer, no need to use linux. Stick with windows :thumbsup:

 

[nordloewelabs]

Originally posted by: Maximilian
If you really want unneccesary headache and frustration just smack your head with a hammer, no need to use linux. Stick with windows :thumbsup:

i hope for the day when Linux will be hassle-free as i believe competition is a good thing. but till then, i agree with the above poster. i have tried several distros and there's alsways some codec or hardware that makes me give up.

i have PuppyLinux installed, anyway....to toy around. i always suggest people to try to get familiar with Linux anyway, despite eventual headaches. however, to use it fulltime can be a challenge.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
except i can't get my internet to work without drivers for my linksys WUSB54GP. does anyone know how to get this thing working?

Look at ndiswrapper.

 

[VinDSL]

I tried several different flavors of Linux on my lappy, and the only one that worked out-of-the-box with my WiFi card/chip was openSUSE 11.1

You might give that a try for sh*t n' giggles...

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
Look at ndiswrapper.

I tried NDISwrapper several times with no luck, Never could find the magic combination! However...

I noticed NDISwrapper is running in openSUSE 11.1, so that's undoubtedly what Novell is using.

From reading around, I guess this is the most common complaint with Linux lappys - the WiFi doesn't work, and problems with the audio.

Having said that, everything is working correctly on my Toshiba lappy with openSUSE 11.1 KDE 4.

Haven't tried openSUSE 11.1 Gnome on my lappy, but it's working great on my desktop machine!

I'm not a betting man, but I'd be willing to wager that my WiFi would work with the Gnome distro too...

 

[ultra laser]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Given your computing needs, you're better off using windows.

Why? From what I've read the source games run just fine under WINE and everything else he mentioned can be done natively in Linux.

Well you've been lied to then.