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Is there a Linux distro where installation is not suck?

M

Mark R

Diamond Member
I've been experimenting with trying to learn Linux so tried to install a few distros. However, my first two have been failures. I've never used Linux before, so I'm a real nübi, but still.

First I tried debian 'lenny'. Install to a 4th HD. Install goes ok. But no boot - gets part way through the kernel boot the dies with a panic. Can't fix it - nit even grub cmd line can boot it. It's totally hosed.
Reinstall with no other drives. This time the system comes up. Cool. Put the other drives back in. Panic time - no root fs. At least this time GRUB could fix that. Then it was manually edit the grub conf to boot via UUID.

Verdict: debian - epic fail

ubuntu server 9.10 next.
Painless install. System comes up first time. Boots by UUID by default. nice.
But wait, where are all my server processes? So, I sort out the samba conf, and samba comes up.
Reboot - no samba services, even though it's running!!
Turns out that there's a bug in ubuntu which means that samba fails to start at boot time.
Have to bodge together a script to wait a while after boot and try again.

Nice - an out if box installation where a core component doesn't work.

Verdict: ubuntu - fail

so, the question is, where next?
 
If you are experimenting, why not save yourself time and effort and install it into a VM. Much easier to clean up after if things go sour.
 
Start by downloading virtual box.
http://www.virtualbox.org/
That will allow you to install any linux distribution into a virtual machine while still using windows. Performance is very good and even 3d is supported.

If you want a linux that will likely work out of the box for most people, try puppy linux. It isn't the prettiest and doesn't have all the eye candy but I have found it to work well on everything I ever tried.
http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=Overview%20and Getting Started.htm
 
yinan said:
If you are experimenting, why not save yourself time and effort and install it into a VM. Much easier to clean up after if things go sour.
Click to expand...

This.

NEVER dual boot on your production system, just to experiment. Install windows in a VM, then try a dual boot there, if you want to play with that portion. I would just do a direct install to start off. The beauty with a VM is you don't have to worry about partitioning or losing data etc.
 
Mark R said:
I've been experimenting with trying to learn Linux so tried to install a few distros. However, my first two have been failures. I've never used Linux before, so I'm a real nübi, but still.

First I tried debian 'lenny'. Install to a 4th HD. Install goes ok. But no boot - gets part way through the kernel boot the dies with a panic. Can't fix it - nit even grub cmd line can boot it. It's totally hosed.
Reinstall with no other drives. This time the system comes up. Cool. Put the other drives back in. Panic time - no root fs. At least this time GRUB could fix that. Then it was manually edit the grub conf to boot via UUID.

Verdict: debian - epic fail

ubuntu server 9.10 next.
Painless install. System comes up first time. Boots by UUID by default. nice.
But wait, where are all my server processes? So, I sort out the samba conf, and samba comes up.
Reboot - no samba services, even though it's running!!
Turns out that there's a bug in ubuntu which means that samba fails to start at boot time.
Have to bodge together a script to wait a while after boot and try again.

Nice - an out if box installation where a core component doesn't work.

Verdict: ubuntu - fail

so, the question is, where next?
Click to expand...

Way to go in with an open mind...
 
I'd first ask what hardware your trying to run this on, and are you downloading the right linux distro for it. Not all linux kernels are created equal.
 
Well neither of the stated issues are kernel issues, but they are pretty small issues that aren't hard to fix.
 
Mint 8
Open Suse

Those and many others have improved tremendously over past 1-2 years. You should have seen those before...
 
I'm going to agree with everyone here and recommend that you do not try to dual boot on your main machine unless you're familiar with both operating systems. Pick up or put together a crappy second machine and tinker.
 
My experience with around 20 distros is that the ones which work better out of the box for new to Linux users are in this order:

1- Mandriva One Gnome 2010
2- Linux Mint 8 Gnome
3- PCLinuxOS Gnome
4- Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

Those ones usually bring more propietary drivers and lots of stuff that make it easier for the newbies.

Debian, Fedora, etc are more naked and harder for beginners. Slackware, Gentoo, ArchLinux, CentOS, etc are for advanced users. Perhaps better and faster as they say, but for advanced users.

I personally doin't like Mandriva because of the poor rendering of the fonts (look ugly) and the themes by default (ugly like hell). It also is sort of heavy and slow for having lots of software (I've heard). It make sit easier to run well in every computer but also probably slower. The same applies a bit to PCLinuxOS, which is a distro based on Mandriva. Ubuntu is my choice but since it didn't work for you I suggest to try Linux Mint 8 first (Gnome desktop is always lighter than KDE in older computers) and then try Mandriva and then PCLinuxOS.

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu but improved with some features and propietary drivers, so it runs better out of the box. Ugly like hell as well despite they say it is elegant (lol).

Anyway, Linux is crap. Only worth to enjoy experimenting but not a real alternative to Windows or Mac. Mostly the programs you'll find in Linux are crap, worse than the OS itself, which is terribly complicated in many ways but has other advantages. Of course the linux fans will deny it but that's their way of life. Just ignore them.
 
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