So, this guy on my AIM list wants to install linux.

[notfred]

I tried to persuade him not to, but he's going to do it anyway. He really doesn't know much about computers in general, and I had to walk him through the steps to figure out if his windows XP install was using DHCP or not. Anway, I told him that to repartition his hard drive for two OSes, he'd need to reboot, and he responded with:

cluelessuser: reboot?
cluelessuser: like restart?

Ugh... Why must he try and install linux, I know he's gonna keep IM'ing me about it.

 

[The Stigenator]

why dont you just direct him to www.knoppix.de and have him download an ISO and burn it..

it will be easier.. and now he doenst have to install it, it boots off the cd..

 

[slycat]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
why dont you just direct him to <a href="http://www.knoppix.de">www.knoppix.de</A> and have him download an ISO and burn it..

it will be easier.. and now he doenst have to install it, it boots off the cd..

exactly...tell him to do that before he does irreparable damage...and unless ur real buddy-like..
i'd make clear no tech support..or ur gonna be uber screwed.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

AIM - Options - Block User

- M4H

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
AIM - Options - Block User

- M4H

Agreed, unless you have some absolutely compelling reason not to. He doesn't meet the minimum IQ standard to run Linux.

 

[Mr N8]

That's crazy. If he doesn't know what he's doing, he could fvsk his boot loader.

Fortunately, though, if he follows most of the default install options (redhat or mandrake current versions) he should manage to do this. They both will auto partition his HDD, and leave XP in tact. Both also have NTFS support, now, and should auto-mount his NTFS partitions. The bad part with the drivers. Most are available, but if they're not, things can be a pain.

 

[BatmanNate]

You should have encorouraged him. He would not be able to get back on AIM to bother you once he hosed his system.

 

[edmicman]

heh check out that knoppix.de link

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
AIM - Options - Block User

- M4H

Or better yet, keep WARNING him up to 100%

 

[Platypus]

Send him to where he can get help trying something new instead of belittling him on a message board.

 

[notfred]

Corporate Recreation, would you like me to give him your AIM screen name?

clueless user: the hard drive's partitioned
AIM: clueless user has logged off
AIM: clueless user has logged on
TylerKaraszewski: cool.
clueless user: damn linux
TylerKaraszewski: heh, how's it going?
TylerKaraszewski: having problems installing it?
clueless user: uh
clueless user: yea
clueless user: drive's partitioned
clueless user: but i can't get linux to boot off the disc
clueless user: i downloaded the files and burnt them right on
clueless user: do they have to be converted or something?
TylerKaraszewski: What did you do, make a regular disc for files and jsut put the .iso file on there?
clueless user: yea
clueless user: no good?
TylerKaraszewski: I don't wwant to sound mean, but you really have no idea what you're doing with this whole thing.
clueless user: thanks
clueless user: no prob..i know i don't
clueless user: gar walked me through the whole partitioning thing
TylerKaraszewski: An .iso is a disc image, it has to be buned as an image, and the resulting disc will be an exact copy of the dics it was created from, with lots of files on it.
clueless user: ok
clueless user: and can this be done?
TylerKaraszewski: Of course it can, why else would they distribute the .iso files?

How you do it exactly depends on what CD burning software you're using.

 

[amdskip]

I found it easiest to install redhat using a floppy disk using the linux boot disk creation thing.

 

[Ameesh]

linux is ownage

 

[pyonir]

tell him in order to install linux, he has to first uninstall AIM.

 

[agnitrate]

I have the best idea ever.

Give them NuclearFusi0n's AIM.

pwned.

-silver

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: agnitrate
I have the best idea ever.

Give them NuclearFusi0n's AIM.

pwned.

-silver

LMAO. that would be EEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLL!!! :evil:

 

[Nitemare]

have him fdisk and then remove the system partition, then you probably won't have to worry about him for a while

:evil:

 

[geno]

I told him that to repartition his hard drive for two OSes

Mistake numero uno - you gave him instruction!

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: agnitrate
I have the best idea ever.

Give them NuclearFusi0n's AIM.

pwned.

-silver

lol yes!

BTW if he followed your advice, he'd stay ignorant. So the best thing to do is ignore you and just try it. It's how people learn new things

 

[Ogg]

Originally posted by: pyonir
tell him in order to install linux, he has to first uninstall AIM.

 

Just give him a copy of Windows Server 2003 and tell him it's Linux. He will probably will never figure out you duped him.

 

[MegaloManiaK]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Send him to where he can get help trying something new instead of belittling him on a message board.

I have to agree with you there.

How else is the clueless user going to get a clue.

And im sure nobody ever had to explain .iso files to you.

Not to be a jerk or anything but people who down others because they need help with the computer do not help anyone. Youd rather make fun of him than help him. At least he wants to try it, if you dont want to help just say so instead of belittleing the guy.

For the most part people are clueless because they've never tried to learn. Making fun of people for having to ask questions doesn't make them any less clueless.

On the other hand. IF his computer is so imporant his life is going to end if he has to reinstall windows then that is a different story.

 

[gwlam12]

why is he on ur buddy list? you refer to him as the guy on your buddy list, so is he not your friend?

 

[notfred]

Yeah, he's a friend, but he's bad at computers. And I realize that everyone needs to learn about ISOs sometime, but saying "How does an ISO work? let's install linux!" is like saying "How do I change my oil? Let's build an engine!"

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Originally posted by: notfred
Yeah, he's a friend, but he's bad at computers. And I realize that everyone needs to learn about ISOs sometime, but saying "How does an ISO work? let's install linux!" is like saying "How do I change my oil? Let's build an engine!"

Although I do not have experience with Linux yet, I am sure thats a great analogy.