Thinking about installing Linux but I know jack squat about programming

[axelfox]

I should even try it? Which flavor would be best for me? My brother suggested Red Hat, but I'm thinking that I would have to compile the kernal to make it work with my hardware.

Check my rig below to see what I have.

I guess I can dual boot with my win2k rig and see how it goes.

 

[AndyHui]

Try KNOPPIX. No need for any programming if you just want to have a look at Linux.

It all runs straight from the CD without any need for installation.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

redhat 8 is extremely impressive. you should have little to no problems hardware-detection wise, and you certainly should not have to compile a kernel. also note that compiling a kernel requires no programming skills at all.

 

[Doh!]

If you can file your own tax return, you have more than the required reading and comprehension skills to install/run linux. There are tons of help/guide websites for installng/running linux. Use google and if necessary, this forum is always here. I still use windows but the time I've invested in learning linux (still a newbie) is well worth spent.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Try KNOPPIX. No need for any programming if you just want to have a look at Linux.

It all runs straight from the CD without any need for installation.

I was going to recommend Knoppix or the SuSE Live Eval cd.

 

[axelfox]

hmm...I don't even file my own tax return..🙂

 

[oniq]

You don't necesserily need to know programming to install Linux. I installed Linux waaaaaaaaaaay back without knowing almost anything about computers. There are so many informative websites and communities that will be more than happy to assist you in installing on your rig. I currently run Gentoo Linux (one of the more "difficult" distributions), but I'd recommend Mandrake as it is a piece of cake to install. It will be a learning experience, anyway, and you will come away with a lot. Enjoy!

 

[Abzstrak]

your hardware listed is very generic and normal and therefore shouldn't be any problem... I'd suggest redhat 8 as well, pretty easy install from what I recall... and you'll need xinerama for the dual head, but thats included I think...

If you can install XP then you can install redhat...

 

[Toxic]

If you can install windows, installing RH, Mandrake or SuSE should be no problem.

You might want to check the hardware compatibility list for each distro to see what's supported by each distro (they are all fairly similar), and just pick one that supports all or most of your hardware.

I didn't see a printer listed, but if you have a Lexmark and it's not one that lex provides a driver for, you are going to have limited to no success with it. I understand alot of the HP and Epson printers are supported. I'm looking at an Epson for my system right now.

 

[Paulson]

Mandrake is very easy to learn... I knew nothing about linux before but now I know a lot and to me it's great (use it as a server)...

🙂