Which version of Linux

[BlueWeasel]

Also, make sure you define a root (/) partition as this is the one the linux OS resides on and boots from. You'll need to format the root partition as ext2 or ext3.

 

[ebaycj]

and you pretend you're not a noob.

linux itself is complicated and much less refined than windows. period. so starting from the 'advanced' level in windows is basically like the 'pre-school' of linux. not to mention that you're making the whole process much more complicated by attempting to dual boot.

if you REALLY want to learn / experience linux, put your money where your mouth is, and buy a $200 machine to run it on. it's a much better solution.

oh, and gaming on linux is no different than gaming on windows. so unless you want to limit your game choices and hardware compatibility (3d-card-wise, linux almost always trails windows for driver compatibility with the newest cards), just stick to windows.

ebaycj

 

[ebaycj]

PSA: free partitioned space is not the same as free unpartitioned space. if you did not already know this, you are not anywhere near 'advanced', and you're probably getting in way over your head.

 

[ebaycj]

Pity post:

i'm assuming your 4g drive is your windows os drive.

if so, what you need to do is backup the 35 gb of data on your 116gb partition to cd's (or another hd). then you need to delete that partition in disk manager, and then create a new partition that is say, 64gb. format it ntfs, give it the same drive letter you had for your 116gb drive, and copy your data back to that. this way, you will have a 64gb windows drive (with 35gb used) and 52gb of unpartitioned space at the end of your drive. whatever linux distro you choose (mandrake is good) will create new partitions in this unpartitioned space during the setup process, and install itself on them.

lilo or grub will be installed on your mbr and will give you a nice little menu upon boot to choose which os you want to go into. you choose windows, it will boot as it always has, off of the primary partition. you choose linux, it boots off of the linux partition(s), and send you into linux.

good luck, it sounds like you'll need it.

ebaycj

 

[Gamingphreek]

and you pretend you're not a noob.

Well no. I know there is a difference between unpartitioned unallocated space as compared to partitioned space. However it simply said free space, it didn't say anything about unpartitioned or not.

Additionally i might have been unclear about my drive. I have one 120Gb Drive in 2 partitions. On partition is 4gig and is documents and backup files and stuff. The other partition is the OS and all of it stuff.

The problem is i let my Windows Disk get scratched up and now it wont format. So i have to slipstream with SP2 get it formatted then switch back to the other disk. This is because the DVD Software (5.1 support) that came with my motherboard needs to be installed before SP2 or else it somehow thinks it is unqualified machine.

All in all i guess my best bet is to completely wipe my drive and create 3 partitions: 4gig (DOCS); 80gig (Windows); 40gig (Linux).

I thought this could work just like a dual boot of Windows. Hey im learning

-Kevin

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

and you pretend you're not a noob.

Well no. I know there is a difference between unpartitioned unallocated space as compared to partitioned space. However it simply said free space, it didn't say anything about unpartitioned or not.

That's because we assume a minimal level of sense, common or not. If you need free space to install an OS that does not usually work inside of some crappy closed filesystem, we mean you need FREE UNPARTITIONED SPACE. Use that greyware, it's there for a reason.

Additionally i might have been unclear about my drive. I have one 120Gb Drive in 2 partitions. On partition is 4gig and is documents and backup files and stuff. The other partition is the OS and all of it stuff.

The problem is i let my Windows Disk get scratched up and now it wont format. So i have to slipstream with SP2 get it formatted then switch back to the other disk. This is because the DVD Software (5.1 support) that came with my motherboard needs to be installed before SP2 or else it somehow thinks it is unqualified machine.

All in all i guess my best bet is to completely wipe my drive and create 3 partitions: 4gig (DOCS); 80gig (Windows); 40gig (Linux).

I thought this could work just like a dual boot of Windows. Hey im learning

-Kevin

Create a partition for linux in linux.

 

[andyhrn]

Install linux booter in "root" directory on linux partition.Get bootloader for Windows (ex."BootUs" etc.) and install to MBR or 1 track of Windows. Everything will be done automaticly. I hade a bad experiense with linux writing loader in Windows MBR.
Some distro info:
Mandrake is easy but you have to pay membership fee (24$/year) for updates. It will update the system automaticly but in my opinion will compromise security (the same like in Windows "autoupdate").
Commercial deskOS (you pay for free Linux):
Linspire: can't install any softwear.Only from Linspire web site.Subscription is 4.95$/m or 49$/year.
Linspire running ONLY in admin mode and it's crazy.No security at all.
Xandros: 2/2.5 can't detect some hardwear (ex. integrated Video/Sound/USB. It's been fixed in 3.0 version.). Give you only limited acces to Debian depository. 3.0 will not install until you remove and overwrite Linux partition. Doesn't supports some A/V codecs.
SUSE: I "have a dream" to see SUSE on my display but my computer freezes on boot. Some people have the same problem(SUSE
forums).
Ubuntu : where are automounted partitions and install/update package?
My favorite: SimpleMepis. It's doing everything flawless and automatic. I haven't notice any problems. A huge softwear depository and no restriction. It's a really FREE. Support more of the codecs( even rare ones). I have only couple problem: can't write ISO and download files more than~100Mb (give "error" and I have to "Resume")

 

[n0cmonkey]

There is no Windows MBR, it's just the MBR. And LILO works just fine there.

autoupdate does not compromise security, it promotes it.

 

[andyhrn]

I assumed that it was a "Windows MBR" due a FIXMBR is a DOS command (when Linux kill Windows).And I haven't see too many distro with LILO. Most using GRAB.
Permanent "Autoupdate" links to "root" directory and I don't see how it "promote security" keeping OS core open to network.(So what the difference Linux-Windows?)

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: andyhrn
I assumed that it was a "Windows MBR" due a FIXMBR is a DOS command (when Linux kill Windows).And I haven't see too many distro with LILO. Most using GRAB.

It's just an MBR.

Permanent "Autoupdate" links to "root" directory and I don't see how it "promote security" keeping OS core open to network.(So what the difference Linux-Windows?)

Keeping your applications up to date is an important step in security. You do not keep your OS "open to the network," you connect to a system, authenticate, download appropriate patches, verify their validity, install the patches. Or, that's how it should be. As far as any other questions you asked, I don't understand. English is the only language I'm any good with, and today I'm sucking at that too.

 

[andyhrn]

Yes with SimleMepis it's up to user to decide when it' time for update. But in Mandrake "Autoupdate" is always "ON".
It's recomended to turn off "Autoupdate" in Windows for a better security but in Linux they promote it like a "greate future".
P.S. We are talking about "AUTOupdate" not a manual one.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: andyhrn
Yes with SimleMepis it's up to user to decide when it' time for update. But in Mandrake "Autoupdate" is always "ON".
It's recomended to turn off "Autoupdate" in Windows for a better security but in Linux they promote it like a "greate future".
P.S. We are talking about "AUTOupdate" not a manual one.

Understood. I have never ever ever ever recommended turning off autoupdate and promote the use of it. I use it.

Please provide a link to a good security source that recommends turning off autoupdate on desktops to promote security.

 

[andyhrn]

http://secunia.com/

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: andyhrn
http://secunia.com/

There is nothing on that page about autoupdate. Nothing returned from the search is relevent to autoupdate. PLEASE LINK SOMETHING RELEVANT OR STFU. Thanks.

EDIT: HAHA that site is such BS. The product page is the same as the "about advisory" page. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! :laugh:

EDIT2: Ahh, no, the main page didn't change, just the little menu on the left. Talk about unintuitive. :laugh:

 

[n0cmonkey]

secunia is biased (look at the products they're selling), pick something unbiased.

 

[andyhrn]

Like what? What is reliable site for you?

 

[andyhrn]

http://www.desktoplinux.com/
http://www.linuxforums.org/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/
etc.

 

[andyhrn]

http://www.securiteam.com/tools/6V00J1FBPS.html

 

[andyhrn]

Or just type in Google: Windows/Linux "autoupdate vulnerability".

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: andyhrn
http://www.desktoplinux.com/

Nothing about autoupdate. Not a security site.

http://www.linuxforums.org/

Nothing about autoupdate, not a security site, does not allow searching.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/
etc.

Not a security site, search didn't work, nothing about autoupdates.

A quick search of some major security sites didn't turn up anything definitive on how autoupdates hurts security. Please, feel free to link to something instead of just random sites.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: andyhrn
Or just type in Google: Windows/Linux "autoupdate vulnerability".

Tip: Try removing quotes from your search to get more results.


Your search - Windows/Linux "autoupdate vulnerability". - did not match any documents.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: andyhrn
http://www.securiteam.com/tools/6V00J1FBPS.html

That explained nothing, and was not even clear enough to determine whether there are vulnerabilities in autoupdate or not.

I found 1 item searching for "autoupdate vulnerability" and it pertained to Mac OS X. The "vulnerability" revolved around the fact there was no authentication or verification of the updates.

 

[andyhrn]

http://www.computerweekly.com/Article124962.htm
http://www.linuxquestions.org/-you have to regestred
http://www.desktoplinux.com/-check forums.
Read more about ActiveX vulnerability in Windows (no autoupdates w/o ActiveX).