Aqua-Soft Forumsi used smartftp to download from one of the mirrors Mandrake give and had no problems 
if you're putting it on a drive with XP, i'd defrag 2 or 3 times to be safe,
and use the checksum program 
fissy
Installing Linux On My Pc
Taha, try this: http://www.redhat.com/download/mirror.html I found a couple of fast mirrors on here. If this dosnt work well for you Ill send you the disks. Just e-mail me.
Hey MetalMusicAddict, where do you live? I'd love to score a copy of RH9. I can send you Slackware if you want.
ok.. I am re-tempted to try out Linux so I fired up SmartFTP!
So all you Linux gurus, I need your guidance. I don't know what the hell 'compiling a kernel', 'yaboot' or any other fancy jargon is - so I'm gonna need your help. Is there anyone here who'll be willing to help me once I have all the 3 discs downloaded and ready to install? 
i will. just pm me or whatever you neeed to do to get ahold of me.
Originally posted by Taha@May 4 2003, 09:45 PMok.. I am re-tempted to try out Linux so I fired up SmartFTP!
So all you Linux gurus, I need your guidance. I don't know what the hell 'compiling a kernel', 'yaboot' or any other fancy jargon is - so I'm gonna need your help. Is there anyone here who'll be willing to help me once I have all the 3 discs downloaded and ready to install?
don't be afraid taha, the installation is quite simple, panic will come when linux starts for the first time 
see ya
Ill give you something I learned from a BSD Fortune Cookie:
Guru; A computer user who can read the manual.
Anyway. There was this great online tutorial I was going to point you to, but their site just shut down this month. 
So I hope they post it online again.
You chose Red Hat, right? Its very easy to install, but it cant resize NTFS partitions, so I hope you dont have that. Or, you can wipe that evil Windows away and start fresh.
Catch me online, and I can give you some of the basics. AIM: frink366 , MSN: frink36@hotmail.com , Email:contrasutra@myrealbox.com
Actually, my bro, who has a bit of experience with Linux, said the following three are the best Linuxes:
Red Hat, Mandrake, Slackware.
I asked him which one would be the best for beginners, he said mandrake. So now I will hopefully have all 3 cd's in 4 hours..
3 cds in four hours? You hve broadband dont you. How dare you complain about download time. It took me a week to download Slackware,and thats only one disc. It would have taken 3 days, but When it was 95% done, I restarted it by accident (remember what I told you about not double clicking in DAP?).
Yeah, I like Mandrake. It sets up everything for you. Luckily, I downloaded 9.1 for the NTFS resizer, so maybe I can install it on a spare system so I can help a little better.
Originally posted by contrasutra@May 4 2003, 05:11 PMYeah, I like Mandrake. It sets up everything for you...
cool.. so it IS a relatively easy Linux? Thats good to hear..
yea i have mandrake 9.1 installed
it set up my Network card sound video everything automatically... it has super mounts so it mounts your windows partition automatically to see.. and it can resize NTFS during install.. im very pleased with mandrake 9.1
if you need anything id be more then happy to help out!!
Also since your a ****ie.. at the very begining you dont have to worry about "compiling the kernel" just yet... give it time dont jump in to the dirty stuff just yet!!
-bolero
heh.. thanks y'all for the support! I hope I enjoy my experience with Linux.
And yeah, I'm definitely not going to start compiling my own kernel right away..
so how did you guys learn Linux. Dont give me the 'Guru reading a manual' scenario again, Contra
edit: I have finished downloading cd1. Can I install it now, and cd2 and cd3 later on, or does it have to be one after the other..?
re-edit: wow.. I never realized there were soo many Linux gurus here. So when and for what do you use Windows? And Linux?
Well.. i baught a nice Unix/linux book and i yes i cant not lie i did read both manuals.. then basicaly.. i fooled around on the system and learned more things by my self... and i just ketp learing.. Trial and error... if i broke somthing in linux i would not do the easy way of just reinstalling it again.. i would go through and fix my problem.. thats how i learned
and are you dwonloading redhat or mandrake?.. you dont need cd2 3 right away.. but you wontbe able to install the packages in the package selection.. jsut the basic utilities and the main part of the os... I know mandrake has a Add/remove GUI manager so you can install any software off anyof the cd's at anytime even after main installment.. im not sure bout redhat....
mandrake has a nice control panel for alot of things you need.. but like i said you dont "need" cd 2 and 3 and can always install the stuff after from those cd's!
I use Windows for games photoshop/3dsmax... and i use linux for browsing music chatting and working.. and having a great fun experience learning new things on linux.. since nothing is hidden from you.. its all openand free
-bolero
I'm d/l Mandrake.
wow... now you got me really excited! 
"So I can immedietly start installing cd1, and add cd2 and cd3 later on?
and having a great fun experience learning new things on linux.. since nothing is hidden from you.. its all openand free
ahhh.. and that is the very thing that is driving me to use Linux.
edit: Basically, the thing I am mostly longing for is to use KDE. Will I be able to do that with just cd1. Hope so..
well im glad your excited about Linux
and yes on Cd 1 the GUI Xfree server is on cd1 and kde is on cd1... atleast i think.. im pretty sure.. lol so make sure you select Kde as one of the packages to install at main install..
wow... now I'm jumping with excitement!!! 
I would wait until they are all done downloading. Because During the setup, it gives you a great overview of all the different packages and services and what they do. So that way, you dont have to go into their Package Tool later and dig through what you want/need and If you wait, you have to set up some of the services you didnt install by hand.
Why KDE? Personally, I think its the ugliest thing known to man. Im a FLUXBOX/GNOME kind of guy though. I believe that Mandrake uses the same theme for KDE and GNOME, by default though. But go with whatever you want. Its easy to switch.
Run (not walk) to your nearest Book store and buy "Running Linux" by the O'Reily Group. I read through it, and Its wonderful. I wish I had discovered it when I was just starting.
First 2 tips:
1. During install, make sure you choose to install the development packages. Mandrake makes it seem that this is only for programmers, but you need those packages in order to install other programs (which you are of course going to do).
2. Learn to "man". Typing "man" and then a command will give you pages of documentation on how to use that command. Thats the best thing about linux. The documentation is integrated right into the system. On that note, make sure you install the documentation.
yea.. i am with constra with waiting till all cd's are done downloading.. its just easier at the begining too...
and DO install the development packages because you will need them when you compile third party software that you download...unles you manage to find a prebuilt binary
-bolero
wow.. thanks contra. I'm gonna keep that in mind.
But what if I just install CD1 right now? How difficult will it be to install the rest later on? Can't I just manually install them from the CD later (drag and drop, or whatever you have on Linux )?
dont worry mandrake "DOES" have a very well organie Add/remove Cd installment program.. its all organized.. jsut select what to install.. pop in the cd and BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its installed.. lol
-bolero
Sorry, edits gone. Third tip:
MAKE MULTIPLE PARTITIONS. One for swap (twice your RAM), one for /home , one for /var. and you need one for / .
/home is like your "my documents". It contains all the preferences for programs, and personal files. Make thats big (like 2+ gigs) , because its seperate from the rest of the OS, you can transfer it between computers/OSs. You'll store files you download there, pics, whatever you want.
/var is logs and config files. Make that like 500MB.
then just make / the rest.
There are lots of other partitioning schemes you can make, but this one is simple, and it allows you to save your /home in case of an emergency.
you're scaring me now Contra...
Like I said, I'm gonna be using VPC to run Linux since there are 5 family members with documents on the computer and I can't format the drive. How am I supposed to do it in VPC? If it helps, I can tell you that I installed XP and ME on my mac (VPC) without making any partitions..
first off you dont have to format your drive to make those partitions
secondly.. as i said before... when you install it..the linux installer will detect its the only OS on the virtual harddrive (the image file) and it will set partitions up for you automatically.. of course dont use linux in VPC.. VPC is TOO SLOW.. you wont get good experience out of it...
-bolero
Woah, your using VPC? Whats the point? Its probobly gonna run super slow. Just grab an old 300-600 Mhz PC from somewhere and install it on that. Linux runs super speedy on those types of computers.
I have never used VPC, so I can't tell you how to do it. I suppose you dont need to worry about partitioning, if your doing it that way though.
Something funny though. You can get USER MODE LINUX and emulate Linux, inside an emulated Linux. LOL, just my g33|< j sense of humor.
Originally posted by bolero@May 4 2003, 07:04 PMfirst off you dont have to format your drive to make those partitions
secondly.. as i said before... when you install it..the linux installer will detect its the only OS on the virtual harddrive (the image file) and it will set partitions up for you automatically.. of course dont use linux in VPC.. VPC is TOO SLOW.. you wont get good experience out of it...
-bolero
I don't understand.. how the hell can I install an OS without first creating a partition for it, for the boot up to realize it?
Can you please explain? If it is possible, I OWE YOU BIG TIME for helping me..