Which Should I install?

[ericlooi]

Hi guys,

I'm a newbie. As First-Timer, may I know which one should I test out? I have download the KDE version. There are so many versions and which should I use? Should I use VMWare to test it out? I'm currently using windows 7 (Just reinstalled due to BSOD) 

Thanks!

[Just17]

Hi ericlooi, the various versions give different types of desktop environment.

The KDE version is the nearest to Windows of the options so you may be more comfortable initially with that one.

I would encourage you to try some of the others also .....  LXDE & Xfce in particular.

Try them as liveCDs first to see which YOU prefer, and install YOUR choice.
Be aware that running from CD is much slower than from an install and is designed primarily to allow you to evaluate the OS without making any changes to your PC.

That is both the advantage and disadvantage of Linux .....  you make your own choice  

regards

[Neal ManBear]

Test them to see which is best for you. An easy way to test is to add the other DEs (LXDE, XFCE and so on) by installing its task package. Then you can choose the DE at the login screen through Session.

[OMSkates]

Hi, a big welcome to you here friend  If Win7 runs fine on your system specs then KDE will run even better .

 After installing the main KDE version you can try out the other versions by installing as "tasks" from package manager.  You then choose which Desktop Environment from log in screen.

 For now, learning your way around KDE would be a good start.  

Testing in VMWare is OK but if you have 2GB or more RAM then choose the 'Copy to Ram' option when booting live CD and you can test in a live environment.  VMWare doesn't always reflect true performance or speed.  Have fun!

[luikki]

hi!
and as we say here, welcome home.  
you can run the kde live cd to see how it feels...
if you like it (most certainly you'll)  .. install it and have it dual booting...
happy stay!

[ericlooi]

Thanks guys for all the tips!

Testing in VMWare is OK but if you have 2GB or more RAM then choose the 'Copy to Ram' option when booting live CD and you can test in a live environment.  VMWare doesn't always reflect true performance or speed.  Have fun!

May I know if you mean to copy to ram and test in Live CD instead of VMWare?

Can I install in a partition of my current C drive? I have over 70gb free HD. If yes, How can I do that?

Thanks!
Eric.

[OMSkates]

Copy to RAM is an option of Live CD use, programs will load faster.

PCLinuxOS will need a seperate partition on your HDD.

This is a very good tutorial: http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/200708/page10.html

Other good read: http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/200909/page01.html

[ericlooi]

Copy to RAM is an option of Live CD use, programs will load faster.

PCLinuxOS will need a seperate partition on your HDD.

This is a very good tutorial: http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/200708/page10.html

Other good read: http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/200909/page01.html

Thanks for the links OMS!

Why do we need to perform defragmentation or chkdsk first before installing in HD? I mean what's the reason that cause the crash of the windows system? I must perform chkdsk before installing PCLinuxOS ?

Note it is normally labeled "hda1" and is usually the default partition.

Does that mean hda1 is my current C drive and sda1 is my D drive? I have only 2 drives currently.

How much space will PCLOS take?

Thanks!
Eric.

[OMSkates]

We have device files defined in linux based on the controllers what we are using.
For ex:-
1. For IDE controllers device file name is - hda/hdb/hdc.....[depends on the number of ports supported]
2. For SCSI controllers device file name is - sda/sdb/sdc...[depends on the number of ports supported]

hda1 would be first partition on drive hda
hda2 would be 2nd partition on hda
etc.
Same with sda

So you say you have 2 seperate drives?

Does that mean hda1 is my current C drive and sda1 is my D drive? I have only 2 drives currently.

That sounds correct.

Windows has a tendency to scatter it's system files across the drive.  Defragmentation will give you more space and reduce possibility of losing files if you plan to have Linux share the same drive.  It is not uncommon to require defragging 2 to 3x depending on how long Windows was in use.  You can then shrink the partition making space for Linux.


3 GB minimum, 10 GB or more recommended if you plan to install additional software from the repository.

[OMSkates]

From your Live CD session can you open Konsole and post the output of
fdisk -l   (FDISK -L lowercase)?

[ericlooi]

Sorry, I mean I have 2 partition in 1 drive. Which mean hda1= partition C and hda2= partition D ?

From your Live CD session can you open Konsole and post the output of
fdisk -l   (FDISK -L lowercase)?

I haven't test that out. Currently still using the windows 7 as I have assignment in hand and need to rush it. Maybe after that.

[menotu]

My preference would be to use Virtualbox and simply load the ISO as a CD and test it that way.

But I'm far more familiar with VBox than with VMWare and as VBox allows the VDI hard drive to be kept and re-used (good for testing purposes) after PCLinuxOS is installed I would go that way. (Virtualbox is in the PCLinuxOS repos whereas I don't believe VMWare is)

But if desired, it's possible to use/convert VMWare HD's in Virtualbox

[ericlooi]

My preference would be to use Virtualbox and simply load the ISO as a CD and test it that way.

But I'm far more familiar with VBox than with VMWare and as VBox allows the VDI hard drive to be kept and re-used (good for testing purposes) after PCLinuxOS is installed I would go that way. (Virtualbox is in the PCLinuxOS repos whereas I don't believe VMWare is)

But if desired, it's possible to use/convert VMWare HD's in Virtualbox

Thanks!

But if desired, it's possible to use/convert VMWare HD's in Virtualbox

So it's like virtual in the virtual?

[Bald Brick]

We have device files defined in linux based on the controllers what we are using.
For ex:-
1. For IDE controllers device file name is - hda/hdb/hdc.....[depends on the number of ports supported]

Not anymore. For the last year the device names on IDE drives have also been sda/sdb/sdc and so on.

2. For SCSI controllers device file name is - sda/sdb/sdc...[depends on the number of ports supported]

hda1 would be first partition on drive hda
hda2 would be 2nd partition on hda
etc.
Same with sda

So you say you have 2 seperate drives?

Does that mean hda1 is my current C drive and sda1 is my D drive? I have only 2 drives currently.

That sounds correct.

Windows has a tendency to scatter it's system files across the drive.  Defragmentation will give you more space and reduce possibility of losing files if you plan to have Linux share the same drive.  It is not uncommon to require defragging 2 to 3x depending on how long Windows was in use.  You can then shrink the partition making space for Linux.


3 GB minimum, 10 GB or more recommended if you plan to install additional software from the repository.

[OMSkates]

We have device files defined in linux based on the controllers what we are using.
For ex:-
1. For IDE controllers device file name is - hda/hdb/hdc.....[depends on the number of ports supported]

Not anymore. For the last year the device names on IDE drives have also been sda/sdb/sdc and so on.

Excellent!