Linux - NewbieThis Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question?
If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
i got red hat linux 6.2 to install, but i have to use a boot disk and it is not graphical like i was told it was... today is wedsday and i was told that i have to learn linux by monday for my job, we are getting in some linux servers for i-net and dsl... any and all help will be appriciated... honostly, after looking at it, i think i am screwed! i have windows me installed on my computer, and installed the gnome workstation if this helps...
In answer to your title: Yes. They can both work on the same machine. Normally (if you've installed Windows first), Linux will install something called LiLo (the LInux LOder). This will give you the option of booting into Windows or Linux.
If you can only boot into Linux using your Boot Floppy, do so. Read about LiLo (type man lilo or info lilo from the prompt). An important file to look at (if not edit) is the /etc/lilo.conf. It is fairly self explanitory, but you will have to run LiLo (just type lilo at the prompt) in order to affect any changes you make to this file.
The problem of booting into a graphical login: Try typing xconfigurator or maybe xf86config. When you installed Linux, you should have been given an option to configure 'X' (or X11, or X Window System), and possibly to load it on startup. As your system is at the moment, you may be able to type startx to get into the graphical portion of Linux. I suggest you run the above though.
If the install wasn't graphical there's a good chance it just couldn't figure out what was up with your graphics card...
As for LILO, since this is a test box (I guess) that you're just using to learn with, I would say just reinstall Linux, and make sure you pay attention to EVERY SINGLE little checkbox and option. Once you've installed it a million times it's easy, but it's easy to miss stuff when you're kinda new. There are options on how and where to install lilo, and whether or not you want to make a bootdisk (HINT: always make a boot disk). If it asks you where to put LILO, I actually, regardless of what else is on the disk, ALWAYS put it in the master boot record, though some will tell you horror stories about that.
GO TO BARNES&NOBLE MAN!! You need books. You need them now. If you mess with it enough by Monday you'll be surprised how much you can learn. Buckle down and by monday you'll easily have the basics (and beyond) down to a science.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.