LinuxQuestions.org
Help answer threads with 0 replies.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This 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


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 02-27-2001, 03:07 PM   #1
beer
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Feb 2001
Posts: 1

Rep: Reputation: 0
Question


I'm almost a complete beginner at this. I've played a little bit with small distributions (no X) that install on top of DOS, but didn't use them for anything terribly productive other than starting to learn my way around.

I've recently installed RedHat 5.1 on a P75 with 24MB RAM and 517MB HD. (48MB of that is swap.) I just want a simple system that will let me do all the basics--writing, number crunching, email, Internet, HTML editing, et cetera--on a standalone desktop... no server or development tools. The packages I selected from RedHat occupy about 250MB, and I hope to add either WordPerfect for Linux (purchased WP8 for $20 less $20 rebate) or StarOffice.

(And if you're wondering why I'm using RedHat 5.1 rather than a more recent release is that it's something that will work on an older machine. After all, isn't part of the beauty of Linux that you can extend the useful life of older boxes that M$ wants to make obsolete with increasingly bloated OS and software? My even older machine runs IBM DOS/Win3.11/OS-2Warp3 and does everything I want, except that some web pages with too many bells and whistles will crash Netscape. Win9x? No way am I putting that on any computer of mine!)

ANYWAY.... RedHat was not able to "find" my parallel port Zip drive. (For that matter, it took more than one try installing RedHat because sometimes it found the CD-ROM, sometimes it didn't. It seems not to find the CD if I merely reboot; It seems to work only if I shutdown AND turn the power off and back on.) The Zip drive is important to have, because (among other reasons) the Zip disk is the media for my StarOffice download and will no doubt be what I use for other software, not to mention backups and such.

What should I look for in trying to solve this problem? I'd like to have a productive Linux box, but I wonder if I'm just better off reformatting and going back to Win/OS-2.

Thanks!
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
where is my zip drive? cordedpoodle Linux - Newbie 9 10-07-2003 06:32 PM
Zip drive Ian_Hawdon Linux - Hardware 2 05-25-2003 10:48 AM
zip drive seingoku Linux - Hardware 1 04-21-2003 07:27 PM
zip drive? loganwva Linux - Distributions 3 03-22-2002 08:26 AM
Zip Drive clueless Linux - Newbie 4 11-21-2001 04:56 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:19 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration