If you are new to Linux then you might be interested in a version of Linux which does not require installation. These distributions will typically run by booting directly from the CD or DVD drive. This allows you to quickly and easily get a look at the many capabilities of Linux. A popular ?live? distribution is Knoppix. If you can boot from a DVD then the DVD version has a lot of software and is an excellent choice.
If you are ready to venture through the installation of your first Linux distribution then Mandriva offers a very intuitive installation process that most users find easy to follow. Like Knoppix, Mandriva will usually identify most PC hardware automatically.
Finally, for the expert user willing to ?get their hands dirty? you might be interested in looking at Gentoo. This is is definitely a more challenging installation experience and a learning opportunity but the end result will be worth the effort. You will have a highly configured and tuned Linux distribution compiled for your specific hardware.
Links To FREE Linux Resources
Here are some useful links for users of all experience levels. If your looking for information on Linux, or maybe trying to track down a driver for your one of kind piece of hardware then you might try some of these resources.
| Freshmeat.net | Great location for various hardware drivers and other useful software for Linux users |
| Gnome.org and The K Desktop Environment | If you want to know something about your GUI, and maybe download some new software |
| Linux.com | Information on all things related to Linux. A new site but is growing by leaps and bounds. |
| LinuxHardware.net | A place to share and collect information about various hardware configurations under Linux |
| Linux Documentation Projects | Guides, How-To's, FAQ's, man pages, and more from the the folks working on the Linux Documentation Project (LDP) |
| Linux Online | Probably the best place to start for Linux information. Has links to the HowTo information and can provide help in picking the distribution that is right for you. |
Tools
| FIPS Homepage | Some distributions may have a disabled version of PartitionMagic and may not have the tools to install on a drive that is consumed by a Windows partition. These people need FIPS. This program will shrink an existing DOS partition and make room for your Linux installation. In fact, you can do this now. Repartitioning a hard drive is a time-consuming process and perhaps the riskiest part of a Linux install. You might as well take your time and do it right while your CD's are in the mail. Then you'll be ready to "rock and roll" when they arrive! This link will take you to the instructions and it also has a link to download this little but very useful utility. |
| Wine HQ | Wine is a free implementation of Windows on Unix. WineHQ is a collection of resources for Wine developers and users. This project has made significant progress in recent years and is an excellent option for running your old Windows programs while under Linux. |
| CHECKCD.EXE | Download this small DOS executable to verify certain CD's distributed by Discount Linux CD's. Pleaes note that this program does not recognize all CD products and usually you only need this file if you've previously been in contact with our support department. |
