[AuckLUG] Installing Linux

[Chilling_Silence]

Denise Bates wrote:
> Nevyn wrote:
>
>> Which to me just smells of progress - rather than a distro war flaunting
>> this distro over that, should we not talk about common tools to use for
>> configuring and using the modem? Thus we can let Richard make up his own
>> mind as to the distro he wants to use.
>
> My suggestion of Slackware was offered in good faith because:
> * At least some of Richard's problems seem to stem from the 
> eccentricities of GUI-based installers,
> * Slackware (and any other properly installed distro with KDE) will 
> have KPPP, which will detect and get a hardware modem running without 
> problems,
> * He had allready listed a range of distros that he had tried, and was 
> seeking suggestions of other distros,
> * I haven't tried running SB Live under Slackware, but it is mentioned 
> in /etc/rc.d/modules. If Alsa doesn't recognise the card, then 
> uncommenting the appropriate line in the above file should get it 
> running.
>
>> Slackware - one of the oldest distributions out there. I don't really 
>> know
>> much about this distribution except that it appears to be slow and 
>> steady.
>> The installer wasn't terribly robust the last time I tried it (no back
>> button on most screens).
>
> Ah, you are spoilt by GUIs. Slackware doesn't allow "going back" as 
> such. If you make a bad choice, you must either cancel that part of 
> the installation, or let it run it's course, then when you get back to 
> the main setup menu, just re-run that part all over again. The moral: 
> RTF* and try not to make bad choices (or treat it as a learning 
> experience).
>
All good valid points :)

With that I would like to propose that upon the next Linux installation 
of Richards, rather than flagging an install because of XYZ not 100% 
working and trying another distro that he seeks help from the AuckLUG 
members. Many issues (Such as mounting a drive, or setting up kppp) can 
be resolved with one or two quick emails, and its obvious amongst us we 
all have experience with every known distro under the sun ;-)
 From there, Richard hopefully would have gained the skills to make an 
educated decision of his own on what particular flavor of linux suits 
his personality, style, desires / needs in an OS :-)