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For debian users, here's a tip to avoid a total system crash, and botched applications, lost configuration files, etc.

DO NOT run apt-get update then apt-get upgrade, thinking it will quickly upgrade all packages, because it just screws up your system. If you need to upgrade a package do it one at a time.

I just F32432cked up my SMTP server. That's the most painful thing to get working too. Really, it's a simple protocol, but all mail servers are super complicated, I should just write my own....

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28108

Doesn't it suck to "learn the hard way"? I am thinking of installing debian on my laptop... You think it will pick up most of the drivers and stuff???

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28110

I think you should be fine, but I would image the laptop first, if you don't feel like reinstalling your old OS if it decides to not support a certain component. That or you can dual boot, but once you do a dualboot, never delete the linux OS since the bootloader is actually stored there, so it will just corrupt your whole mbr. that's another thing I learned the hard way.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28111

See, I dont like dual boot much (especially with windows vs. Linux). If I run it I will run it alone. From dell I have the XP reinstallation disk so I can always reinstall xp or 2000 pro. So I dont really have to image it. In the debian install will it automatically partition your hard drive, or do you have to make the partitions manually through fdisk or cfdisk?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28112

ooohhh yeah I forgot to ask you which boot "flavor" should I use the generic boot or the like flavors (vanilla, etc.).

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28113

Yeah dual boot can cause issues if you do any changes such as delete linux. I forget what boot flavor I had used, I think it was vanilla.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28114

Yeah it says Vanilla - i386. The only problem is 7 friggin cds! I'm trying to find links that work all on one site. Linuxiso.org didn't work at all, it kept sending me to mirrors that are down or something.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28115

Yeah or you can get the netinst, but it's always nice to have CDs on hand.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28116

Its installing now... Yippe!

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28118

You can uninstall a linux bootloader from a dual boot machine. You just have to use aq Windows repair/boot disk and and "fdisk /fixmbr". That should restore it. Of course, you can also boot a Linux live CD and set up grub or lilo to boot Windows straight off with no menu. Same end result really.

I don't like to use the large installation CD's. I'm a net install type of guy. Get the base distro on CD and let thing install the rest from the net. You'd be suprised at how many distros don't mention this but you can do it with them anyway. The newer package managers can snatch packages from FTP, although resolving dependancies and such will be slower.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28119

Yeah it's nice since you only get what you need, but having everything on disc is nice too since at least you know in 10 years from now it will still work even if they pull off the service it goes through to install. But why you would want to install a 10 year old distro is beyond me, but I guess it would be like installing Ms Bob in a VM just for kicks.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28122

this is where I get stuck right after it boots into "your new debian system" what do I do?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28131

what I am doing now is inserting each cd going to configure apt select cd and then go to select and install packages am I doing this right?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28133

I just installed 15,063 packages from an ftp server. And once it asked for disk 2, but it is still all text theres no GUI.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28134

Is this the online install or disc install? If its disc you just need to insert it.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28135

When I was configuring apt it said if I wanted to add another source so I added the FTP server and it started going. But it still was only text, wait so all I have to do is insert a disc do I use apt or something for the next discs, I dont understand sorry for being such a n00b to linux.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28137

Hmmm that's really odd. It should not be asking for a disc if you picked ftp as a source. Is there a way to bypass the message or does it keep coming?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28141

I just put xp back on and I am going to put fedora core 3 on instead a lot more noob friendly.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28142

Haha yeah that's probably the best thing for you if you're new to linux.

Whatever you do though, don't bother with slackware. I tried it many times, I never succeeded in getting that one to work.

1) most of the install is manuall, it just throws you on a shell and tells you to continue installing

2) Once you hit the more automated part, it asks you weird questions and if you answer one wrong your install (and maybe your data, if any) is botched. It's almost like writing a math test, just not as hard.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28144

Yeah... I was about to try that, I had downloaded the ISOs and burned them but it was really confusing, so I said screw it.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28146

No FREAKEN WAY. THIS STUpid thing freaken deleted mysql off the system. Oh I'm so going to kill someone for this. Debian is freaken going to pay for this. So much stuff is broken, this is rediculous. I'd be better off doing an rm -rf /.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:3479, old post ID:28157