Computers Linux

Righto, last night I installed Linux pretty problem free. As I still need some Windows stuff, I made my system dual boot.

I really only have two questions.

1) Recommend me some good software/software sites.

2) When I open up My Computer in Windows XP, it takes a little longer than normal to actually show the hard drive. I assume this is because it needs to recognize the other partition and essentially ignore that. Any way I can speed it up? Better yet, is there a way to make it recognize the other partition in case I want to move files between the two partitions with ease? (Linux doesnt recognize the Windows partition btw.)

Oh, and as for the second one, if that can be solved by a minor update for Windows or Linux, keep in mind the only reason I havent already kept the OSs up to date is because I have no net at home just yet (that comes Thursday).

 

AFAIK, there is no way to see the linux partition from windows. It just can't read ext3 or reiserfs or whatever file system you are using. In Linux, you should have no problem mounting the windows partition, at least if you are using fat32 (I do, for that reason). NTFS is problematic: you should be able to read it still, but write is experimental/buggy and I wouldn't try it. Have a look at the /etc/fstab file, that's where the mount points for your partitions/CDs/floppies are stored, and where you edit them.

For RPM based distros (redhat, mandrake, suse etc) RPMBone has a load of stuff. If you are on Debian of some sort (Knoppix, Xandros, Lindows (please no), Libranet), the easiest way to install new software is with the built in apt-get system. At the command line type "apt-get update", "apt-get install synaptic", then "synaptic" and you get a giant list of software. You'll need to be root to do all that, so type "su" then your root password first,

Interesting things are WineX for directX emulation for games, Crossover Office for all your MS Office in linux needs (or Wine if you want free) or win4lin which pretty much lets you run a windows install inside linux. link: google.com

 

You *might* be able to defrag the windows partition to get a bit better boot time, but that's the only thing I can help with. I don't know many linux sites, unfortunately.

- Ark

 

http://www.gnu.org/directory/

yummy

 

Yeah, you can. Make sure to have an interface that allows dual OS. Try Ubuntu or Redhat if you still want WinXP

- Teddz

 

genoo if you wanna get scared of linux, and have a 8+ hour install

which is why I just use the live cd <.<

 

Ew. Gentoos installation is rather annoying but it is a stable Linux OS afterall...

- Teddz

 

yes, it's arguably the most bleeding edge distro out there, arguably

it's customizable to the teeth, seeing as how you can chose to compile everything but portage which is the core of it, so it can ber as barebones or feature rich as you need/want/have the time for it to be