[ubuntu-in] New to uBuntu

[Parthan]

Jayesh @ Bangalore wrote:

Sorry, the mail was too long and my reply might make it more longer, so 
snipped off and here is my reply.

[1] It happens to most people, when they try to install Linux for the 
first time they write over their existing partitions. This is because 
the way partitions are seen in Windows is a bit different from Unix PoV. 
Hence, when the installer shows you hda1...hda4 people get confused and 
unfortunately install it over their existing Windows partition.

If you have C,D and E drives in windows and considering all there are 
present as primary partitions, they will be named as hda1, hda2 and hda3 
respectively. Say if you want to use your E drive for installing Linux, 
you have to first make sure it is empty. Then, when the installer asks 
you to partition, choose "manual partition". In this, select your E 
drive which is shows as hda3 (hopefuly). You can easily find this if 
your C,D and E are of different sizes. Then "delete" this partition. You 
basically need only two partitions under Linux - a swap partition (type 
= swap) which needs to be around 512MB and this is a space which is 
going to be used when your RAM is exhausted. Then you at least need a 
"/" partition (anything around 15GB will do). You need not worry about 
other partitions until you have got used to things. So, from the deleted 
space of E drive, which will be now shown as "Free space" create these 
two partitions and continue with the install.

Another important point during the install is the place to install the 
boot loaded GRUB. When asked to select, do "install the GRUB in the MBR" 
option which will install the boot loaded in the MBR of your harddisk 
hda. The GRUB will mostly detect and show you other operating systems 
existing in the HDD and will ask which one to boot by default. Even if 
the GRUB doesn't show your other operating systems, you can very well 
easily add them to the options later :)

Hope this has solved the installation query ?!

[2] It is not uBuntu it is Ubuntu :)

[3] There are more than 100 distributions out there, you have to select 
the distribution which is supported well, which has a relatively 
frequent release cycle so you always have the latest of the softwares 
and also which has a very strong community. Mainly the distributions 
fall into two categories based on the package management system; it 
either falls into the Debian Family, which uses dpkg/apt-get for 
managing packages, or RH family which uses yum and its package manager. 
Thus you can see two kinds of pre-built packages, one ending with .rpm 
and one ending in .deb

I will personally suggest any distribution from the Debian Family.

[3] Its not like there is one BEST distribution, every one has pros and 
cons and it suits a certain kind of audience. I will ask you to try some 
other distro with Ubuntu and decide which is more suitable and 
comfortable for you. If you choose Ubuntu, you become one amongst us :)

[4] Considering your system configuration, especially the RAM, better go 
for desktops like xfce, windowmaker, fluxbox, etc rather than GNOME or 
KDE. This may not offer you as much eye candy and what people call as 
GUI enrichness, but still you will get all those mouse-click stuffs and 
menus without loosing much RAM.

[5] There are a few placed in Bangalore from Ubuntu India Team, who can 
help you with whatever they can. Always free to mail this list on 
anything related to Ubuntu and you will surely get helpful replies :)


-- 
With Regards

Parthan (TechnoFreak)

A Proud GNU/Linux User and Ubuntero

[Web]   https://parth.technofreak.googlepages.com
[Blog]  http://technofreakatchennai.wordpress.com
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