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Hardware
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You've got a new computer. You've also got all that new, shiny, top of the line hardware in there. Will Linux run on it the way you want it to?
This is the biggest problem that many new Linux users may have when they begin installation. Linux requires its own, individual partition, which is difficult to make on various systems. The most common problem is trying to make two partions out of one Windows partition. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to do this but to clear everything off your hard drive and starting from scratch by budgeting a space for Windows and Linux.
The ideal and easiest way to get Linux on a new partition, and effectively, on your comptuer, is to have a hard drive with two partitions. One of these partitions is a Windows/DOS partition, while the other one must be unused and can be any format. You can just simply change the unused partition to become a Linux partition, and load Linux right onto it.
If you're stuck with one large partition on your only hard drive, you must reformat and make two partitions. Doing this will result in losing all your data... so make sure you backup everything before you begin. Even if you have extra space on your big Windows partition, you're still out of luck- you must re-partition your hard drive.
There are some third-party software programs that will let you resize or compress your current partition to free up space for another one. You are probably going to want to backup everything anyways, because you may end up with a hard drive with nothing on it if something goes wrong.
You should probably use fdisk in DOS to help you make your two (or more) partitions.
Ok, so now you have your brand new sound card and video card that you spend hundreds of dollars to get. You know it works beautifully in Windows, but wait, does it work in Linux the same way it works in Windows? Unfortunately, the answer varies depending on what piece(s) of hardware you are trying to use in Linux.
If your video card is supported by your distribution of Linux, then you should have no problems at all getting the GUI to work right. However, if it is not, you'll probably have to choose the generic setting and hope everything turns out ok. The display settings in Linux are fairly difficult to get right the first time if your card is not supported, meaning you'll probably have to know and set your refresh rate, video memory, and resolution in Xconfig.
Your new 56k modem runs smoothly in Windows. However, you ended buying a Winmodem instead of a hardware-based modem. Bad news for you- Winmodems DO NOT work in Linux. They are strictly for Windows, and are totally incompatible in Linux. How do you know if you got a Winmodem? Common signs that you are using a Winmodem are:
- It was signifcantly cheaper than other modems, like $20 or less.
- The actual board is rather small, not taking up the entire space of the metal bracket.
- Um, it says "Winmodem" on the box.
If you were smart (or lucky) and got a hardware-based modem, there's a pretty good chance that it will run in Linux. Try going to your manufacturer's website to see if they have drivers for your modem in Linux.
Most other hardware parts will run well in Linux. Some other exceptions include USB hardware (Windows 98 only) and some sound cards. Always check with your manufacturer to see if it is supported, and download any updated drivers that you may need.
Having the correct drivers is crucial to making sure your distribution of Linux runs correctly with your hardware. The new version of the X Windows System, XFree86 4.0 contains many new drivers that will let you run some of the newest hardware on the market. Of course, your manufacturer always has the best set of drivers for you hardware, so it's normally a good idea to check with them first.
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