[Scottish] (is there anyone who can) HELP ? ! !

[t68i at ntlworld.com]

Hi - good to hear that you're wanting to run Linux: welcome to the only true 
and shining path!

Having said that...

I had problems running SuSE 9.1 too. I've been running Linux for years (back 
to Red Hat 7.2) and without doubt, SuSE 9.1 was the biggest disappointment. 

First thing I had to do was download about 100 Mb of system fixes from the 
website - not fun on a 56k dial-up line. I didn't have any problems with the 
modem, but then I had it working already from a previous install. My biggest 
bugbear was the USB system - it had big problems recognising and handling USB 
memory keys until the fixes were applied, and after it was 'fixed' I still 
didn't like the way it worked. Still, it did work reliably, so OK then.

You don't say if you have bought SuSE discs or if your are using the download 
version. If you bought the discs, then get a new disc 1 from your supplier: 
if the download, then download another or get a friend to: I can't see you 
getting a system going on just disc 2 - disc 1 usually has all the essential 
stuff.

As an alternative, why not look at Linux Format magazine or one of the others 
out there: December 2004 had Mandrake 10.1 (which is excellent and a dawdle 
to install), this month's has Fedora 3 (which is also very good).

If you don't want to do that, go online to http://www.ubuntulinux.org and fill 
in the order form: they will send you out a free copy of their Ubuntu 
distribution, which I have found installs easilly and gives you a good 
starting system: it can also be upgraded to a full Debian install if you have 
the motivation, skills and bandwidth (at present, I have none of these...).

Anyway, don't give up. Getting into Linux is sometimes a bit rough on the 
nerves, but there is good help out there in the community and you can at 
least find documentation for just about anything you want to know. 

Good luck,

Neil



On Tuesday 11 January 2005 16:13, babaguy wrote:
>  Hello All !       I bought & installed Suse 9.1 Personal - I've had a
> few difficulties which I've inquired of one of our number about, and more
> or less resolved, but honestly, I'm not running the machine now because it
> is simply too much hassle to sort out - so far, that is !       Problems: I
> can't get the machine to recognise or link up to the external modem I
> bought.........so I can't get online.                        The first disk
> from the Suse WILL not boot (seems to be corrupted) , so I've used the
> second one - which seems to be all right.....but, as I say, there is
> essential stuff that isn't occurring.      And one odd thing - there is a
> quite a lovely initial wallpaper that comes up as standard once the machine
> is booted. I experimented and stuck on another one, then when I wanted to
> change back to the original, it had disappeared from the available
> options.....!      When I have typed in the "mount/dev" commands I don't
> seem to get a clickable or command-able list of devices the machine
> recognises - I have gotten different messages each time I've tried - (but I
> haven't done anything with it for over a week, as much other work beckoned,
> which I've done on my old windows 3.1 system.....) ANYway, I don't want to
> be a moany, gripy sort of person, but I also would really like to be able
> to use Linux, and it ain't easy - at all ! - as far as I can see......I
> realise that Suse have deleted 9.1 Personal - maybe there were problems
> with it........ If anyone is in a position to talk me through getting the
> machine to do basic stuff, please let me know. I live in the West End of
> Glasgow.......... Until soon, I am
>                                                                      
> Yours, hopefully, - Paul Birchard
>
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