Trying out Linux for the first time, but can't even get it installed.

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HideInLight

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Since I have a spare PC for the first time in my life and can afford to mess around, I want to to see if I can get the basics of Linux down.

But I'm failing hard:

I decided to give this a go:
openSUSE-13.2-DVD-x86_64.iso

But when I boot from the disc and try install it, I get 3 dotted green lines and the PC appears to be frozen.

Waited all these years for it to evolve, yet as a first time user I'm already stuck at the installation process, doesn't make sense...
 
I would recommend starting with Ubuntu, its relatively easy for beginners.
 
HideInLight said:
But when I boot from the disc and try install it, I get 3 dotted green lines and the PC appears to be frozen.
Click to expand...
Well done! You succeeded. It's running on your system!

Now install the packages:
yum groupinstall "Development Tools"
yum install ncurses-devel
yum install qt-devel
yum install unifdef

Then download the source kernel:
tar -jxvf linux-2.6.35.4.tar.bz2

Now look under /usr/src/kernels, mine's located at /usr/src/kernels/2.6.18-194.11.3.el5-x86_64 but this will vary depending on architecture and version number. Under this directory there's a .config file. Copy it to the directory with your Linux source. Run make xconfig and then load the .config that you copied over. Make any changes to the configuration you wan to, and then save the configuration.

Next, compile the kernel:

Run make, and get ready to sit back for a while. It will take a while for the kernel to compile. Really, even on a fast machine, it still will take the kernel quite some time to compile.

Once the kernel is finished compiling, you need to install the kernel and modules, and then configure grub. You'll need to switch to root or use sudo here:

make modules install
make install

Now check your grub.conf under /boot/grub/grub.conf and make sure you have the configuration for your kernel. Previously I've had to hand-edit grub or LILO.
 
Last edited:
First is your iso and burn good, did a md5sum on them?

Get rid of the bootsplash so you can actually see where it hangs. If it uses plymouth pressing 'esc' right as it starts should show you the console output.

Sorry very little experience with opensuse, would not be my first choice/recommendation for others. I would say xubuntu/mint/manjaro.
 
HideInLight said:
I decided to give this a go:
openSUSE-13.2-DVD-x86_64.iso
Click to expand...
That's the basic installer, I'd recommend installing from a "Live" version of whichever distro you opt for.

The OpenSUSE Live versions are somewhat hidden, from https://software.opensuse.org/132/en you need to click on the " Click here to display these alternative versions" link to get to them.
 
Well it got passed that part, by jsut waiting.
But I have no idea what to do about the partitioning, there's no recommended options, help men is pretty useful and now that performing installation it seems to be stuck at 37%, no animating things or anything to show that it's actually doing something.

I want something that can be a HTPC, Do MySQL and QT.
Basically something that could potentially use in a job environment.

But at this point I might need convincing that Linux is still actually relevant.
 
If you're having trouble now, think what it will be like in future.

Use Windows, since it works well and 99% of people use it. It took a while to reach this point and Linux will still be very unfriendly 10 years from now.
 
Linux is easy man ;)

Get Ubuntu or Mint and start playing around in a VM, I have about 5 or 6 distro's that I am currently using in VMWare Player.

Ubuntu is very user friendly but 'dumbed down' in the sense that most options are hidden. Mint, slightly less so but it is not difficult to get into at all
 
Only problem is already wasted my bandwith on openSuse and I'm currently obsessed with getting it to work now and probably won't stop until I can dual boot it and windows 8.1.
How hard can it be to install a Linux distro that's been in development all these years...

Also what's so bloody hard about making the installation process noob friendly?
The moment you force someone to google someone, you know your doing it wrong.

For instance what on earth are they expecting me to do with the partitions, how big must each one be, how many do I need?
Please provide a sample, have a useful help menu.

You can have all the best features in the world, but it's completely useless if the average Joe can't get past the most fundamental stage which is the OS installation in one shot.
 
Removed all partitions and got it installed at least. No idea how to do a dual boot with it though.

Btw what would one install to connect a 3G vodacom dongle?
 
Ubuntu is very easy to install. My problem was going back to Windows once I decided I hated Ubuntu. Strange boot issues hung around forever on that hard drive, no matter how I formatted it. I eventually threw it away. Now that I've moved on to SSD I'd lose my sh*t if one got infected with Linux poltergeists.
 
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