Linux academy: Part one - How to get started with Linux

This is where some decisions have to be made.

First, do you want to download or purchase a disk? To download, you will need a broadband internet connection and a CD or DVD writer.

A number of free versions are on offer at mandriva.com/en/download, or via a link on our website. Alternatively, it’s possible to buy a boxed CD from http://store.mandriva.com or a free version on CD or DVD from a retailer such as the Linux Emporium.

In this series we will be using Mandriva 2007 Free, which comes on several CDs or a single DVD. It is also worth considering Mandriva One, which comes on a single CD, and is free to download. Finally, Mandriva also sells several boxed versions.

All of these versions of Mandriva 2007 install the same operating system, but there are important differences. Mandriva One is a good choice for those just starting out with Linux. It is a single CD, and a much smaller download than Mandriva 2007 Free, which comes on four CDs or a DVD.

Mandriva One also works as a Live CD, which means you can try it before installing. The Live CD Desktop has a ‘Live Install’ option that does a full setup to hard disk. Mandriva One also includes some useful software, including video drivers.

Unfortunately, Mandriva One worked on only one of the four PCs we tried, whereas Mandriva Free, which installs only to a hard disk, proved more reliable. If you still want to give Mandriva One a try, we would suggest the version that includes a KDE Desktop (more of that later) and the non-free drivers. Otherwise, grab Mandriva 2007 Free Edition, which is used in the explanation below.

Preparing to install
In many cases Linux will be installed on a PC that was previously running Windows. The new Linux installation can either replace Windows, or run alongside it as a dual boot.

The easiest approach, however, is to zap Windows completely. Remember that this step is irreversible unless you have a full copy of the Windows operating system on disc, so don’t take this path if there’s a possibility that you will need to use Windows on that PC again.

If you need to keep Windows, give some thought to where Linux will be installed. It is essential to have separate partitions for Windows and Linux, and Mandriva will need at least 4GB hard disk space. The Mandriva installation can create the partitions on free space, but back up important data as these procedures are risky.

It is worth considering how the PC will connect to the internet. The ideal is a broadband router connected by a network cable. In most cases this will work without much configuration.

Connecting an ADSL or cable modem via USB might work, but it is more problematic, since USB connections need specific driver software, most of which is Windows-only. Most modern ADSL and cable modems give the option to use a network instead of USB.

Before installing, find out which graphics card, also known as an adapter, is installed. To do this in Windows XP, open the Control Panel, double-click Display, click Settings, Advanced, then Adapter; otherwise check the PC manual.

The brand of graphics card is less important than the family and model of chipset it uses. It’s worth keeping a notebook to jot down information like this.