slackware Linux

Lubricant_Larry · #1 June 12th, 2004, 04:40 PM

I've just installed Slackware Linux on an IBM thinkpad600 and have followed setup instructions and it has just rebooted, what do i do now. It comes up with "you may now login as 'root', i typed 'root' and am now at a "root@slackware:/# prompt with no idea what to do to boot to linux. Any ideas?

Many Thanks

Trillian · #2 June 13th, 2004, 08:11 PM

Well, now you're in the console. Congratulations, you've just installed a slackware linux system.

You'll get mail (in your var/messages box) from the system, that's gonna tell you what to do, and what you can do.

So, here's what this root@slackware:/# thing is.
It is a command prompt. This is the place where you enter commands, to do things. Assuming you more or less know windows, this is something vvaguely like the DOS command prompt.

First (safe) thing you're gonna have to do, is creating a default user, because you do not want to do things as root all the time. As a newbie, that would be really, really stupid.
So, type

Code:

adduser

at the commandline.
You can now enter a name for the user, a password, and all that stuff.
EXAMPLE:

Then, press [ctrl] + [alt] + [F2] to go to another console. Login as the default user yoú've just created.
This is wise.
What you've just done is: going to another terminal, and logging in as the default user. About those terminalthings:
You've got a lot of those, they can be found under F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F9, F10, F11 and F12.
F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6 are text-based, and F7, F9, F10, F11, F12 are the graphical ones.

Now, you might want to configure the window manager. You've prolly installed KDE, GNOME, fnwm (or something like that) and others. If you run the command

Code:

xwmconfig

, you can select your default one. Try not to use KDE or GNOME if your system is somewhat slow, or if you actually want to do things by yourself, instead of letting the system do it itself.

Once configured, type this command:

Code:

startx

This will start up the graphical mode, and will take you to the graph. server, with the desktop. If, for any reason, you want to go back to the text console, press ctrl+alt+Fx (x being something between 1 and 6)

Now, you'll prolly see some things you recognize: the mozilla webbrowser, a desktop, and so on.

You might want to look at the following docs:
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/...ad.php?t=38683 (read the part about howto login)
http://www.start-linux.com/topics/topic_50.php general info about slackware and installing packages
http://www.start-linux.com/ general info about starting out with linux
www.google.com your god. use this searchengine to look up problems, manuals and programs.

Ultimate tool for commands:
man
this stands for manual, and you use it by:

Code:

man [command

you replace [command] with the command you want to have a manual of.
To get to know how the manual works, enter this at the commandline:

Code:

man man

You'll also want to read this: http://www.bitbenderforums.com/vb22/...?postid=311808 here's a topic about slackware, your distro. I'm sure it'll be of any help for you.

Just read the thread, you dun have to read that whole part about the installation, but do read the rest of it!

Read this:
http://www.slackware.com/book/
The slackware book. provides you information about slackware, and how to use linux in general.

softwaredownload sites:
www.sf.net
www.freshmeat.net
www.icewalkers.org
www.google.com (if you're having trouble finding it)

Trillian · #3 June 13th, 2004, 08:19 PM

Oh, here are some more links:
http://www.reallylinux.com/links/links.htm links for newbies

www.linuxpackages.net for software
http://www.informit.com/guides/conte...inux&seqNum=59 starting out with the command line
http://www.informit.com/guides/conte...inux&seqNum=59 another command line howto
http://www.tldp.org/tldp-redirect.php?url=/ linux documentation project

AND remember: you're starting out with a new operating system, please don't expect it to be the exact same as windows/your previous OS. You'll have to take some time learning how everything works.
In general, you can choose between using a lot of bloated graphical programs, and thereby taking a lot of time for doing things that can be done faster; and between working from the command line.

Go for the command line.

Goodluck!!

Lubricant_Larry · #4 June 13th, 2004, 08:30 PM

Thanks, people seem to be a lot more helpful on Linux and less big headed.

A refreshing change

Lube

Lubricant_Larry · #5 June 16th, 2004, 11:04 PM

I've just "installed" slackware Linux on my IBM thinkpad and rebooted and all i get now is errors I9990302 and I9990305 on screen, Windows will install fine and i have downloaded Linux twice to ensure a good copy. Will Linux not work on this laptop or am i doing something wrong?

Trillian · #6 June 17th, 2004, 02:16 AM

so your bootloader works fine.

i need more information bout this error. does it say something like 'drive ready seek complete'?

Lubricant_Larry · #7 June 19th, 2004, 05:51 AM

No, it says nothing. I take it i should set laptop to boot from hard drive now as everytime i try to boot from the linux cd it just comes up with the setup options. Is there any way to start any kind of GUI from the Linux prompt?