hi
same old story
i to am new to linux or will be
mandrake can be picked up for a couple of pounds on ebay so i am going to give it a go
what i want to know is once the system is configured will i be able to stick in my aol disk and carry on as normall
my machine at present is a compact 166 64meg but is only used for browsing so does not need to be any bigger
thanks for looking
dai

No, not unless AOL supplies a dialup prog which works with linux. I don't think they do but I could be wrong.

is there an isp you could suggest and where to get hold of a disk

When I started using Linux I didn't have to change my ISP (Tiscali). I just entered the phone number, username and password into the dial up program (i am using kppp at the moment in slackware 9.0) and away I went.

Once again the swimming pools of life had been tainted by the incontinent toddlers of fate

Basically any ISP except AOL should work with Linux. The reason that AOL doesn't work is that they don't use the standard methods of connection and communication between your computer and theirs.

Since most ISPs use the standard, they should work... however, don't expect any support from them! I can vouch for uklinux.net as they are my ISP, but the others (Tiscali, Freeserve, etc) should all be fine so long as you have the correct phone number, the correct username and the correct password.

You can get online with AOL using something called PENG. I have not used it so I can't comment on its usability. If you're going to change your ISP, then there are many good dialing programs about - I use KPPP due to its simplicity.

Good luck.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you're not buying an old version of Mandrake, as there are lots of people trying to sell old versions to unsuspecting new users. The latest available release is 9.1, this is what you want (until 9.2 is made available very soon).

There are no CDs that you can just plug-and-play to get on the Internet. As someone else said, you can use any ISP except AOL but you must enter the details manually. Mandrake will make all this simple.

thanks for all your help
probably will change isp any way (cheaper ones are about)

cheers
dai

Um, If your going to install Mandrake 9.1 like I did on a dual boot machine, theres a couple things to watch out for.

First is, I couldnt get a clean install, until I reached 256 Meg RAM, every previous install, from 128 up, failed at some point in the procedure, but the failures got less the more memory I installed.

Second is, Im using a USB Modem, and theres no way I can get Mandrake to actually Use it. It will Detect it, and add it to the list of available devices, but it cannot send the modem the interrogation commands, or connect to the net through it. One article or posting Ive seen says this is because USB Modems, are actually WinModems.

Since Linux of various flavours supports certain WinModems, your milage will vary, but I hope your using an external serieal, or hardware modem. With a low end machine, you need every advantage you can get.

I know, I usually use a near base A1200 to get on the net.

RodTerl

I use Windows to play DVD and Civ2, and Linux to watch TV. Thats about how useful the PC s to me. 8(

Quote: RodTerl said on 3 November 2003 at 15:14:13 Um, If your going to install Mandrake 9.1 like I did on a dual boot machine, theres a couple things to watch out for. First is, I couldnt get a clean install, until I reached 256 Meg RAM, every previous install, from 128 up, failed at some point in the procedure, but the failures got less the more memory I installed.

That sounds like it may be due to a memory fault rather than a Linux problem...