gmac

I don't know. I am a total novice at this I don't really know how to get it ti check. I press esc while to get in to set up and that about sums up my knowledge.

tried several of them they seem to be definct web sites, which is a pity. Tried macafee but there is some kind of conflict with my other software, kerios almost wrecked my computer, sygate wouldn't uninstall completely which i find annoying, looks like I will have to go back to zone alert which seems the best.

Toshoba 480 cdt satellite pro pentium 2 6gb 16 mb of ram. Ffisst tried that didn't work. I I can get in to setup pressing esc at start up, change boot priority but this doesn't seem to work. CD itself does not seem to work, although so far as I know it was. I was intending to get a box made up so I xould play around with linux without risking my essential computer- I work at home. I have reached the shallow depths of my knowledge.

I have been given a laptop, (it's an ex company one) it used to have windows on it but this has been wiped now ther is no operating system on it it opens up to C/>. There is no floppy disc, but I thought I would be able to install mandrake on it booting of the CD rom. I can get in to set up and change it to boot from the CD, I think, but the CD does not seem to work. So far as I know it was working just no longer a high enough spec. Before I give up and bin it any suggestions. Please be kind I have never tried this kind of thing before.

This may be a bit cheeky but does anyone know of an open source firewall for windows? So far I have been unable to find one but I wideally would like one that can be used on both windows and linux.

These things are great but useless if you can't actually read a map in the first place. I use one hillwalking, dead handy in mist, but I have met people using these things who have come up to me to ask where they are on the map. if you can't understand the grid reference they are worse then useless. Same in the car, I suspect. if you don't understand the orientation and you can't use a map in the first place you're stuffed. Hillwallking is like life, The guy with the map, the compass and the loud opinion does not necessarily know what he is doing. learn to use them yourself. Personally I have been lost so often my navigation is now first class.

From the same site. "News: Main Public Reply to Whats so bad about microsoft...? I don't have a problem with people choosing Linux... By jj791999 Comments: 571, member since Mon Feb 25, 2002 On Sun Dec 28, 2003 12:10 PM ...but I do have a problem with people who choose to stop using Microsoft products and go the Linux route and still continue to bitch about Microsoft. If you don't like Microsoft then don't buy and use their products and stop bitching. It's as simple as that." The one thing that really antagonises me about microsoft is that they don't want me to have a choice. I'm stuck with it and will probably have to upgrade at some point to windows XP purely because there is one eseential programme that I need to use. When I ask the techie guys at the provider why they don't use linux they often do themselves but have to provide what the market demands, or what they are told to by thge marketing people. In buying a computer now the expensive part is the software if Micrisoft implement the yearly licence renewal for the worktop they are going to price themselves out of the market. Give them credit for making computers accessible to a mass market but all monopolists eventually fail if market forces are left to work. Despite America having the toughest anti trust laws in the world they don't seem able to apply them effectively to microsoft. " I recently read the Communist Maefesto, and boy, did it wake me up. I was like, omg, Marx is right on a lot of the things he says about capitalism. " Remember the time he was writing in, no universal suffrage and monarchs still ruled. Most of his critics have never read him, nor have most so called marxists. If you have an open mind don't let it be obscured by the dust.

I loved the one about why most linux zealots are european. I quote "Most Linux zealots are European because Europe is a continent populated by liberal socialists that hate capitalism and corporations. Europeans oppose intellectual property rights and the rights of owners of intellectual property to profit off of their intellectual property. Europeans dislike merchants. European liberals believe all intellectual property should be public domain." Whats depressing is that you know the guy must be intelligent, it would be funny but I think he believes it. But do you wonder if Europeans occasionally perceive America as a country peopled by semi literate (liberal socialist?), gun-toting paranoid nutters ready to gun down anybody that disagrees with anything they say, and no I don't believe you are. Joking aside can't they perceive open source as a different business model that has a place in a competitive market place. If taken up I could see a lot of scope for new businesses advising and implementing open source solutions for businesses. Most of the computer consultants I meet that are hostile to linux are wetting themselves because they know they can't compete and can see their income streams disappearing. Well that what competition in business means. The IT industry is changing and the pace of change is increasing adapt or die.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/...1110111,00.html Kinf of highlights the stranglehold MS has. Without Linux we would have to pay the piper.

Small office, instead of filing cabinets and paper copies i am scanning documents on to the computer. These are not just single pages but often 30-40 pages sometimes double sided. I need a scanner that can scan multiple pages preferable double sided as well. These are readily available for windows. You can also buy programmes that link the documents in to a data base for easy recall. I've been using pdf format (star office works fine) for convenience ind somply storing in a folder. there are more sophosticated ways of doing it. So far I have been experimenting but now need to decide what I am doing. I would prefer to use linux but to date have not found equivalent software. There must be because large companies use this stuff and I know some of the resellers but their stuff is nit compatable with linux. You can lease the software for £40-50 per month with full updates etc or £80-£100 of you want the hardware as well. Thats actually quite an attractive package. Some of the commercial client management systems are £100-120 per month for a single licence. Thats what started me playing around with star office, I can achieve the same end myself with a little bit of work. The clever bit is the scanning software. Hope that clarifies things. You tend to assume everybody knows what you mean.

paperless office multipage scanners tied in with databases. I can find several systems for use with windows but so far designed for use with linux. Any suggestions anyone? I'm no technical wizard so I need it simple.

I've since switched to AVG as well. Much better, also it doen't seem to clash with windows in the way macafee does. On a couple of accasions after upgrading macafee I found the hd was badly fragmented and crasshing as a consequence. Also use Zone alert, had a trial with zone alert pro, which seemed o.k. Now just have the basic. I'm not sure how real the number of attcks were. I use a cable modem, not broadband, it was fascinating the number of times it was blocking cookies. Now use mozilla which is streaks ahead of explorer. I can see why MS had to give it away. New year resolution fix my mandrake installation so I can use it again.

The thing that always strikes me is that they could get the kids interested in programming so they know what is happening underneath. I have a nephew recently completed an IT course supposedly to programme games. At the employer days basically the course directors got ripped to shreds because what they were teaching was obsolete and the students would need to be trained by any employer taking them on. At school and college they are trained to use computers not work with them. He is now a trainee supermarket manager where he had better be able to understand the stock control programme and understand what it is telling him. It goes beyond being able to use a spreadsheet - Having information is no use if you are unable to interpret it. I met a first year IT student-son of a family friend- I sked what he thought if Linux and he had bever heard of it. The thing is playing about with linux would probably teach him a lot more about computers than just windows ever will. On the other hand I am hardly an expert in these matters. I suspect there are a lot of IT graduates who can pass the exams but have no real grasp or liking of what they are doing. I know lots of accountants like that

Ah the ups and downs of UK government. Thought these two links might be of interest. http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/...1101387,00.html I know one NHS manager that suggested linux to his IT staff, basically they didn't know what he was on about. How can you call yourself an IT professional and not be aware in developments in your own industry? http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/...1101446,00.html Actually The schools are so geared to meeting targets teachers can't afford to be innovative. They're judged on results irrespective of what type of pupil they might have to deal with. They might know more about computers but if he doesn't get them through the exams they're heavily criticised.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/...1083676,00.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/...1085764,00.html Even if microsoft lose, unless you can walk in and buy a computer without windows most people are going to stick with it. Even with a choice most people will stick with the devil they know. It may keep breaking but you can get people to fix it and if you upgrade to the new version things will get better and the computer was obsolete anyway. (irony in case you are wondering). I've been looking at data management software. There are several companies from whom I can get the necessary software to run a paperless office ranging from £40 per month up to £100 if I want them to supply the hardware as well. That's with full support and a working database to control the documents. All I need is the multipage scanner, dvd drive and a big enough hard drive to store the info. They are all windows based and so are the scanners and concomitant software. I would love to use linux but can't find the equivalent applications. It must exist as it is becoming crucial business software. If anyone knows of anything like that please let me know. Point I'm making is that no matter how good linux may or may not be unless it is marketed more effectively it has an uphill battle. Windows is using its dominance in the desktop market to pull it in to the server market. I reckon linux needs to reciprocate and start going for the desktop market. It may upset the purists (the rtfm brigade and the if you're not prepared to spend some time looking before asking for help you shouldn't be using linux brigade) but most people don't want to spend hours with their computers learning to do something the hard way. It needs to be an out of the box easy to use rival to have a chance of succeeding.

What does cable select actually mean? I find I am doing things blindly.

Talked to the guy that installed it for me. Turns out he was aware of the problem, his son who actulally did the work is more familiar with the software than hardware and was unaware of the portential problem, so it is set up for cable. Itwas changed back. When I got it back the rescue mode wouldn't work but since then I have reset the dates from windows set up, for some reason the default settings were oct 2002. The poor thing seemed all confused. Now everything is hunky dory with windows so I feel more confident about trying linux again.. I will try the rescue mode forst to see if that works. Turns out the guy's main business is system installation, mainly unix based but he is also familiar with linux which means at least I know where to go when I want to build a new computer with compatable hardware. Looks like I will need to invest in a laptop for work so I think I will keep that for the windows only programmes I have to keep and use linux on the desktop. A noce ex lease one I think. Computers are changing so fast don't see the point in spending too much. Just think how cheap they would be without windows. Thanks for the help guys. I will let you know if it works. If not you see a frantic plea for help.

The master/slave /cable does seem to be the cause of the problem. I now have my computer back up and working properly still minus the Mandrake, although its still on the other half of the original drive. I really need to keep it working and don't want to use the use of it. If I leave as is. set for cable would a reinstall work and pick up the second drive? Alternatively I can disconnect the second drive and play around with the original drive but preserve the info that I need to protect. Its also backed up in cd's but I can do without the hassle of reinstalling it all.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/...1001267,00.html If people realkised the implications of this I reckon it would antagonise a great many. http://www.guardian.co.uk/microsoft/Story/...1074817,00.html There are some lovely twists in this. Even if the GPL adjudged illegal in the US it does not follow that the EU will follow suit. The EU for all its faults has shown itself capable of acting against large companies, and not just American ones either, for monopolistic activity. "The other thing that I wanted to say is that I am worried about Linux because if it didn't make in the States, then it is unlikely for it to have a chance somewhere else. And it's about time for the economy to recover so Linux will be less interesting for the companies to use. " Come on microsoft put your prices up and have ridiculous licence restrictions, behave like a monopoly these could be your death throes. Personally I think/hope alternatives would become more attractive.

"so tyou tried to put int the first Mandreake cd....hit F1, typed rescue and choose ot reinstall the bootloader...but if fails when loading after rescue?" No it fails half way through without loading in to the memory "Make sure the jumper pins on the back of all drives are set for master/slave and not cable select. Microshaft handles cable select by software i guess and linux doesn't as of yet. Try to just reinstall your boot loader if it's in the MBR. It should then find the right place for everything and get you going again. " Actually thats a big clue. The guy mentioned he thought that seemed to be a problem. He is the hardware specialist, its his son that is in to Linux but neither are terribly familiar with Mandrake and neother am I. Cannon fodder I'm going to try that once I've had a word about the slave master thing (sounds kinky) to make sure. I need to be sure I don't muck up windows as thats has all the crucial stuff I need to use. Before I try that I might try your second suggestion. But How do I reinstall the boot loader? Bear in mind I am truly a newbie at this.

I had a 20gb hard drive dual booted linux/mandrake. Needing more space I had a new 40gb hard drive installed as a second drive. After some difficulty got windows working OK but now no sign of Mandrake. Its still there bit the boot record got lost in the install. Guy that fitted it reckons boot disk should get it working-except I never made a boot disk. Have tried the repair option from the CD but the programme loads half way and then fails. I can dosconnect the new drive and play around with the pld drive. - the idea of the new drive was to provide back up for my data in the event of catastrophic failure of the smaller drive. I do want to use Mandrake and got to the point I could accesss data in the windows partition, would like to do the same with the new drive. Qustion is should I disconnect the new drive so I don't lose my data and get mandrake working again by reinstalling and then try and mount the new drive later. Or, Should I leave themconnected and reinstall with the new drive attached. The problem arose wth the new drive. I should explain the bloke that fitted it also dual booted mandrake for me (Iknow I'm a wimp) I could probably get him to do it again but that approach does not help me learn. So long as I can recover my data I am happy to experiment and the more I play around with this the better I like it. Anyway, what do you reckon? Get Mndrake working first and then try mounting the new one or try reinstalling with both in place?

Do you have a manual for the monitor? I had a monitor that wasn't on the list and couldn't get it to work until I set the resolution and refresh rate correctly. The manual should tell you what refresh rate and frequency you need. I too am a newbie and if that's not much help my apologies. My problem was quite simple in that I used the wrong parameters. I couldn't get past the monitor set up till I realised what was wrong.

", all McAfee stuff, and finally they tell me that there is a trojan attacking their program, and that I would have to remove their product and reinstall!" Do you mean there is a virus attacking the anti virus programme? I use Norton Utities which I find essential for keeping windows working. (I'm stuck with windows for some applications so don't have a go at me.) I use macafee anti virus and they do seem to dislike each other. From what you are saying maybe I should dump macafee, if they can't protect their own programmes it does not exactly inspire confidence. It annoys me anyway that they trying ti get me to buy a product I have already bought.

http://www.newsforge.com/software/03/10/30...&tid=150&tid=82 Saw this on newsforge and it is relevant to whither mandrake. Who's going to use it and why should they? Before you all start foaming at the mouth and making inane comments think about it. Actually that perhaps is not the best way to put it but never mind. You are a sole or a small business user that can choose between windows or linux why should you use linux and specifically mandrake? You can walk in to any store and buy a computer with windows installed and all the scanners printers etc you could want to run a paperless office. There is this obscure thing you see on the shelves that looks like an alternative to windows but you can't find anything out about it. The IT consultants that are beating a path to your door have either never heard of linux, or leave you with the impression that its not as good as windows. You can buy manuals so that you can learn how to use the office suites etc plenty of places offer courses if thats what you want. On the other hand the books on linux go in to obscure detail that don't really tell you how to work the blasted thing. Windows also has loads of magazines that tell you how to tweak and so on. It does seem silly that you have to buy programmes to sop it crashing but that seems to be what you have to do. Linux magazines are confusing because they talk about all these different distros none of which seems to be like the other. Mandrake which seemed quite good might not be around if it goes out of business and certainly does not seem serious about providing any kind of service, they have a very active users forum that they seem to regard as an irritation (going by some of the posts) which rather suggests it doesn't care about the long term or has no clear strategy for survival. So what would you do if you were running a linux distribution? How would you plan a long term strategy and what would you do?

"This is unacceptable in today's Linux market, and at this rate Mandrake will not survive long. " Kind of depends what you think linux's market is. If it's becoming more "Business" like then being consistent matters. You need to think about what your customer wants. Small businesses don't have an IT department, linux looks good next to windows because of the scope it offers, cost etc, most can probably cope with windows because they have had to. There has to be fairly strong incentives to get used to another operating system. Muckng about with downloads its not everybody's ideal way of spending time and sticking in a cd and just loading has a certain appeal. There is also the slightly deranged idea that something downloaded can't be as something in a nice box. Its a sad fact of life that you have to cope with people you think are idiots. To survive Mandrake has to operate on several levels and be ready to change. There is no point having the best mousetrap if you give no thought as to how to tell people, especially those in numpty land. "tired of whiney babies." usually thers a good reson for whiney babies.