Et tu Mandriva?

[Guest Bernie]

I thought that coming from Windows that I would be able to dodge two things: a memory hungry OS and a lot of headaches.

I see that I have gotten neither from Mandriva Linux 2006.

 

My PentiumII computer takes about 3 minutes to boot; I download an "update" and a "security" update and it's 300MB big. Now that my memory is down to almost nothing, I ask myself: Is this worth it?

After 5 new installs and numerous hours and days scouring the internet looking to get sound and adding a few dinky programs, the frustrations doesn't stop.

 

I keep getting a C compiler error in $PATH when I go to install programs. WOULDN'T A COMPILER BE INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE? If this is such a crucial part of the package, why isn't it there?

 

I'm looking for my Windows98SE cd. Worse, I might have to buy another computer.

 

Disappointed and dejected.

[AussieJohn]

Wow you certainly give up easily.

Sounds like you think you know a fair amount about computers, Windows type computers that is.

 

That is your first mistake. Linux is NOT a free clone of Windows. Never was and never will be.

When you deal with Linux you must learn that although Linux may look similar to Windows that that is where the similarity ends.

 

Just take some time and do a little reading about Linux and Mandriva, there is loads of material around.

You will see that every aspect is done differently.

So you Installed Mandriva and then was shocked to find that there was 350+Mgbs of updates. Heck Windows does that for a service pack. And guess what ? the service pack is ONLY for the OS itself. Your linux update was for the OS and EVERY other application you had installed on your computer and you didn't have to go chasing for them. The Linux updates are a continually running phenomina and after the initial big update, the ongoing updates become a small trickle. Service packs come about once a year or so and then often destabilise system.

 

When next you do a Mandriva install, don't try designing out the install. It isn't necessary. Just go with the flow of the install routine and you will do fine and be more likely to have a properly working OS when the install is finished.

 

We all extend to you a big welcome to MUB. Cheers. John.

[ianw1974]

There are compilers, but I guess you didn't select the programming tools option during install ;)

[dexter11]

I keep getting a C compiler error in $PATH when I go to install programs.

You are a newbie and you already try to compile from source? I never understand why newbies want to take the hard way.

Linux's memory usage is greatly influenced by the graphical enviroment you are using. If you are using a bloated Desktop Enviroment then your computer will be slow. But guess what you can use another one.

Good luck to your Win98.

[michaelcole]

allot of the previous comments have been pretty brutal to start with.

 

This is because you did not ask a question you tried to say facts.

 

Mandriva 2006 with Gnome or KDe and all the X bells and eye candy will be slow on a pentium II or pentium III.

 

These computers were nolonger for sale when 2006 came out win 98 was designed for computers in 98 - not 2006 so we are talking about 8 years of differences and extras.

 

You can trim down the Environment to work for your computer.

 

First try a different Desktop.

 

Next give up trying to compile anything in the first week unless you have done this on another OS before..

 

Take small steps at first and it will work... Good luck which way you go 98 has no support linux has great support if you decide to take little steps at first and learn a little..

[Gowator]

Well first off ... you probably don't realise WE ARE NOT MANDRIVA..... nor are we associated with them.

 

Secondly: you spent 5 days trying to fix something.. you are obviously frustrated but if you had asked here 5 days ago probably you would have had a different experience :D

 

Thirdly ... one of the best things about mandriva is the package install..... However mandriva don't exactly tell noobies about this nor setting up the urpmi sources????

 

What this means is you should not have to compile ANYTHING ... in practice there is sometimes something that does need compiling but that's pretty much advanced stuff ....leading edge etc. or really rare specialist apps.

[neddie]

allot of the previous comments have been pretty brutal to start with.

I agree, they sound pretty harsh to me too.

 

Point 1: As already mentioned, if you install a "standard" 2006 Mandriva on a PentiumII, it will seem memory hungry. You didn't say how much memory you have, but I'd guess that trying to run the latest and greatest on an old machine will not bring you much joy. Don't try to use KDE, try a lighter alternative such as Xfce. You might want to try out Xubuntu which is more optimised for older machines. That's not to say Mandriva is not as good as Xubuntu, it's just got a different target audience. You could also use Xfce with Mandriva if you want, but it might take a bit more effort than an already configured Xubuntu.

 

I guess you already know that installing a 2006 version of Windows on this PentiumII would also be inadvisable - it just wouldn't fly. The advantage of the linux systems is that you can choose from a variety of desktops and applications which suit the machine.

 

Point 2: The reason the compiler isn't included in each and every package which needs a compiler should be obvious. You can get a compiler once (if you really need one) and then use it hundreds of times for different packages. You shouldn't need to get the compiler lots of times.

 

Point 3: As already said, you almost definitely don't need a compiler, at least at first. If you give us an idea of what you're trying to install, we can help further, but as a general rule, everything you could want is almost certainly available as a pre-compiled, pre-packaged, ready-to-go file, called an rpm. These can usually be very easily installed just by typing the name in the 'add software' tool and clicking 'install'.

 

Point 4: Your point about the large download to update your system is a good one, and was also mentioned in this thread from yesterday. The good news is that subsequent updates will be much much smaller.

[Gowator]

Point 4: Your point about the large download to update your system is a good one, and was also mentioned in this thread from yesterday. The good news is that subsequent updates will be much much smaller.

But its optional..... if you want to live with security holes then noone is forcing you....

Mandriva don't control security updates... the app maintainers do and thankfully Mandriva actually packages them...

 

This really is a spurious arguament ... MS don't release regular updates.... nor even patch serious flaws... users are expected to live with them through "security through obscurity" .....

 

The fact that mandriva actually packages and publishes the updates is not a negative point....

 

If its 300MB of security updates then that is what has changed....