My Journey Through Linux Hell

Being considered by others a highly computer literate person, I thought installing Linux would be painless and a sinch.

First, I acquired Red Hat Linux 7.1 off of a friend. I was kind of happy to know that I wouldn't have to partition my drive into a Linux and Windows partition thanks to Red Hat's great No Partition Install. Unfortunately, Linux, as antiquated as it is, cannot read off of the modern 21st century NTFS file system. Disappointed, and encouraged by an Open Sores friend, I illegally downloaded and stole PartitionMagic Pro 7.0, not just normal PartitionMagic, but the more expensive Pro version. (I felt so bad afterwards, I went to confession in the good Catholic manor.)

Being a commercial program, PartitionMagic had a GUI and was very easy to use. All I had to do was right click and choose a couple of options to resize my NTFS Partion to 30GB leaving 10GB open for my Linux partition. I restarted, and when I came back into windows, all worked well. I opened PartitionMagic and created a Linux Native partition. I put the Red Hat cd into the computer and restarted. When Red Hat Linux Setup started, it was a very old Windows 3.1 looking GUI. (I was amazed that Red Hat took the time to make a GUI, knowing the usual quality of Open Sores programs) Unfortunately, I had to connect an old ps/2 mouse to my computer because apparently the antique Linux operating system doesn't support cutting edge technology like USB and lasers. I followed the instructions until I got to the screen that said manually choose the partition to install the Linux operating system on. Unfortunately, I had trouble figuring this out because of the very strange way Linux handles storage devices. Instead of using a modern, and easy letter-based interface, Linux uses strange and alien terms such as hda1/ and hda2/. Following the advice of the manual, I mounted hda2 as / which apparently means root. Luckily, hda2 was the Linux partition, but unfortunately, Linux doesn't support 21st century functions like same disk Virtual Memory so I had to again, make a 1 GB Linux SWAP partition from PartitionMagic Pro, which if I haven't added already, I was encouraged to download in the manner of a common thief.

Again, I restarted my computer and ran the Linux set up again this time making it as far as Ready to Copy files. Unfortunately, the unstable and highly undocumented install program, called Anaconda (Largely because it chokes the common reputations of computers and Operating System Install programs) had an "Abnormal Termination" error, whatever that means. I was launched into a strange DOS type text based interface seen only in horror films. I tried several things like typing in WIN and EXIT, but it was to no avail. I had to manually restart my computer by shutting off my computer at the power supply (Most modern 21st century computer makers and the beloved Microsoft warn against this for it causes Hard-Drive damage)

The third and final time I had to run the Linux setup program, it finally installed. It didn't have drivers for my cutting edge Flat-Panel monitor so I had to choose a generalized 1999 driver for generic monitors. Eventually, I got to GRUB configuration which allows two operating systems to boot off of one computer. I configured it so one OS would boot off of hda1 (the C: Drive, mind you) and the auxilary OS would boot off of hda2 (The D: or E: drive on most modern operating systems)

Finally finished with that abomination of an install program, I rebooted my computer and when GRUB loaded up, only Linux was on the option screen. Unfortunately, I ,had to choose Linux and instead of the quick 35 second boot-up time of Windows XP Professional, I was met by a tediously slow boot up not seen since Windows 1.0. It took over 2 1/2 minutes (On a 1.7 Ghz computer with 256 MB of RAM)

Now before, a couple of my hairs were just being singed, but now, I was so far down in hell, I was wishing I weren't born. I thought, wrongly of course, that if I restarted the computer, GRUB would work correctly and Windows XP would be on the GRUB screen but first, I had to find the restart command on the GNOME Equivalent of a start menu. Well, where could it be, it wasn't on the start menu. Again, against the recommendations of every computer manufacturer in the civilized world I had to manually restart. I restarted and GRUB still only had the Linux OS to choose from. I put in the Windows XP Install disk and restarted the computer using the ingenius repair option to start into Windows XP. When I finally did get into Windows XP, it was really messed up. The Virtual Memory (64-bit I may add, and on the same partition) wasn't working, and may hard drive was 99% fragmented, up from 47 before I installed Linux. Now I'm angry, my computer is even more messed up than I can go into detail on.

All-in-All, I lost 17 GBs of data, including 400 MP3s, Countless pieces of Intellectual Property and Artwork made in commercial programs like Paint Shop Pro and Lightwave 3d, 3 GBs of Legally downloaded Commercial Programs and several Word Documents need for school. The moral of this story (Besides backing up your hard drive before installing evil antique operating systems like Linux) is that Linux is a monopoly uses illegal business tactics like offering "free" (It's not actually free, because you have to pay for it in performance, and features)and thwarting existing installations of commercial and legal programs.

	I warned you. (none / 0) (#1)
	by Lysidas on Tue Apr 23rd, 2002 at 07:43:48 PM PST

	I warned you against using the 7.1 discs, and did you listen? No. USB/Laser mice work fine on the 7.2 installer, which you know firsthand. Also, you never used GRUB. GRUB, the Grand Unified Bootloader, is new to RedHat 7.2. I would guess you were using LILO. Linux does take more brainpower to install and use than the droolware known as XP. Whatever floats your boat is fine by me, but I'd rather use an abacus than XP. Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes.

	Droolware? (none / 0) (#16)
	by Anonymous Reader on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 11:20:44 AM PST

	It runs faster, better APIs (DirectX) and support, runs almost 90% of programs are made for it, better memory handling, any others?

	don't strain yourself (none / 0) (#18)
	by nathan on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 11:24:46 AM PST

	Coming from gks, 'droolware' is quite a compliment. Nathan -- Li'l Sis:** Yo, that's a real grey area. Even by my lax standards.

	Others... (none / 0) (#21)
	by The Mad Scientist on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 12:24:43 PM PST

	...and random nondebuggable lockups on some computers, mysterious slowdowns curable by reboot, registry (ewww) corruptions, memory leaks, unpatched security holes (and the approach to them), no good scripting language, and the worst of the worst - the users.

	Amen. (n/m) (none / 0) (#25)
	by Lysidas on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 02:31:58 PM PST

	Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes.

	Yeah...Ok (none / 0) (#27)
	by MattGlover on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 03:05:30 PM PST

	Well, I ran XP for 1 1/2 months without any errors. As soon as I installed Linux it screwed up my entire computer.

	Yep. (none / 0) (#30)
	by The Mad Scientist on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 03:40:05 PM PST

	Well, I screwed up a machine couple years back when I attempted to repartition a drive. I was later recovering data from a few disks whose owners attempted to mess with resizing partitions. None of the cases were Linux-related in any way. When it comes to resizing the partitions, I am extremely reluctant to do so. I run Linux for 7 months on home machine and for 9 months on company machines, almost without problems (the causes were only running out of disk space (when I forgot to check it), hardware problems, and a bug in smbfs which is now corrected and it was mostly my mistake that I ran old kernel). I am attempting to stay away from the desktop, though, as I feel better with the servers. As long as I will be the head of our IT, there will be no Windows on any mission-critical server.

	BAH! (none / 0) (#32)
	by MattGlover on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 03:45:45 PM PST

	As long as I will be the head of our IT, there will be no Windows on any mission-critical server. Which is a terrible mistake.

	Mistake? (none / 0) (#35)
	by The Mad Scientist on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 03:57:42 PM PST

	We will see in next 5 years. I am betting my future on unixes. When technology is involved, my bets are rarely wrong.

	Egomania... (none / 0) (#43)
	by Uncanny Vortex on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 07:38:29 AM PST

	...is a sad and lonely disease. Please seek help from a licensed professional. -- Uncanny Vortex

	Egos are very healthy (5.00 / 1) (#52)
	by Narcissus on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 12:52:38 PM PST

	egotism is a good sign that someone has confidence and high self-esteem -------------------------------- Ok, who picked the flower???

	Somehow, I knew you would say that. [n/t] (none / 0) (#61)
	by because it isnt on Fri Apr 26th, 2002 at 02:04:43 AM PST

	adequacy.org -- because it isn't

	Shut up, NAWL. (none / 0) (#50)
	by derek3000 on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 10:37:37 AM PST

	No one here is buying into your astroturf. ---------------- "Feel me when I bring it!" --Gay Jamie

	Astroturf (none / 0) (#53)
	by The Mad Scientist on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 12:58:42 PM PST

	There is an unnamed company famous by their astroturf campaigns... ...though for historical record we shouldn't forget the Boeing-orchestrated demonstrations against allowing supersonic commercial jets landing on US airports.

	I'm game too (none / 0) (#47)
	by Lysidas on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 09:03:08 AM PST

	I'd bet on anything that's open-sourced over proprietary crap. Sadly, if a unix is to succeed on the desktop, there may have to be a module that simulates drive lettering. The masses just can't handle change. Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes.

	Are you new to this site? (5.00 / 1) (#2)
	by mfk on Tue Apr 23rd, 2002 at 08:11:30 PM PST

	It is a well-known fact that Linux sucks ass. The constant infighting, lack of standards (despite zealots whining about not being able to read Microsoft Word files), blatant disregard for Intellectual Property, and the XXX Windows System make up the hellhole that is known as Linux. Linux is notorious for not supporting the latest hardware; USB support was not finalized until Leenus Torvaltyos' 2.4 kernel was out - and even then, the evil Russian hacker treated it like his personal development tree as evidenced by the Virtual Memory fiasco. At this rate, USB 2.0 support ought to be finalized by the time Serial ATA makes its debut. The old adage - "you get what you pay for" still holds true in this regard. I paid $300 for my legally licensed, activated copy of Windows XP, and I could not be any happier. Stability, coupled with 100% compatibility with every program, have shown what fine effort Microsoft has put into their latest operating system. Installing hardware is a cinch; if, for any reason, the installation fails, I can check the Event Log (no console here) and view Window's descriptive error message so I can take appropriate action to correct it.

	Blah blah whine whine (none / 0) (#58)
	by DG on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 04:05:16 PM PST

	same old windows is better than linux becuse i know windows and i wish to remain ignorent of linux BS i've heard for the last 5 years.. Zzzzz... move along nothing to be seen here, go away troll © 2002, DG. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	You Sir... (none / 0) (#3)
	by John Wainright on Tue Apr 23rd, 2002 at 08:49:28 PM PST

	Are a common thief! I would like to know why you went to a Catholic home instead of a Church to confess your sins. Though freely admitting you procured illegally certain programs makes it easier for the authorities to find you.

	Manor (none / 0) (#6)
	by MattGlover on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 03:45:57 AM PST

	Manor. n. - 1. Home 2. Way I went to confession in the good Catholic way.

	Oops...Bad spelling... (none / 0) (#17)
	by Anonymous Reader on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 11:22:04 AM PST

	I was sick and drunk up on cough syrup yesterday, please disregard bad spelling. I know manner is the right word....

	One thing that would have helped.. (2.00 / 1) (#4)
	by DG on Tue Apr 23rd, 2002 at 08:53:33 PM PST

	is if you would have read the documetation.. i know, i know, everyone will whine "but you don't need to read anything for xp!!" for good reason.. but as for the ntfs thing.. well you can't read ntfs in dos or 9x eather, maybe you should have read how to load the modual for ntfs?, linux has a higher learning curve than windows, you have to know how stuff works under the hood, claiming it sucks becuse you don't know anything and you break stuff is a weak whine, you should back up everything if you are going to experiment, hell i bet you would hear the same from someone trying to install xp for the first time, it's not only linux, by the way default linux doesn't read xp becuse they didn't expect anyone to dual boot xp and redhat, if you read documention it would tell you to defrag defrag defrag.. it's not the oses fault you screw it up © 2002, DG. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	If I may politely disagree- (none / 0) (#13)
	by JoePain on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 10:57:45 AM PST

	I am a computer amature and was able to install Windows XP just fine. I have also installed Lunix, but did not take any chances, as i am afraid of developing open sores. He should have been advised to use a commercially available product, VM Ware (www.vmware.com), to try LUNIX in (free 30 day trial). This way he couldn't possibly have screwed up his operating system, as Microsofts vmware product isolates lunix so it does not come near windows. I think you Luni pushers purposely did this to punish a microsoft user. Open sores give new meaning to the red scare.

	Some points (none / 0) (#36)
	by DG on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 06:09:41 PM PST

	First: stop saying open sores, it was funny the first time now it's just idiotic Second: why the hell did you post that vmware is made by microsoft? if you go to the site the company title is VMWARE you insult them by slapping microsoft in that name. Third:was i talking about you? i was talking about the total newbie, the type of people who doesn't ask others for help when something trashs the system, if you can install linux you have some computer know-how, and i wasn't talking about you, as linux is decendent of unix, it functions better if it owns the whole hard drive, ie no sharing.. isn't it's fault if you don't learn how to install it properly © 2002, DG. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	Zealot... (none / 0) (#44)
	by JoePain on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 08:41:51 AM PST

	You cannot speak about Lunix to newbs of that caliber because they quite simply will not understand. Do you understand what this means? what the fuck are you saying and who the fuck are you addressing?

	I could say the same of you (none / 0) (#56)
	by DG on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 03:44:04 PM PST

	Icould replace "linux" with windows and it still would be true, what the fuck are you talking about? i'm trying to keep it understandable... maybe you need to hear it again..linux/windows/freebsd/macos work better if they have the whole harddrive to themselves.. stuff starts acting funny when you try to dual boot other os with it, hmm i think you are way off, i am not a zealot you must feel like a witch hunt or something so you are calling me names, by the way who the fuck do you think i'm talking to? could it be the idiot who thinks he's funny calling it "open sores"? stop trolling it's not funny and you have nothing worth saying © 2002, DG. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	If I may butt into this discussion... (none / 0) (#59)
	by Uncanny Vortex on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 04:20:58 PM PST

	Mr. DG, You don't think you're a zealot, but you definitely come off sounding like one -- and an uneducated one at that. stuff starts acting funny when you try to dual boot How about using some specific technical terms to describe the problems you've encountered? Stuff, you say? Acting funny? By Jove, how informative! Dual booting is a time-honoured concept, proven to work in many situations, if set up properly. That includes dual-booting Linux with Win2k, or Win2k with Win98, or any number of configurations. If it's not working for you, then you probably did something wrong. Perhaps a trip to the newsgroup archives would help. Really though, it's not worth your time to install a useless OS such as Lunix. I'm betting your main reason for advocating it is because you get to feel like a hip, anti-establishment nerd. In actuality, you may be an inexperienced novice who blindly promotes a subversive OS. So when was the last time you wrote some code to create or modify any open-farce project? Yeah, that's what I suspected. You haven't learned K&R C just yet; you're still working your way through the primer between puffs on the crack-pipe. Keep at it, Fruity. -- Uncanny Vortex

	Hmm (none / 0) (#60)
	by DG on Thu Apr 25th, 2002 at 04:53:27 PM PST

	you are confused, i know how to install linux/unix/windows what ever, i have my mcse and other ms stuff and a+ and such, i didn't know you were that hungry for info on things you seem to not care about, maybe you are just out to annoy others.. that most likely it but insulting me doesn't help anything, grow up and stop posting nonsense, to tell you the truth i don't give a shit what you think.. oh well i'm not mad at all just saddened by calling this a site for grown ups i would have thought i'd see some.. all i see are anal retentive 15 year-olds wanking off to how much they think they know. © 2002, DG. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	Suggestion. (none / 0) (#63)
	by hauntedattics on Fri Apr 26th, 2002 at 06:38:55 AM PST

	Why don't you use capital letters, proper sentence structure and some whitespace in your posts? People still might not take what you say seriously, but at least they'll be able to decipher what you're trying to say. And then maybe you'll have a seat at the grown-ups' table! Won't that be exciting.

	Suggestion for you (none / 0) (#67)
	by DG on Fri Apr 26th, 2002 at 02:51:46 PM PST

	Why don't you come up with something other than to nitpick my writing? like say something to do with what i wrote? i get rather tired of some of the people who attack me just becuse of some precieved notion that they can't read what i post. big deal i don't use capitals.. if thats all you have to post, fuck off till you have something worth posting © 2002, DG. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	I would... (none / 0) (#68)
	by hauntedattics on Mon Apr 29th, 2002 at 11:06:09 AM PST

	respond to the content in your posts, but I have no idea what you're trying to say. I'm also hesitant to spend extra time trying to decipher what you're unwilling (or unable?) to say in clearly written, correctly spelled English. Others on this site don't have any problem with this concept. Why do you?

	well (none / 0) (#69)
	by DG on Mon Apr 29th, 2002 at 12:59:53 PM PST

	becuse, i have better things to do, it seems to be a last ditch effort by a lot of posters, to attack me, it seems petty to me © 2002, DG. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	Well... (none / 0) (#70)
	by hauntedattics on Tue Apr 30th, 2002 at 08:08:20 AM PST

	if you have better things to do, then why not do them instead of posting? It's simple courtesy on a written discussion forum to post lucid and concise messages, so if you can't do that, maybe you should think twice about posting anything.

	The Install messed up my hard drive. (none / 0) (#5)
	by MattGlover on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 03:41:51 AM PST

	I did defrag...I did know the basics of Linux before I installed it...I made sure to get all this stuff before I installed the new operating system...but the point is...it messed with stuff it's not even supposed to.

	surely not (none / 0) (#9)
	by budlite on Wed Apr 24th, 2002 at 06:15:46 AM PST

	it messed with stuff it's not even supposed to I'm really having a hard time believing that. I did know the basics of Linux before I installed it Pull the other one!