new to the linux world

[johnnybevo]

Hello
I am new to the linux world.
I have Ubuntu 12.04 installed but due to issues with the Nvidia drivers I am looking for a light wieght fast distro. I currently have a disk with Mandriva 2010.2 which I got out of Linux mag. issue 124. I dont think it is a live cd. I am very interested Mangeia. So far what i have read is that Mandriva/Mageia works well with Nvidia graphics cards. I will be using this system to record tutorials for 3d modeling applications i.e. Blender 3d and other 3d applications also.
So if I do a clean fresh install from the disk that I have will I be able to ugrade to Mageia ?
Would downloading an iso be better than upgrading from the net?
Does Mageia include the alternive desktops?
What about repository access?
Can I run window apps through wine or something else on Mageia.
How difficult is the install?

I am sure I will think of more questions later.
Thanks ahead of time

[djennings]

Hi and welcome to Mageia
If the disc you have is a CD then it a Live CD. The full install is on a DVD.
Installing from a Live CD will set up your Nvidia card with the Nvidia proprietary drivers 'out of the box' so is the easiest option for a novice.
If you install from the DVD then it will set up with the open source video drivers. After install you use the Control Centre to set up online repositories, then running the video graphics wizard will install the proprietary drivers for you.

Yes you can upgrade to Mageia 1 from Mandriva 2010.2 either by using the DVD which will detect the Mandriva installation and offer to upgrade it, or online. An online upgrade will be quite slow. There are a *lot* of packages.

The easiest route for you is probably to download one of the Mageia Live CD isos and install Mageia 1 directly rather than upgrade from Mandriva. There are two Live CDs A Gnome one, and a KDE one. The Gnome version is more suitable for a 'light weight' system. KDE requires quite a fast computer with plenty of RAM.

If you are prepared to wait a little time Mageia 2 will be released shortly. Of course you could always install Mageia 1 and do an online upgrade to Mageia 2 when it is released.

Yes you can use Wine to run Windows applications. In Mageia clicking on a Windows executable will run it in Wine (so long as Wine is installed) or else you can install PlayonLinux which provides an easy way to install and manage Windows applications. But please before trying to run Windows applications in Linux explore the native Linux applications first.

The install is real easy. If you are worried try it in a Virtual Box on your current system first.


As for alternative desktops, the Live CDs will install IceWM as well as the primary desktop. Other desktops can be added from the repositories later. The DVD contains KDE, Gnome, LXDE, IceWM, Blackbox, Openbox, Fluxbox, and possibly some I have forgotton. Other desktops are in the repositories such as XFCE, and E17. You can have as many desktops installed as you please.

[johnnybevo]

My disk is a DVD. I could download the cd, but it is 32 bit and I have Amd 64 bit system.
Would it be better to run the 32 bit?
Could i run the 32bit on my system?
The 64 bit DVD is a Huge download.
Would the 64 bit version be more powerful?

[johnnybevo]

What is the Dual Arch CD?

it is lxde correct?
is there a screenshot of the Mageia lxde desktop somewhere?
Is the lxde 64 or 32 bit?

[djennings]

There is a 32 bit DVD and a 64 bit DVD A 32 bit distro will work on a 64 bit computer. Personally I cannot tell the difference between the performance of the two on my 64 bit computer.

The live CD for Mageia 1 is 32 bit only, but Mageia 2 will have both 32 and 64 bit Live CDs

The Dual Arch CD contains a minimal install for *both* 32 and 64 bit. Used on its own it will install LXDE. If while installing, at the point where it asks if you have more media you reply Yes>FTP then it will find an online repository and allow a full installation just like the DVD in which it will get packages not on the CD from the repositories including the update repositories so there is no need to install updates later. (There are quite a few updates for Mageia 1) Installing this way will be a lot slower than installing from the DVD.
BTW: LXDE is a very competent lightweight desktop. I am using it right now. It does not have the shiny gimmicks of KDE, but it is a *lot* faster.

As for a screenshot of the desktop there is one on the front page of www.mageia.org. Since you can change the appearance of any distro to suit your taste I have never understood why the default appearance matters.

[hawk]

First I'd like to shout some congrats to the Mageia team for the new release... I love it! Shortly after using the Live-KDE cd, I decided to replace Mandriva 2011 and install Mageia 2, which for me went flawlessly.

While I want KDE installed for any Windows users who wants to use my computer, I prefer the minimalist approach using Blackbox WM. The problem is that I can't find blackbox using either urpmi or the control center. I read that blackbox could be added after Mageia 2 is installed, but all I can find is kblackbox (a game) listed, do I need to add some other repos ?

Thanks for the great work!

PS - My other forum posts regard a notebook touchpad isssue with Mageia 1, I'm happy to say Mageia 2 works perfect on that notebook.

[doktor5000]

The problem is that I can't find blackbox using either urpmi or the control center. I read that blackbox could be added after Mageia 2 is installed, but all I can find is kblackbox (a game) listed, do I need to add some other repos ?

Please use a seperate thread for such issues.
BTW, it seems it hasn't been added yet: https://bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2485

[hawk]

Thanks doktor5000, I see it's already suggested for the repos, and I'll start a new thread next time. I went ahead and compiled blackbox from source that I found and have it working.

Have a great day!