612 lines
22 KiB
Plaintext
612 lines
22 KiB
Plaintext
GNU/Linux pre-installation checklist
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Algologic Research & Solutions
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algolog (at) hd1.vsnl.net.in
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Revision History
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Revision 2.6.0 28 November 2000 Revised by:
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Initial release using docbook sgml.
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This document provides a checklist for installing GNU/Linux (hereafter
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referred to as Linux) as well as hints and tips along the way. Translations
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in Japanese, Dutch, and French are available in Section 1.3. The most current
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version of this checklist will be posted online at: http://members.tripod.com
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/~algolog/lnxchk.htm. Sgml source for this document is located here.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
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1.1. Copyright Information
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1.2. Disclaimer
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1.3. Translations
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1.4. Acknowledgements
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1.5. Who should read/use this?
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1.6. What does this checklist (aim to) achieve?
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1.7. Where do I find more about Linux?
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1.8. Conventions used
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2. Linux pre-installation checklist
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2.1. Before you fill out the checklist
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2.2. About you
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2.3. General
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2.4. Mouse
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2.5. CD-ROM
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2.6. Floppy drives
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2.7. Tape drives
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2.8. Disk drives
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2.9. Video Display Units (Monitor and controller)
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2.10. Networking
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2.11. Printers
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2.12. Laptops
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2.13. Miscellaneous
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2.14. Feedback
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3. What next...?
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1. Introduction
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Are you a Linux newbie ? Are you a Linux guru ? In both cases, you will find
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this checklist of great help to you. How many times have you found yourself
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fumbling in the middle of a Linux installation process, because some vital
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information about the target hardware is not known ?
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Have you ever crossed your fingers when you were asked by the installation
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procedure, a simple question, like: to which COM port is the mouse connected
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?
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Let's face it, all of us have, at one time or another, felt we should have
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been better prepared before starting to install Linux. Here is a simple
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solution, brought to you by Algologic Research & Solutions
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1.1. Copyright Information
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This document is copyrighted (c) 2000 Algologic Research & Solutions and is
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distributed under the terms of the Linux Documentation Project (LDP) license,
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stated below.
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Unless otherwise stated, Linux HOWTO documents are copyrighted by their
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respective authors. Linux HOWTO documents may be reproduced and distributed
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in whole or in part, in any medium physical or electronic, as long as this
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copyright notice is retained on all copies. Commercial redistribution is
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allowed and encouraged; however, the author would like to be notified of any
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such distributions.
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All translations, derivative works, or aggregate works incorporating any
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Linux HOWTO documents must be covered under this copyright notice. That is,
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you may not produce a derivative work from a HOWTO and impose additional
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restrictions on its distribution. Exceptions to these rules may be granted
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under certain conditions; please contact the Linux HOWTO coordinator at the
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address given below.
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In short, we wish to promote dissemination of this information through as
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many channels as possible. However, we do wish to retain copyright on the
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HOWTO documents, and would like to be notified of any plans to redistribute
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the HOWTOs.
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If you have any questions, please contact <linux-howto@metalab.unc.edu>
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1.2. Disclaimer
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No liability for the contents of this documents can be accepted. Use the
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concepts, examples and other content at your own risk. As this is a new
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edition of this document, there may be errors and inaccuracies, that may of
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course be damaging to your system. Proceed with caution, and although this is
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highly unlikely, the author(s) do not take any responsibility for that.
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All copyrights are held by their respective owners, unless specifically noted
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otherwise. Use of a term in this document should not be regarded as affecting
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the validity of any trademark or service mark.
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Naming of particular products or brands should not be seen as endorsements.
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You are strongly recommended to make a backup of your system before major
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installation and continue to do so at regular intervals.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1.3. Translations
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This checklist is available in:
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* Japanese as a text-only or html version.
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* Dutch as html.
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* French as html.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1.4. Acknowledgements
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Algologic acknowledges with gratitude the useful suggestions and inputs from
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many members of the Linux community, for preparation of this checklist. This
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checklist is proof of the cooperation and goodwill which exists between Linux
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users. Algologic submits this checklist to the Linux community, as a humble
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tribute to the spirit of Linux. Many thanks to the following people:
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* Mrs. Chie Nakatani for the translation into Japanese. You can also visit
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her home page by clicking here. <jeanne (at) mbox.kyoto-inet.or.jp>
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* Pierre-Charles David for the translation into French. <david (at) essi.fr
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>
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* Linux werkgroep HCC afdeling Groningen for the translation into Dutch.
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* Jesse Goerz for converting the document to docbook sgml. <jgoerz (at)
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linuxfreemail.com>
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1.5. Who should read/use this?
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If you are planning to install Linux on somebody else's machine, or in a
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location which is not your own work place, you must absolutely get this
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checklist completed in advance. It is important to get this questionnaire
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answered by your host, so that you go adequately prepared for the
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installation.
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If you are planning to organize an "Install fest" (we Indians call it "Linux
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mela"), ask your participants to come with this checklist answered.
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Conversely, if you are going to an Install fest (aka Linux mela), to get
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Linux installed on your machine, do your home-work. Go with answers to this
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checklist.
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If you are going to ask someone to come over and install Linux for you, send
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him/her this questionnaire with as many responses as you know.
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If you are the D-I-Y type, you must start by answering all these questions,
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so that you can save time for enjoying your Linux!
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1.6. What does this checklist (aim to) achieve?
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This is a memory aid which may make installation of Linux a pleasant
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experience for you. It fills an important role in the promotion of Linux.
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It will help you to be prepared with all the answers which may be needed
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during the course of installation of Linux on your machine or on anybody
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else's machine. Sometimes, it is very inconvenient and even impossible to
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find out some details in the middle of an installation procedure. This
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becomes all the more difficult when you are installing Linux on somebody
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else's machine, and in somebody else's office.
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This checklist, when filled up, will help you go through your Linux
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documentation and verify in advance whether certain hardware is supported by
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the distribution you are planning to install. It will also help you to be
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prepared with the packages you would need to install, and the configuration
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choices which need to be done.
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The idea is to reduce the chances of frustrating surprises.
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This checklist is only for installing Linux on PCs. You may use this
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checklist as a model for other classes of machines (e.g.SUN, Alpha, ...)
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also.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1.7. Where do I find more about Linux?
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If you want professional (PAID) help with Linux -- ask Algologic. Algologic
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Research & Solutions is listed in the official CONSULTANTS-HOWTO of the Linux
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Documentation Project.
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This checklist does not give any details about hardware compatible with
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Linux, or other details about actually procuring or installing Linux. If you
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want details, please reference the Linux hardware howto, the Distribution
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howto, and the Installation howto, which are all located online at the Linux
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Documentation Project.
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If you are the impatient type, and want help on installation directly, please
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reference Section 3 and skip the pre-installation checklist.
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ATTENTION: We are actually overwhelmed by the number of general inquiries
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about procuring, installing and using Linux. We DO NOT answer such general
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mail. We strongly advise you to check out the Linux Documentation Project for
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finding other sources of help. Please DO NOT send us any general Linux
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questions.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1.8. Conventions used
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+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| WARNING! |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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|Warnings are admonitions which if disregarded, will result in an inoperable|
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|system , which may or may not be recoverable. |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| Caution! |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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|Cautions are admonitions which if disregarded, will result in an inoperable|
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|application or cause the loss of data, configuration files, or leave the |
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|system in an unbootable state. |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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Note: Notes state important facts which may be necessary to perform an
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operation.
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Tip: Tips provide shortcuts or foresight to make performance of
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operations easier.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2. Linux pre-installation checklist
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2.1. Before you fill out the checklist
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Welcome to the world of Linux. Your first step in installing Linux on your PC
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will begin by answering a few simple questions about your hardware.
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This checklist will make it easy for you and us to go through the
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installation, painlessly and without surprises. Please take your own time and
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fill up the following checklist. Wherever possible, and necessary, we have
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given some suggestions and hints, for your convenience.
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If you don't know all the details, you should be able to find them in your
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computer's manuals. Or, ask your hardware vendor, or your local hardware
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"guru."
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If you still have problems finding answers, don't worry -- you can just
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ignore any areas you don't know. Bring in your machine and ALL manuals you
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have. The installation may succeed with some trials and a lot of luck.
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Remember, Linux, like many other software products, is a growing product.
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Some of your hardware may still not be supported in the version of Linux
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which is being installed.
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Each question below can be identified by the section number followed by the
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question number (e.g. Section 2.3.1 is a question on processor speed). If you
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need any assistance/clarifications about the questions asked in this form,
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please specify the section identifier and the question number, and send an
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email to: <algolog (at) hd1.vsnl.net.in> It is imperative that you also
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include the version number of the checklist. The version number of this
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checklist can be found on the first page of the document.
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Assumptions:
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1. You are interested in installing Linux on a PC (386 upwards).
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2. You have a CDROM drive on your PC. You have made sure that your proposed
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version of Linux supports this CDROM drive. Check latest version of the
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hardware howto at the Linux Documentation Project (LDP).
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3. You have at least one 3½" floppy diskette drive on your system.
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4. The 3½" diskette drive is a BOOTABLE drive.
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5. You will keep readily available, three, bad-sector-free, formatted (3½"),
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blank diskettes, for use in the installation procedure.
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6. If you wish to install Linux over a LAN, you have confirmed that your
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network interface card is supported by your version of Linux. Check
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latest version of the hardware howto at the LDP.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.2. About you
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1. Your Name ____________________
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2. Your contact phone numbers:
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3. Your email address ____________________
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4. Have you used Linux before ? What distribution?
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5. Have you used any version of Unix before ? Which one ? On what hardware
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platform ?
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6. Is this an upgrade to an existing Linux distribution ?
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7. What will be the end-use of this Linux installation ?
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8. Do you wish to retain DOS/Win/any other OS along with Linux, on your
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system ?
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9. Any other detail you want to add:
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_____________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.3. General
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1. CPU type [i386, i486 DX2...]:
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2. Bus type [ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI, MCA ... ]:
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3. Processor speed (MHz) ?
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4. What size is your RAM (minimum 4 MB needed) ?
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5. Do you want X Window System (i.e. Graphic User Interface for Linux) to be
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installed on your system ?
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6. How many serial ports (COM ports) do you have on your PC ?
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7. Are you planning to add dumb terminals to your PC ? How many ?
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8. Please mention below, any additional details you wish to add:
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__________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.4. Mouse
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1. To which port is your mouse connected ? What IRQ ?
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2. What type of mouse are you using [Microsoft, Busmouse, PS/2 ..] ?
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3. How many buttons does the mouse have ?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.5. CD-ROM
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Tip: If you are not sure if your CDROM is bootable or not, power on the
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machine and go to BIOS settings (do not let the PC bootup). Look for
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bootable drive options in the BIOS settings.
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1. What is the make and type of CDROM drive [e.g. IDE ATAPI, Sony, S-B Pro/
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Panasonic, SCSI, true IDE ..] ?
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2. On which drive interface [1st IDE, 2nd IDE, 3rd IDE, 4th IDE, SCSI,
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proprietary interface] and which drive [drive 1 , drive 2, SCSI-ID 5] is
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the CDROM connected (e.g. drive 2 of 1st IDE, SCSI-ID 5 of built-in SCSI
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interface) ?
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3. Is your CDROM a bootable drive ?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.6. Floppy drives
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1. Do you have a 3½" floppy drive?
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2. Is the 3½" floppy drive a bootable drive ?
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3. Do you have a 5¼" floppy drive?
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4. Is the 5¼" drive a bootable drive ?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.7. Tape drives
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1. What type of tape drive do you have (can be NONE) [floppy interface type,
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SCSI, parallel port ..] ?
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2. Do you have a secondary floppy controller for your tape drive?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.8. Disk drives
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Tip: At this point, you must be clear about how your Linux will be
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installed and on which disk etc. You must also be clear how your Linux
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will be booted (there are different possibilities). Read the Installation
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howto before you answer the following questions.
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1. What type of drive do you have [IDE, SCSI, RLL, MFM ....] ?
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2. How many partitions are there on your first disk drive ? Name, type, size
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? Collect these details also for other disk drives you may have on this
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machine.
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3. On which drive are you planning to install Linux (e.g. drive 2 of first
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IDE, or SCSI-ID 5 of built-in SCSI interface)
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4. Can we re-partition your disk ? (All existing data will be lost)
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5. Which partitions can be reformatted to become Linux partitions ? Note:
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All information recorded in this partition will be erased.
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6. How much of disk space can you give for Linux [50 MB minimum] ?
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7. What is your second hard disk (if any)?
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8. What is your third hard disk (if any)?
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9. What is your fourth hard disk (if any)?
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10. What is your fourth hard disk (if any)?
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11. Do you have any SCSI device ? Which SCSI controller do you have (if any)?
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12. Do you plan to boot from your hard disk or floppy?
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13. On which hard disk partition do you want LILO boot loader to reside?
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14. Do you wish to retain the original boot sector/master boot record that is
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currently on your hard disk?
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15. On which disk partitions will your Linux root reside?
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16. Do you access the IDE drive in LBA mode (check your BIOS settings) ?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.9. Video Display Units (Monitor and controller)
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Tip: If you do not have good documentation on your VDU, try to look at
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the sticker (nameplate) on the back of your VDU, you may find the answers
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to some of the questions given below.
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1. What kind of monitor do you have [Monochrome, Color] [EGA, VGA, CGA ..] ?
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What make ?
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2. Size of screen [14", 15", 19"] ? Is it an interlaced monitor ?
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3. What are the resolutions, and number of colors possible on this monitor
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[600x480, 800x600, 1024x768]?
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4. What is your monitor's vertical refresh rate / vertical sync. frequency
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(could be a range)?
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5. What is your monitor's horizontal refresh rate / horizontal sync.
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frequency (could be a range) ?
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6. Monitor's bandwidth ?
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7. Video RAM size ?
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8. VDU Control card : make and model ?
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9. Chip set used in VDU control card ?
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10. What RAMDAC do you have ?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.10. Networking
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1. Are you using an internal modem | external modem ?
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2. What make ?
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3. On which COM port is the modem connected ? What IRQ ?
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4. What is the speed of the modem [bps] ?
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5. What serial interface chip does your computer use (e.g. 8450, 16550C) ?
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6. Is it a "Windows only" modem [WIN-MODEM...] ?
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7. Which ethernet card do you have [10base2 or 10baseT; NONE for none] ?
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What type ?
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8. Will this machine be a part of Internet or any Intranet ?
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9. Will this machine use a dialup connection / PPP connection to an Internet
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/Intranet server ?
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10. Will this machine be used as an Internet or Intranet server ?
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11. What will be the hostname of your computer (e.g. penguin) ?
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12. What will be the domain name, if any, of your computer (e.g.
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family_name.city.country)
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13. What will be the IP address, if any, of your computer (e.g. 123.1.2.3) ?
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14. What is the IP address of the DNS server (can be none) ?
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15. What is the IP address of the default router (can be none) ?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.11. Printers
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1. Have you connected any printer on the parallel port of your PC ?
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2. What is the type, make of the printer ?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.12. Laptops
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1. Number and type of PCMCIA slots on your Laptop ?
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2. PC cards you plan to use ?
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3. Built-in devices on your laptop (e.g. trackball, pointer, touchpad) ?
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4. COM ports used for the above built-in devices ?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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2.13. Miscellaneous
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Tip: Try to make a consolidated hardcopy list of I/O addresses, IRQs,
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DMA-addresses used by the different devices in your machine. Take care to
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find out the configuration details of your VDU-driver card, Ethernet
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card, SCSI card etc.
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1. Does your keyboard use a round connector (DIN-5) or PS/2 connector?
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2. Do you plan to use keyboard mapping to any non-US keyboards [French,
|
||
Greek, Cyrillic, ..] ?
|
||
|
||
3. Are you using any Plug & play devices ?
|
||
|
||
4. Are you using any sound card ? What card ? What I/O, IRQ, DMA does it use
|
||
?
|
||
|
||
5. How many ISA spare slots do you have ?
|
||
|
||
6. How many EISA spare slots do you have ?
|
||
|
||
7. How many VESA spare slots do you have ?
|
||
|
||
8. How many PCI spare slots do you have ?
|
||
|
||
9. How many other (describe) spare slots?
|
||
|
||
10. What kind of other removable media do you have (can be NONE)?
|
||
|
||
11. Do you have any other interesting hardware?
|
||
|
||
12. Please add any details you wish to highlight:
|
||
__________________________________________________
|
||
__________________________________________________
|
||
__________________________________________________
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
2.14. Feedback
|
||
|
||
Did you find this form clear ? Any suggestions for improvement ?
|
||
__________________________________________________
|
||
__________________________________________________
|
||
__________________________________________________
|
||
|
||
Thanks for filling out the form. Please cross check the above responses, and
|
||
keep the checklist handy at the time of installation.
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
3. What next...?
|
||
|
||
Even the longest journey has to start with a small
|
||
first-step.
|
||
--Confucious
|
||
|
||
Now that you have taken the first step of filling up the checklist, you would
|
||
like to prepare for the real installation. Here are a few tips, for starters:
|
||
|
||
* A very good installation guide is here. You must visit this excellent
|
||
site. It also gives tips to find answers for some of the questions asked
|
||
in the pre-installation checklist (e.g. video cards, monitor, chipset,
|
||
modem, ...etc.).
|
||
|
||
* The official Installation HOWTO is here.
|
||
|
||
|