robshanahan

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    33

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by robshanahan

  4. Hhd Partitions

    in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP

    Posted

    There are probably many opinions about this question (that seems pretty stupid, there are probably many opinions about almost all questions ;))!

    Anyway, I would say it depends on what you intend on using them for. Will they just be for storage? Or will you be loading an OS on them?

    If you're just using them as storage drives for media files (or whatever), I wouldn't worry about partitioning them.

    From what I understand, there are some advantages to partitioning primary drives so that your data files are separated from the OS (in case you need to reinstall the OS, your data is unaffected). I don't think that holds true for program files (but I could be wrong).

    Another advantage to having partitions is shorter defrags (assuming you don't just defrag all partitions sequentially vs. defragging one large partition).

    Edit:

    Once again my slow typing made me look like an idiot! I'm happy to see that Chappy made some of the same points I did!

  8. Best Distribution For Learning?

    in Linux & Unix

    Posted

    this comes to the key answer to your question...

    what do you mean by learn.?

    If you what to see if a more stable system will run the type of applications you use then fedora, mandrake, SUSe, linspire, sun java workstation are all your choice. they all rate the same.

    if you are looking at this as education on how UNIX type OS work and would like to work in this field or just what to be a power user then these are all wrong.

    good luck...

    I now understand your point, iccaros. I used Mandrake for a week or so and didn't really "learn" anything. There was nothing wrong with it, in fact it was a very refreshing change from XP. However, I couldn't really say I knew anything more about Linux than I did the week before. (probably because everything was working so well, I didn't have any problems to solve!)

    So, l decided to give Gentoo a shot. (I was too chicken to try LFS) Wow! I certainly did learn a lot more about CLI and troubleshooting and editing conf files, etc. I wimped out and did a stage 3 install from a LiveCD, so I didn't do any bootstrapping, but I still became more familiar with both Linux and my comp than I did with Mandrake. (I'm really not saying Mandrake isn't worth the effort, I think it's a fantastic alternative to windows.)

    Thanks for the encouragement and the push to challenge myself!

  10. College Degree

    in Open Chat

    Posted

    Many companies (especially large ones) are forced to implement written policies that remove the ability to use common sense and judgement from all levels of employment. They (they being upper management) require different departments (most especially HR) to follow these policies instead of exercising independent thought in order to shield themselves from lawsuits (it doesn't really work, but it does give the company's attorney something concrete to point to if there is a discrimination suit brought against them).

    It really does come down to more than just laziness. It is also a fear of litigation (which unfortunately is well-founded).

  11. Gmail

    in Open Chat

    Posted

    I just went to the site to send gmail invites to the troops and they said they have more than enough. It seems that supply is outpacing demand!

    Does anyone know of any other worthy causes to send these things to?

  12. Knoppix Boot Cd

    in Linux & Unix

    Posted

    yes it will be an experience. By the way, do you know what "wine" os?

    I'm just learning this stuff too (so don't take my word for it), but I think wine is almost analagous to a windows emulator. I say almost because I know it isn't an emulator but I don't know how else to explain it. It is supposed to allow you to run windows softare.

    Hopefully, someone who can explain it better will respond soon, but I wanted to give it a shot.

  13. About U?

    in Open Chat

    Posted

    I'm also a Call for Help/Screensavers expatriate. 34 year old financial analyst for a company that provides services to the developmentally disabled. Lived around LA most of my life, went to undergrad in Nashville. I've been married for 4 years with a 2 year old daughter and another child due in February. I always enjoyed playing on computers, then found TechTV a couple of years ago and discovered I enjoyed playing with computers also.

    If it hasn't been said enough, I'd just like to thank those of you who actually know what they're doing and take the time to share with those of us who are trying to learn.

  21. Best Distribution For Learning?

    in Linux & Unix

    Posted

    I finally put together all my spare parts into my old gateway comp (P4 1.4, 640MB RDRAM) and have decided to devote it to learning Linux. I burned Knoppix the other day and have been goofing around with that, but since I don't have anything on the hard drive (20GB) worth keeping, I'd like to install a linux distro.

    I've been reading all the links (thanks to everyone for those!) on the various threads about different options but I'd like everyone's opinion on the best one to learn first

    My initial opinion has been swaying between Mandrake and Fedora, but I've read things that argue for Slackware and Gentoo.

    I'd appreciate any and all suggestions!

  24. Smoothwall Firewall With Wireless Router?

    in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP

    Posted

    I wasn't sure which forum to use for this, so I picked the one with the most topics! I have enough parts lying around to throw together a another PC and was thinking of setting it up with Smoothwall.

    Currently, I have SBC Yahoo DSL running through a D-Link 514 wireless router to a desktop and two laptops all running XP home. The desktop is connected via ethernet and the laptops are wireless.

    If I just load Smoothwall on a spare pc, will I be able to install it on the network between the DSL modem and the wireless router without screwing up my settings?

    Maybe a better question is whether Smoothwall is that much better than the security afforded by the NAT router? Should I do something else with the extra pc (including donating it to a school or a library)?

    Edit: sp