Alright ya'll, since I've started flippin' through the boards here, I've honestly yet to hear a single bad thing about BeOS 'cept that it's kinda lacking on the development/compatability side of things as yet...but I've also heard (via our lovely article recently written) that this will soon be taken care of (hopefully!). Well, here's the deal. I've only ever used MacOS and Win95, Win98, and Win98 SE so I know that I most likely don't catch everything that is encompased by an OS. I keep hearing 'BIOS' and 'OS' tossed around, when I thought that they were the same thing for the longest time...you mean a BIOS isn't determined by an OS? blah blah blah..anyway, to get to the point. From the sounds of it, I want BeOS. Problem: Is it worth it? What gains would I get from using that in comparison to using Win 98 SE? Also, I've got a nVidia TNT2, but from what I just read, Be doesn't support this...or do they? What I wanna know, is simply a) what an OS is truly responsible for in my computer (not processor, not ram..but the OS itself) and b) what makes BeOS special? And yes, I know some of this might sound stupid, but hey, ya never learn if ya don't ask. View image: /infopop/emoticons\icon_wink.gif
To Be, or not to Be...
- Thread starter Chaz
- Start date
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i'm glad that you asked-a lot of people go on for years never learning anything because they're afraid to ask.<P>First of all, why you would want BeOS-You might not. If you're more interested in using applications than developing software, it might make more sense to wait. On the other hand, installing a different OS might give you a new perspective, be educational, etc. If BeOS really takes off, you might make a lot of money by being one of the few who knows a lot about it.<P>There's a list of hardware on http://www.be.com/support/guides that will tell you whether Be has support for your stuff yet. <P>Secondly-what is an OS? Basically its the interface between your hardware and software. When people write software, they don't want to do it to a very specific machine or every piece of software would have to be developed by people who know every piece of hardware. It would make the market really small. The operating system provides an interface to write software. That way when your program makes a call to the network card (for example), it doesn't have to know what kind of card it is, because the OS has a standard set of calls and will translate them to calls for the specific card (by using a card-specific driver).<P>Also, the OS gives you an interface to start programs from. The whole 'Windows' environment that you are used to is really just a program that takes the responsibility for starting other programs.<P>hope this was helpful, I'd be glad to help clear any of it up if you'd like.<P>peace,<P>-t.
"a) what an OS is truly responsible for in my computer (not processor, not ram..but the OS itself."<BR>The OS is the most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. <P>For large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop -- it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the system. <P>Operating systems can be classified as follows: <P>multi-user : Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users. <P>multiprocessing : Supports running a program on more than one CPU. <P>multitasking : Allows more than one program to run concurrently. <P>multithreading : Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently. <BR>real time real_time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time. <P>Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called application programs, can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you can run. For PCs, the most popular operating systems are DOS, OS/2, and Windows, but others are available, such as Linux. <P>As a user, you normally interact with the operating system through a set of commands. For example, the DOS operating system contains commands such as COPY and RENAME for copying files and changing the names of files, respectively. The commands are accepted and executed by a part of the operating system called the command processor or command line interpreter. Graphical user interfaces allow you to enter commands by pointing and clicking at objects that appear on the screen. <P>"b) what makes BeOS special?" <BR>BeOS is special because it is designed from the ground up to take advantage of the newer things, such as, Multi-Threading, 64bit File System. It holds every program in a special space, so if a program crashes, Be cleans the memory, but no reboot is required, it is the best SMP OS on the market.<P>Chris
Wow, that was a much better explanation than mine.<P>In addition, BIOS is the portion that is stored on your motherboard (rather than on the hard drive). It is basically a set of commands for the hardware. This is how the OS communicates with the hardware. If you have a piece of hardware connected to your motherboard that isn't functioning properly, you start by troubleshooting the program using it, then go down to the OS configurations, then check for driver updates, then BIOS.<P>hope this helps!<P>-t.
I cheated, I went to www.webopedia.com and looked up Operating System. View image: /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif But the BeOS part is mine.<P>Chris
Thanks for the quick answers there, got the OS part down, now comes the catch...what makes BeOS so cool in comparison to others? How is it that if I set up my 'puter to run Win2K (when it comes out, and BeOS and they'll complement each other...BeOS being proficient at ??? and Win98 being proficient at ???. If ya couldn't tell, I'm tryin' to find out if it's worth wastin' money on a second OS or not so, fill the posts full of opinions, why else did I come? <G><BR>
BeOS is normally called the Media OS, it does a really good job at editing pictures, sounds, videos, etc. The TNT2 is supported just not in 3D Accel. so it isn't the best for games, yet. I think I read somewhere that R5 was going to have Hardware 3D Accelleration, but there is no release date set. Out of all the OS's I have used, Be is probably the most fun, and easiest to use.<P>Chris
I don't know too much about this, but I though a Real-Time OS simply guaranteed that a certain calls and/or ops will complete in a certain given time. An RTOS is not necessarily faster - it is simply different.<P>Or am I confused/wrong?
Niether, because of it being a RTOS Be is good for media like music editing, you can edit several streams at the same time, without skips, or slow downs. It is also faster because it does not have the legacy code of windows, linux & mac, but it is not faster because of it being a RTOS.<P>Chris
BeOS is NOT a real-time OS. Real-time OS's generally suck at everything except precise machine control.
Alrighty, I been wandering around that link I was given and looking to see if BeOS is capable of supporting each different aspect of my computer... How the heck do I find out what my motherboard chipset is!?! All I know is that in the documentation here, I've got a 'Tabor III' motherboard..says nuffin' 'bout the chipset. I see that it does support the TNT2 video card, but haven't a clue what the 'video capture' card is... I think those are the only two hang-ups. The motherboard, and the video capture card. Any suggestions as to how to find out what I've got lurking in there?
<BLOCKQUOTE><I>real time: Responds to input instantly.</I></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Er, not quite View image: /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif<P><BLOCKQUOTE><I>[Be OS] is the best SMP OS on the market.</I></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Boy, make sure you don't say that in earshot of a 64-processor Sun machine...I hear they're equipped with death rays View image: /infopop/emoticons\icon_wink.gif<P>[This message has been edited by John (edited December 02, 1999).]
Okay it is the best SMP OS, on the desktop.<P>Since your system is made by Gateway with a PIII I would guess it is probably an Intel BX Chipset, and a video capture card is a card that allows you to hook up a Webcam or things of that nature.<P>Chris
Oh! Since I don't use that kinda stuff (web cam, etc.), that wouldn't evne be a problem at all would it? Alrighty..now back to my original question then. BeOS. What makes it special? How would BeOS be so much cooler/easier/better than the Win98 SE that I'm usin' now?
Scott Tarr
Ars Praefectus
I have to poo-poo for a sec here. It wouldn't be fair to you or anyone else considering Be if they didn't know that audio in MPEG movies doesn't work (as of this minute). They are working very diligently on this and it should be fixed Real Soonâ„¢. Secondly, as Apple likes to flaunt its monopolistic powers on certain groups of people, very like its arch-rival Microsoft, you need to realize that any Quicktime movie that is encoded with the Sorensen codec will not work in Be. This is because Apple owns the rights to the distribution of the Sorensen codec. They seem not to be wanting to allow Be to license the Sorensen codec, either. I feel that you need to know this thing before you even get Be, simply because if you got it and didn't like it for this reason that you would fall into the "unsatisfied customer" category. I don't think that is fair to you or Be, when that happens. <P>Now, as far as wanting things to do that you can't do in Windows, I know for a fact that you can't play your CDs backwards. View image: /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif This isn't a big deal, and I only joke about it, but it is true. <P>It is not more of what you can't do in Windows, but more of what you can do better. Kind of like the BASF commercials. "We don't make Windows, we make Windows better!"-kind of thing. There are things that you can't do with Windows, like learn bash. If you are ever wanting to explore the vagaries of Unix commands without installing Linux, then Be is a good place to start. Secondly, most of the apps that Be has are cheap, if not freeware/shareware. <P>Because of the clean api (thanks to no backwards compatibility) you are able to get more intelligently thought out programs. Gobe's Productive is one of the better office suites on the market, IMO. Pretty well thought out. <P>I think one of the biggest reasons that I use it is simply because I was sick of Windows and wanted something a little different. Ask anyone that has ever installed this OS and they will tell you that it is one of the easiest installs available and that it is really easy to set up. The downside, at this time, is that there is very little networking support. World Of Networking (WON) is still in the experimental stage. It isn't impossible to network a Be machine, but it isn't a strong point, either. <P>Through all of these detriments, I still think that Be is an extremely good purchase, if only to broaden your knowledge base of Operating Systems. I think you will be impressed...and the word "impressed" may not be strong enough, though. View image: /infopop/emoticons\icon_wink.gif
I don't use BeOS, but I'm debating it...A couple of the big draws for me:<P>1) It's not MicroSoft. It's not Linux. What else should I say? It's alternative, kinda funky, something new.<P>2) It's SMP support is right-on. I don't have a SMP box, but I'm pondering it.<P>3) JFS (Journaling File System). IBM's AIX and some other flavors of high-end UNIX have it, but I don't think any desktop OS does. I saw the guys at the Be booth at Comdex unplug a Be box with LOTS of apps open, with no file corruption, no checkdisk, etc. JFS is where everybody should be. It's 64 bits too, so if you want jumungous files, you can have 'em.<P>4) Code development is encouraged, and is pretty slick, so I hear. I don't write much code now (a little C/C++ and SQL), but I think I want to get my hands a little dirty.<P>Red
Be is definately the fastes os that I have ever used. It tool like 16 seconds to boot up on my old 166, Windows98 takes about 2 min+ to boot on a pIII 450. However there are a few issues that you need to consider if you are going to go with Be. <P>1. Networking.<BR>Like it was mentioned above the networking in Be called won is pretty craptacular I havent gotten it to work at all. It is not a big concern but it is one of the reasons that I have a windows machine too.<P>2. Users.<BR>Be doesnt really have any sort of multi user capabilities.<P>3. Browsers.<BR>The browsers currently available for be are not really that great. they get the job done but I still use good old netscape on my windows box to do most of my web browsing. <P>ok that being siad Be is hands down my favorite and (definately the fastest) os of all that I have used including win95-8se, NT, linux, openBSD, and macOS. It is also the Easiest to set up and has the best gui (IMO) of all the others. I use it to host my website and ftp site. I use it for programming cold fusion. I also use it for communication (aim icq email irc). It has true multitasikng much better than windows. But the most important feature of is course being able to play mp3's backwards. <P>You should get Be at least for the experience. Within the next year I think that Be will really take off release 5 is coming up and there are some new browsers and networking on the way.
K, we're gettin' closer now..<G> Two last questions and I think I'll be able to make a decision...one: Networking. My connection to the internet is via a network connection to my roommates computer. Once we get DSL I'll be connected through that (so it might not be a problem then) but until that time, I'd actually be stuck? I mean, WON is an option (although it doesn't sound like a reliable one), but is there any other way?<BR> The other question. Starcraft, Warcraft, Quake...How compatible would the software that I currently have be with the OS that I'm thinking about getting? Are there different versions needed for BeOS usually? What games are there available for it? (that's the main reason why I've a computer is entertainment so it is kinda a big deal<G> )
I'm not sure which of those have been ported, i know Quake II has been, and Q3 is being ported, but BeOS is not a good choice as your only OS, if you like to play games leave Win98 on there, and Be has settings for Gateways to the internet, it just can't share drives, and other things related to a full scale network, but it handles the internet just fine.<P>Chris
As to the games I THINK you would be out of luck. They would have to be ported to Be. The networking problem will have to be answered by people with more experience than little ol me View image: /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif<BR>
HHmmmm. <BR>The BEos is a very cool, fast, stable, heck even fun OS. A few things to consider though. <P>Negatives: <BR>As of now, there aren't many apps available for it.<BR> <BR>Many of the apps that are available are in their infancy. For example the browsers available for it are pretty utilitarian.<P>It doesn't support many hardware devices. I have a tnt2 and it works fine. I also have a diamond MX300 that doesn't work at all. (no sound on a media OS gets old fast)<P>Many of the good apps for it are not free unlike some other OS's i can think of.<P>Hmm what else negative? Did I mention that not many companies develop apps (yet)<P>No dvd playback yet.<P>It costs money to purchase Be.<P><BR>Positives:<P>Its fast. Damn fast.<P>It rarely ever needs a reboot.<P>The learning curve for Be is more like a slight slope, as opposed to the learning curve for linux which seems like a sheer cliff.<P>The apps that are available for BE are usually very well done.<P>The standards for Be are kept by Be so you don't have competing standards which cause more trouble than they are worth (kde vs gnome anyone? i know i know, flame away)<P>be is quickly gaining attention.<P>be seems to be very generous in their upgrade pricing so you won't be left in the dust.<P>Well, I guess the bottom line is this. If you are willing to spend somewhere around $70 for an OS your money will go to a good cause and you will end up with a great product that won't do nearly as many things as windows or linux because noone has written a program to do it on the beos yet. On the other hand new programs are coming out at a very rapid pace and I expect some very cool things to happen in the next year or so. (yay Java)<P>The other alternative is a bsd or linux distro of some sort. For free you can download an os that will frustrate you to no end, force you to spend hours and hours learning how to do 'simple' things and teach you much more about your PC than you ever wanted to know. That is assuming that you can understand the documentation. But, things are getting better on the free *nix scene and you might actually get lucky. Linux will install and run no prob on your machine. Then you will be amazed at kde and how easy it is to use until you want to install some software that requires compiling this or that and making this other. I am admittedly biased against linux. My roommate has been beating me over the head with it for over a year now, extolling its virtues and downplaying its weaknesses. I use it a ton, but i learned a long time ago not to try anything i didn't already know how to do on linux if i actually want to see daylight on the weekends.<P>I hope this shed a little light on the subject for you. One more tip. If you decide to buy BEos check out Dell's online store i got a good deal there, BEos R4.5 and the BEos Bible for around $60 i think. Oh, and make absolutely sure that your network card is beos compatible or you will be unable to use the internet in your situation(if i interpreted your situation correctly). I have a netgear10/100 pci card that works outstandingly well.
$70? Bah. I paid $60, got the <font color="#0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>OS Bible, and that's including 2nd day shipping. (Dell's gigabuys thingie, linked off the Be page.)<P><font color="#0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>OS is just plain more fun to use.<P>Netpositive is the coolest browser ever. I don't care about all that usability and support (Java coming RSN!). Netpositive is the coolest browser ever for one reason. Haiku. I knew <font color="#0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>OS rocked when I got the first site not found message and up popped a little haiku. Super bad ass.<P>One more time, <font color="#0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>OS!!<P>BTW, I had the same problem with my MX300. My solution, send Aureal a letter telling them of the removal from my system, and plans to not purchase any of their cards until they support <font color="#0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>. Then I put the classic Awe64 gold back in there. Poof, sound.<P>--edit, I never get the colors right on the first try!<P>[This message has been edited by XaiaX (edited December 07, 1999).]
Well, the tally's are in. <G> I really really wanna go with BeOS right about now, even if I don't use it much, just 'cause it sounds like it might be fun to have and work with..(and seeing as Linux is free, I most likely will end up with a version of Red Hat sometime soon too!) Now comes the fun stuffs. In order to have more than one OS (which btw, you did see my situation correctly, I'm on a LAN using a Ethernet 10/100 pci card, I think ethernet at least..might just be it's classification though, not sure how that one works)...anyway, in order to have a multi-boot, you gotta have multiple partitions. I just formatted this thing a little while ago, am I gonna have to screw with that again to add each OS? Or are there programs (can Partition Magic do it?) that can change partition size without formating beforehand? If I could, I'd also like suggestions as to how much room I should allocate to each of those...(I've a 19 gig drive of which I'm only using up about 1 of right now via Windows 98SE, I will want that partition the biggest I know.)<BR> Other than that, any suggestions for app's to tinker with or a good way to familiarize myself with each OS once I do get it all and start off (keep in mind I've never touched anything other than a mac or windows <G> )?<BR> Thanks for all your help guys!<P>-Chaz<BR>P.S. If ya ever see 'Josaikan' online via AOL Instant Messenger and feel like chattin', just drop a line and lemme know yer an Ars'r.<P>[This message has been edited by Chaz (edited December 07, 1999).]
Another good reason to go with Be.<BR>IT comes with a version of partition magic. all you have to do is go into windows pop in that be cd and run the install right from windows be tells you exactly what to do and even has a nice boot manager for you. Be does it all.
Alright...::runs off to BeDepot:: That settles it...<G><BR> Oh, one other thing, since BeOS comes with Partition Magic, it'll be easy enough for me to toss on RedHat 'er whatever too. I was lookin' on 'www.redhat.com' but saw it for sale there for 30 bucks! Didn't someone say I could get it for 1.39 or free if I downloaded it? ::flails:: Anyone wanna drop me a line givin' a hint for this one? Thanks ahead of time.<BR><P>[This message has been edited by Chaz (edited December 07, 1999).]
Scott Tarr
Ars Praefectus
That is a feature-disabled version of Partition Magic. It pretty much is only useful for partitioning for Be. I don't remember <u>exactly</U> the way it goes about partitioning the drive, but I wouldn't rely on it to install another partition to put linux onto.
Hey Chaz, before you go off to bedepot, check out this page:<P> http://www.buy.com/soft/searchresults.asp?qu=beos <P>You can get the BeOS there for a mere $35.95.<P>However, I recommend the $41.95 package which also includes the BeOS Bible which may help you with some things about the BeOS.<BR>Or you can try out the $78.95 package which comes with the BeOS, BeOS Bible, and Gobe Productive (an office productivity type application -- word processor, spreadsheet, presentations program, mimimal image editor, and whatever else it comes with -- it's all as one program). That triple package isn't a bad deal considering the BeOS alone sells for 60something at Bedepot.
Scott..what if I cheated? <G> What if I installed Be twice then (hence creating those two partitions that I want) and clear one of them, installing linux in it's place? <G> And I still need to know where I kin find the free linux thing, I swear I heard someone talking about it earlier in here, just can't find the post...
Scott Tarr
Ars Praefectus
If I am not mistaken (and I could very well be), it searches for a BFS partition before it goes any further. You could put Be on an older drive, then disconnect the drive and partition the new one, and then hook it up and in the Be Bootloader point it to all the partitions that you use. But if it searches the drives before it partitions, you won't be able to do this on a single drive, obviously...
chaz --> linux is availible for free (to dl that is) from red hat's site as well as the sites of all the linux distros<P>i would check www.cheapbytes.com for an inexpensive way to order on a cd what you would normally have to download<P>or go to your local software vendor and buy a commercial version of linux to support the linux effort View image: /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif (this is what i did)
Just curious, what is going to be new in v5? Is it going to be a total revamp of the OS? Is it going to have more support? Yadda, yadda, etc, etc? And, when is it due out?
Chaz: I'd REALLY recommend Partitionmagic, full edition if you want to be messing around with multiple OS's. The version that comes with Be is generally limited to resizing one of your FAT32 partitions and installing a BFS in its place.<P>Partitionmagic really is a great program. You will defineitly get your money's worth if you plan on running multiple OSs. Version 5.0 is out now, I think. www.powerquest.com is the website, I'm pretty sure. Might want to try www.pqmagic.com too.
Small problem with Linux, installing it that way. LILO has to go on a partition that sits before the 1024th sector on the drive, unless you do something real screwy, you aren't going to be able to do that without starting over.<P><font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font> has a nice partition setup tool that you can use, (not the partition magic thing) to partition everything first.<P>My recommendation, wipe the drive using the disks that came with it.<BR>Step 1. Install <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>, when it comes up with the install screen, look for the option button (It's a triangle) then look for the "partition setup" option. Set it to four partitions.<BR>Have the first be around 20 megs, as a linux native partition. Set the second as a fat32 partition (Windows) with about 12 gigs or so. Split the rest up between <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font> and another Linux native partition. (1.5 GB for <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font> should <font color="E0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font> enough. Ha. "linux" should get a couple gigs.)<P>Step 2, finish installing <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>, remember to select the extras option, or whatever it was called, for all the neato crap. <P>Step 3, install Win98. Install it on the Fat32 partition, make sure it doesn't screw up any of the others. (Make sure the drive is the right size, when you install.)<P>Step 4, install 'linux'. I presume you're going with Red Hat or Mandrake (Pretty much the same thing.) Take the custom option. When it talks about partitioning the drive, use Disk Druid (I think, the one on the left, anyway.) Set that little teeny partition as /boot, and then delete the other linux partition. Then add a linux swap partition, of about 100 megs or so. Then add another linux native partition mounted as /, and mark the little box that says, "Grow to fill disk" Proceed with the rest of the install. If you want, give linux about 3 gigs, and just install everything. Whatever you do, don't pick the select individual packages unless you <B>know</B> what you need. (I forgot to install the Kernel once, D'oh!)<BR>Sometime during the install you'll get to the LILO install/setup thing. Install it in the /mbr, or you'll never see it. (Windows is greedy, which is why it was installed before linux.) Set your windows partition (It should be marked 'dos' as default, and you might want to change the name to win98, or something. Change the screwy labeled one to <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>OS, and then make sure only the /boot partition for linux is marked, call it "linux" or something.<P>Once all this is done, when you turn on your machine you should be staring at <P>LILO:<P>press TAB to see a list of options, which should be, Linux win98 <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>OS. (Without the color.)<BR>type whichever you want to start, or just hit enter to run the default.<P><BR>Whew.<P>There's a way to get the much user friendlier (?) <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font> boot manager, but that would be more work, if I remember properly.<P><BR>There ya go.<BR>Hope that helped.<BR>One more time, <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>!!<BR>--edit, told you I never get the color right on the first try.<P>[This message has been edited by XaiaX (edited December 08, 1999).]
Scott Tarr
Ars Praefectus
Won't work that way, you <B>have</B> to install Windows first as it rips the mbr away from other OSes. Talk about not playing fair. View image: /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
Scott Tarr
Ars Praefectus
No, I am responding to yours. Windows would have to be installed first. <P>And yeah, that color you had was bad... View image: /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
This is pretty much the way I did it. I installed Red Hat last, windows second. The only thing I did differently was that I didn't install LILO in the MBR, and when I was done I re installed <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font>.<BR>Hmm, I guess technically I did install Windows first. But this is the easiest way to set up the partitions without having to buy partition magic. But the way I described should work. Red hat went on <B>after</B> Windows, and Red Hat takes the mbr when you tell it that it's ok.<BR>Anyway, it's definitely working for me.<P>The main problem is that the /boot must be before the 1024th sector, which is about halfway through a 19gb drive, depending on the configuration. So that /boot partition has to go there first, or you'll have to split the windows partition down to about 8 gigs, and then fdisk won't be able to deal with the linux partition. (Not on 98, nor NT4, from my direct experience.) So the rest of that pretty much goes away, although <font color="0000FF">B</font><font color="#FF0000">e</font> can deal with it.
Okay..um...WHAT? I'm sorry if I'm a tad bit ignorant right now, but only once have I ever formatted my computer at all. Even then, I didn't type anything, my roommate did it and I watched (he doesn't have the patience to sit down and teach). I've NEVER used any OS other than Windows 98 and MacOS. I haven't even messed with DOS at all other than the little stuff that some games used to require to be started. Is there possibly a way that you could explain..well, for one, that '1024 sector' thingy (including why I'd have to put Linux on there twice...), as well as that whole spiel about having to do this, then that, then typing this at this certain screen..(which I've never seen the screens or heard of them before so that makes it kinda weird too). But yeah, whatever the case, I was completely lost..wanna give it another go? And btw, I said it was a 19 gig drive because that's what's usable. According to the papers it's a 20.1 gig (if that makes a difference).<P>(Also the LILO part I've no clue of, nor the /mbr, whatever that is...)<BR>-Chaz<P>[This message has been edited by Chaz (edited December 08, 1999).]
Actually, (after reading that post over for the third time) I realize that I did catch everything you'd said, except for that pertaining to linux. And yeah, Red Hat will be the version I'm putting on there. Umm..so, yeah. I most likely will be getting Partition Magic too, might as well huh?<BR>So, I have to set up the partitions so that there's a small one before Win98SE to use as a boot sector for Linux? Then also set up another actually for the OS itself? Why not just flip Linux in the first 3 gigs of the drive, drop down a partition for BeOS on the second 3 gigs, and leave the rest for Win98? Is it possible to install Win98 on a partition that has two empty partitions before it? (Just seems like that would solve a few problems is all.)<BR>
Windows '98 generally doesn't care where you put it, although you might consider just getting like a 2GB drive for Be or Linux, that way you don't have the partitioning problems and it gives you more primary partitions if you want to install NT or Win2K, Be only takes up about 500MB, so you could get a relativley small drive for it, I only have 1.5GB partitioned for Be, and I have plenty of room left.<P>Chris
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