Setting up Unix 1

[Rav2004]

I want to convert my old PC into a Unix workstation so I can start programming in C++ etc in a Unix environment.

Can I load something like UnixDos onto my PC, or do I need to install Linux, or can I format my C drive and just load Unix only (ideal situation).

Regards
Rav

 

[Chacalinc]

If your ideal situation is install Unix, then install Linux! Personally, I recommend Debian, but it's up to you.

if you want to program in C++ you can use either cygwin, or MinGW (gnu c for windows).

Cheers.

 

[iolair]

It's also possible to have both Windows and Linux on the same machine. It's a process called dual-boot, in which a boot loader asks you at boot time if you want to boot Windows (dos) or Unix.

There are also some Linux distributions that will actually create a subdirectory on your c:\ drive and let you run Linux from a dos batch file. Do an internet search on UMSDOS file system - it's short for Unix on MSDOS file systems.

One other, often overlooked option, is to use FreeBSD, which is the University of California at Berkley's version of Unix. It's very stable.

Iolair MacWalter

 

[Rav2004]

Nice one everyone, thanks for that. I have now installed RedHat Linux9, but cannot sort out my modem. The wizard says it has set it as ttyS0, but it doesn't dial or do anything. When I activate it I canot deactivate it. Not sure what is going on ?????

 

[RhythmAce]

If that's a winmodem it's gonna take a little extra tweakin'

 

[Rav2004]

Cheers RhythmAce, I think I do have a winmodem (SiteCom Internal modem (30 pounds). How much trouble am i in ?, is there anything I can do ? (the modem's manual is useless).

 

[stefanwagner]

At:

http://www.linmodems.org/

you may look for a driver for your modem, and whether it is supported.

with:

lspci

and handbook (chipset) you may try to find out details to your hardware.
For c++ - programming, you don't need cygwin or mingw - I guess chacalinc misunderstood your question.
You may install linux as single OS, or with a bootloader to switch between Linux and Windows (lilo, grub) - then you only need to use different partitions.
And you can boot linux from dos with ... (forgotten).

With linux, you will of course use gcc and g++ to compile

 

[jurgen36]

For first experiments I would suggest to get or download the Knoppix cd. You can boot with it and have a lot of programs included. It does not modify anything on your drive or system. The CD boots up and puts you in a (debian) os. Regards

Jurgen