Help with SUSE Internet Connection

rjd · 26 Jun 2006 at 13:05

Hi all

I am still using WinME (am I the only one who still likes to use this version of Windows?) and although it does everything I need to do and I know it inside out I would also like to try Linux.

Not sure why I chose SUSE 10.1 but I am trying out the live DVD before I install.

As I use an ADSL Modem/Ethernet/Router I was surprised that having setup Firefox to connect directly to the Internet, it just hangs without connecting.

Do I need to setup anything in SUSE to make the connection work? If so I would appreciate some help.

Unless I can get SUSE/Firefox to go online there is no point in me pursuing Linux any further.

Thanks for your help.

riddlermarc · 26 Jun 2006 at 13:09

You need to ensure your default gateway and dns settings are pointing at your router's ip address (192.168.x.x or 10.0.0.x for example).. can you open up a terminal/console and "ping www.bbc.co.uk"?

EDIT - didn't realise anyone enjoyed using ME

rjd · 26 Jun 2006 at 17:53

Thanks for your reply riddlermarc.

Still can't get it to work. Keeps asking for lots of information that it dosen't need like ISP details etc.

I'm already connected so it should be simple but SUSE seams to be making it complicated.

I'll stick with WinME as I have got that to work very well partly through my own efforts and partly via 'how to run Windows ME well'.

Thanks again.

FirebarUK · 26 Jun 2006 at 21:31

If you use a router it sounds like your configuring the wrong type of connection. You seem to be configuring a dial-up whereas if your connected via ethernet to your router (or wireless etc etc) you need to simply configure "network interfaces".

rjd · 26 Jun 2006 at 22:38

Thanks FirebarUK

I agree but it's proberly just that I don't know my way around SUSE yet and it's a bit frustrating.

SUSE automatically 'sees' my connection but still asks for more info.

I'll give it another try as I do want to start to learn about Liniux but before I install I want to make sure I can connect to the Internet ok.

I also tried Open Office. Should I be able to see and use documents, spreadsheets, databases etc. created in WinME?

I don't want to keep two sets of these.

Thanks for your reply.

FirebarUK · 26 Jun 2006 at 23:26

No worries. Linux can appear so similar, but is so different

Yes open office can open word/excel documents without any trouble (for the most part - some macro's in excel may not work).

To access the proper Yast (Yet Another Setup Tool) module for networking, open up a terminal. You can either right click on the desktop and click 'open terminal', or you'll find it under 'system tools' in the application menu. At a prompt type in;

su -

^ this will sudo (change) to the root user
Type in the root password when prompted

At the new prompt, type in;

yast2 lan &

That will open the yast networking module and take you straight to the bit you should be looking at. Here you can manage your ethernet/wireless cards.

rjd · 27 Jun 2006 at 12:22

Hi FirebarUK

I tried what you suggested but SUSE didn't like my user ID!

Anyway, whilst I was messing it gave SUSE a chance to setttle down and I managed to use the Network Tool to ping BBC so it looks like the connection is working but I need to change something in Firefox (I set it to direct connection) and/or SUSE.

Any ideas please?

Also, how do I see/access my existing data files please?

Can you suggest a good place to learn about Linux Basics including a 'Linux terms' dictionary for those migrating from Win95/98/98SE/WinME so I don't need to keep bothering you!

FirebarUK · 27 Jun 2006 at 12:26

Well if you can ping the BBC website things look good. Firefox should just pick up the internet connection unless there is no DNS resolution and you used the IP address to ping?

Try using Konqueror or another browser.

The best place for you to look for help topics would be the Gentoo Wiki imo. Its excellent;

http://gentoo-wiki.org

To see your existing files SuSE should be quite clever and already mount them, somewhere in /media or /windows.
Open up a tool called kwikdisk, you should see your other partitions and be able to mount them. Otherwise take a look through that wiki for a fat32 mounting guide.

If you can't find anything, do the following as root (su - );

fdisk -l (any fat32 drive should be your Windows ME partition)
mkdir /mountpoint (e.g; /media/windows)
mount -t msdos /dev/myMEharddrive /media/windows

That should mount your drive for you in the /media/windows folder. Sorry, all that is probably a little confusing in places :S

rjd · 27 Jun 2006 at 13:21

Thanks for the info FirebarUK.

If I decide to actually install SUSE before I really know my way around I think it will be best to install on a completely seperate HDD so as not to upset WinME. Do you agree?

Hopfully SUSE would not need to use all the disk space and I could allocate say two partitions for backing up Windows files (OS/Main Apps and All Other files)

I could then change the boot disk via BIOS as required but wondered if you could recommend any Dual Boot software that I could install on a floppy Disk so I don't need to make any changes via BIOS or to my WinME disk (just trying to keep the risk of 'upsetting' WinME as low as possible).

Sorry to keep asking for your help!

FirebarUK · 27 Jun 2006 at 13:24

I'd just make sure its a seperate partition, the chances of things going wrong are very small and even if they do you can use a liveCD or a grub boot floppy disk to get back into windows, or even your ME cd to fix the MBR.

But, another hard drive may be benefitial and I would do what I suggested above, install the boot loader into /root and set that drive first in the BIOS boot order. That won't cause your Windows partition/drive any problems at all and you can always happily remove the Linux drive and go back to just ME.