Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 21:22:50 -0700
To: "Michael P. Hopcroft" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
From: Rodney Mishima <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Linux
Cc: [email protected]
Bcc:
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Rodney,
To answer your questions:
1. I ahev a little experience with Linux as an end user. I've used it in the past and have a bsaci idea of how to do s7tuff, but I am not a programmer. that's why I'm thinking I need a cosnultation.
I think your programmer skills are not a barrier here. Your abilities as your own "system administrator" are what is most important. You mention a desire to backup a hugh number of video files. Even without installing Linux, you could purchase another hard disk, install it in a vacant drive bay, partition/format it (even in the dreaded Windows), then copy your important data to it. If you have some PC install skills such as how to jumper a hard drive as a "slave" if appropriate, you may be more self-sufficient than you think.
2. One of my concerns about my DVD burner are not the software so much as the driver. when i used Linux before I had a DVD read-only drvie that the Linux distro I was using only recognized as a CD drive. I'm worried the same thing might happen with my burner, especially since it isn't one of the big brands.
I assume you have an internal dvd burner which uses the IDE ATAPI interface. Under the older Linux with the 2.4.x.y kernel, there was a layer of code to emulate the SCSI inferface on top of the actual IDE ATAPI. With the newer 2.6.x.y kernel, the SCSI emulation has been eliminated and the low-level software goes directly to the IDE ATAPI level.
Your problem with a DVD-ROM recognized as only a CD-ROM was probably encounterred under a much older Linux kernel when support for the UDF file system ( used by DVD video and data ) support was not yet implemented in the linux kernel.
3. Know how I can contact Matt or Dylan? or, indeed, anyone with the technical skills to get me set up? I don't have a lot of cash, but I do need the software itself and probably some help setting things up. (I have a drive that can be used for this purpose, but to use it would porbably mean esasing about 90GB of data, almost all video files, that are currently on it.)
Michael Hopcroft
Here are e-mail addresses for some of the experts whom I personally know:
Dylan Reinhardt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Robby Russell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Matt King <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I am certain that they can either help you directly or refer you to a competent, skilled Linux expert. BTW, do you live in the east part of Portland. Most of these guys live around east Portland/Milauake area.
I cc'd the pdxlug list so we can keep the discussion on-line with other experts in our group. When you reply, please use the "reply all" option.
Rodney
I forgot to mention Dave Moore, who lives in North Portland; and
is especially knowledgeable about strategies for migrating to Linux
from Windows. His e-mail address is:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Rodney
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