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#1 edborg

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Posted 01 December 2006 - 02:13 PM

I've just started to look into ReactOS and need some general info.
I feel a bit confused, as it often happens to me when approaching something for the first time in this field where everything is taken for granted. :P

1. As I've also started to look into Linux (Knoppix LiveCD distro), what are the main conceptual differences in approach between these two open source solutions?
2. I had opted for the qEmu version because it did not require installation, and that was good for me to start with; now I see there's also a LiveCD version that could be used without installation if burnt to a CD, besides being booted in qEmu as well, if preferred. The two differ enormously in size (64MB vs 252MB): what are the differences?

Thanks
edborg

#2 Brito

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Posted 01 December 2006 - 02:22 PM

Last time I've tried out knoppix it was packed with a whole lot of applications and features.

ReactOS LiveCD is stripped from these customizations or features, it is used mostly for debugging and development testings.

The current stable 0.3.0 has introduced a lot of changes and improvements, NTFS support is nearly completed - I personally like their project.. :P

#3 was_jaclaz

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Posted 01 December 2006 - 04:47 PM

1. As I've also started to look into Linux (Knoppix LiveCD distro), what are the main conceptual differences in approach between these two open source solutions?


Tricky one.

What is the main conceptual difference between a mountain and a cloud?

1.They are both either a creation of God or a miracle of nature, according to your beliefs
2.The first is solid, you can touch it, you can walk on it, the second is something immaterial, that noone (yet) knows completely how it works.....


:P

Seriously,
Knoppix is a derivative of Debian, i.e. one of the most solid Linux built, used in production systems since many years, with added an exceptionally good hardware detection capability plus the option to run as a Live-CD and the possiblity to build personalised versions quite easily.
React-OS is a VERY GOOD attempt to replicate the workings of Windows NT/2K, hopefully bettering them, but while nice and everyday better, it lacks the amount of contributors that Knoppix (and Debian) have either directly (i.e. people devoted to the distribution) or indirectly (i.e. people devoted to Linux in general) so, at least at the moment, it is still an experimental project, not ready for real practical use, though of course it is very well suited for us "hobbyists", also to learn something of the internals of Windows.

If you are at your first experience with Linux, I would suggest you another release, Morphix, which is a Knoppix derivative, with even more "friendliness" added:
http://www.morphix.org/


jaclaz

#4 edborg

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Posted 01 December 2006 - 04:56 PM

Tricky one.

What is the main conceptual difference between a mountain and a cloud?

1.They are both either a creation of God or a miracle of nature, according to your beliefs
2.The first is solid, you can touch it, you can walk on it, the second is something immaterial, that noone (yet) knows completely how it works.....
:P

Seriously,
Knoppix is a derivative of Debian, i.e. one of the most solid Linux built, used in production systems since many years, with added an exceptionally good hardware detection capability plus the option to run as a Live-CD and the possiblity to build personalised versions quite easily.
React-OS is a VERY GOOD attempt to replicate the workings of Windows NT/2K, hopefully bettering them, but while nice and everyday better, it lacks the amount of contributors that Knoppix (and Debian) have either directly (i.e. people devoted to the distribution) or indirectly (i.e. people devoted to Linux in general) so, at least at the moment, it is still an experimental project, not ready for real practical use, though of course it is very well suited for us "hobbyists", also to learn something of the internals of Windows.

If you are at your first experience with Linux, I would suggest you another release, Morphix, which is a Knoppix derivative, with even more "friendliness" added:
http://www.morphix.org/
jaclaz

Well, the cloud is lighter, at least!
Every now and then I need a lesson from you to help dissolve the clouds in my mind. :P
I appreciate that, seriously.
Thanks :P
edborg
P.S. You meant suggesting MorphingMorphix 0.3 or MorphixLiveKiosk 0.01?

#5 edborg

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Posted 01 December 2006 - 05:34 PM

Last time I've tried out knoppix it was packed with a whole lot of applications and features.

ReactOS LiveCD is stripped from these customizations or features, it is used mostly for debugging and development testings.

The current stable 0.3.0 has introduced a lot of changes and improvements, NTFS support is nearly completed - I personally like their project.. :P

1. Understood, thanks
2. I do have 0.3.0, but wondered about the differences between the LiveCD (reactos0.3.0-REL-live.zip - 16MB, expanded to 64MB) and the qEmu version (reactos0.3.0-REL-qemu.zip - 44MB, expanded to 252MB). :P

Assuming that the latter is more complete (?), I tried to repeat your steps by:
- expanding it to a folder
- adding to that folder the extracted bootsector
- building a booting ISO with CDMake and/or MkISOfs.

But I failed. :P
Neither MkISOfs nor CDMake create an ISO that can boot: "Could not find the loader ...".

I now need some rest. I think I'll give up at least until next week. :P
edborg

ADDED: Found the solution! Here it is.

#6 Brito

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Posted 01 December 2006 - 05:56 PM

I'm working on an automated procedure for testing this, should be available later today.. :P

#7 was_jaclaz

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Posted 01 December 2006 - 06:04 PM

P.S. You meant suggesting MorphingMorphix 0.3 or MorphixLiveKiosk 0.01?


Neither, one of these:
http://www.morphix.o...o...8&Itemid=59
(if you, like me, prefer KDE over Gnome)

http://www.morphix.o...o...9&Itemid=59
(gnome)

http://www.morphix.o...o...6&Itemid=59
(LightGUI)

http://www.morphix.o...o...9&Itemid=59
(IceWM)

Once you have got the hang of it, do download the MorphingMorphix and start building your own "tuned to your desires" Live CD, maybe using some of the autobuilds:
http://www.morphix.org/autobuilds/

jaclaz

P.S.: Remember that this is addictive, and, as in Morphix logo:

Resistance is Futile

:P




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