Phill wrote:
> Why dont you update to Red Hat 9? Or
> Fedora Core 2?

Because Glenn wrote:

> I also have no control over the Linux box or any of the /etc, /lib,
> or /usr directories.  Also, I don't even know what distribution of
> Linux is on this box.

But I agree, being in control would be the best. Just recover your old PC that you thought had become obsolete three years ago, download an installation CD and be your own master.

I would go for Debian Sarge with the new installer http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/, but if you ask us, you will probably get as many different recommendations as Linux users on this list. Debian (or a Debian-based distribution) will make system maintenance a charm after you have installed it.

But wait! You may even get away by booting off a live Knoppix CD on your current XP-or-whatever-box. It may be well worth checking this out http://www.knoppix.org/.

Cheers,
Bastiaan.

Bastiaan Veelo wrote:
> Phill wrote:
> 
>> Why dont you update to Red Hat 9? Or
>> Fedora Core 2?
> 
> 
> Because Glenn wrote:
> 
>  > I also have no control over the Linux box or any of the /etc, /lib,
>  > or /usr directories.  Also, I don't even know what distribution of
>  > Linux is on this box.
> 
> But I agree, being in control would be the best. Just recover your old PC that you thought had become obsolete three years ago, download an installation CD and be your own master.
> 
> I would go for Debian Sarge with the new installer http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/, but if you ask us, you will probably get as many different recommendations as Linux users on this list. Debian (or a Debian-based distribution) will make system maintenance a charm after you have installed it.
> 
> But wait! You may even get away by booting off a live Knoppix CD on your current XP-or-whatever-box. It may be well worth checking this out http://www.knoppix.org/.
> 
> Cheers,
> Bastiaan.

I'd recommend Mepis (www.mepis.org). Mepis is a debian based desktop live cd that's meant to be installed.

#1) pop in cd and it boots up to kde (root password is root)
#2) click 'install' icon on desktop, which takes you through the install
#3) reboot. take cd out. then apt-get any software you need.

It's the easiest way to get a debian system up and running.

Bastiaan Veelo wrote:
> Phill wrote:
> 
>> Why dont you update to Red Hat 9? Or
>> Fedora Core 2?
> 
> 
> Because Glenn wrote:
> 
>  > I also have no control over the Linux box or any of the /etc, /lib,
>  > or /usr directories.  Also, I don't even know what distribution of
>  > Linux is on this box.
> 
> But I agree, being in control would be the best. Just recover your old PC that you thought had become obsolete three years ago, download an installation CD and be your own master.
> 
> I would go for Debian Sarge with the new installer http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/, but if you ask us, you will probably get as many different recommendations as Linux users on this list. Debian (or a Debian-based distribution) will make system maintenance a charm after you have installed it.
> 
> But wait! You may even get away by booting off a live Knoppix CD on your current XP-or-whatever-box. It may be well worth checking this out http://www.knoppix.org/.
> 
> Cheers,
> Bastiaan.

I've heard a lot of good things about debian.  Can't go wrong with trying that one either; perhaps it's an even better choice than a Redhat-based distributions (Fedora or Mandrake).