On Sat, 3 Aug 2002, Darragh wrote: > Thanks for that. I've just spent the last hour and a half on > the internet looking for an update to 7.3 Why? I directed you to the blinux FAQ. When you have read that, you will have a much more complete answer to your questions, including where, and in what form to get your 7.3 disks. One place not listed in the FAQ, is http://www.tummy.com/krud/, where you can get cheap CDs with all the security updates already added, along with some enhancements (can save a lot of downloading -- probably by now you would need 200 meg or more of files to fix up and secure RH7.0 (installing security updates is "mandatory" for internet users), and it would still be inferior). > I've found individual fixes but is there a file or two that I > could download? Any distribution involves hundreds of files. Redhat explains the upgrade process in their manuals, which are available on www.redhat.com, its mirrors, and on their documentation CD. Also, when you are on the Red Hat web site, subscribe to some of their mailing lists (the announce one, at a minimum). > You spoke of scripts, are these downloadable? If so could you > give me the URL? Read the kickstart chapter in the Red Hat manuals (currently found in the Configuration Guide manual, for 7.3, formerly in the reference guide): things will be clearer after that. > Don't forget, I'm still in Windows until I get speak up to > speak to me. Or get a user space screen reader instead, as I suggested (many users like both, since emacspeak offers a complete audio desktop system). > I've learned that the kickstart program that you mentioned in > your last mail can take files of a partition or floppy. Again, you have misunderstood. These are just the same collected files that are usually found on a set of CD-ROM disks -- but more convenient for administrators who might have to install dozens or hundreds of machines over, say, a network, using a customized kickstart installation script to automate the process. Why would a blind user prefer kickstart to an interactive install? Because you can preselect the answers to all the installation or upgrade questions ahead of time, in a simple ascii file prepared with an ordinary text editor. But this is not for users who don't want to read and follow manuals, and who prefer menus and help screens, instead of text commands. There are only a few kickstart commands that are applicable for a blind user doing an upgrade -- much simpler than a full kickstart install, which might be daunting for a newbie who wants the GUI too. > That's what I like to hear. If I can get a file which will > update the necessary files just so I can get the thing to speak > I'll hopefully be able to get my Barings. Maybe after you get more understanding of things, you can look into an rpm version of the debian apt-get, which can automatically download and upgrade the hundreds of files involved in a complete upgrade over several nights. I don't know if that would work well for a new user, though. Your best bet might to go to http://www.linux.com/ and follow the link for finding a LUG (linux user group) in your area, so you can get local help: probably someone would be willing to copy their Red Hat 7.3 CD's for you, or loan them to you. LUGs can be a great source of hands-on local help, and commonly host install fests at their meetings, where new users can get experienced hands on help. Note that I have deliberately ignored several likely follow up questions, and many details, because they are covered in the FAQs and documentation you have been pointed to. LCR > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "L. C. Robinson" <lcr@onewest.net> > To: <blinux-list@redhat.com> > Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 2:21 AM > Subject: Re: kernel problem > > > > On Sat, 3 Aug 2002, Darragh wrote: > > > > > installed. as I've installed Red Hat version 7 I'm sure I'm > > > going to have difficulties in finding the right kernel update. > > > again, downloading version 7.3 of Red Hat is not an option. It > > > would take too long with my internet connection. > > > > That's not a good enough reason. Most of us are in the same boat > > regarding connection speed. Read the blinux FAQ for other > > inexpensive options. Installing 7.0 is just a bad idea. You > > will need to download a huge load of security updates anyway. > > But don't delete what you have. Just get the newer release: > > scripting an upgrade through kickstart should be dead easy. And > > upgrading a kernel from source, with patches, especially for an > > old release, is for more advanced users. It sounds like you will > > progress fast; just get a non-kernel based (user space) screen > > reader, and do the kernel thing when you are more ready. > > > > Oh, and you can read the man pages, etc, on the web (again, see > > the FAQ). -- L. C. Robinson reply to no_spam+munged_lcr@onewest.net.invalid People buy MicroShaft for compatibility, but get incompatibility and instability instead. This is award winning "innovation". Find out how MS holds your data hostage with "The *Lens*"; see "CyberSnare" at http://www.netaction.org/msoft/cybersnare.html