On Sat, 31 May 2008 22:40:23 -0400, jim wrote:

> For example....
>
> I downloaded BackTrack 3 and ran the Live CD just fine. It detects my
> USB wireless card and everything.
>
> So, I wanted to make a more permanent installation of BackTrack 3 to run
> when I wanted and to use it to learn more about Linux in general.
>
> I followed directions on creating the vmware virtual machine manually
> (to override the SCSI disk in favor of IDE) and I launched the new VM
> using the ISO as my CD drive and allowing the VM to boot into the live
> BackTrack 3 CD.
>
> Once in, I created 2 partitions (hda1 and hda2) to use for my BackTrack
> 3 install and swap files, and I ran mkfs.ext3, mkswap, mkdir and mount
> to create my environment and prepare for install.
>
> I then ran the BackTrack 3 install (which does state that it has not
> been tested - although the current version came out in December of
> 2007).
>
> But, when I rebooted, instead of simply launching the way the Live CD
> did, I now get a red box asking me what OS to load (only BackTrack is
> shown) and I have to log in with root/toor and launch the kde graphical
> desktop manually.
>
> None of that bothers me.
>
> But, what does bother me is that the vmware installed version will not
> see my USB wireless device when the live cd version sees it just fine.
> WTF?
>
> I've spent 7 hours with this distro - trying to get it into a VM so that
> I could actually save things to the drive and use it as a desktop and
> I'm no closer now than I was 7 hours ago.
>
> THIS is why Windows has such a great following. Is Windows insecure?
> Yes. Is Windows bloated and slow (esp. Vista)? Yes. But, can you get
> things to work in Windows faster and easier than in Linux? HELL YES!!
>
> I want to like Linux. I really do. But, I find it a lot like driving a
> car. If I had to work on my car as much as I have had to work on Linux
> distros that I have tried and I got as much out of it as I have gotten
> out of them I'd walk and get there faster.
>
> jim

Actually, most things are quite easy in Linux. It took me a total of about
five minutes to download and install VirtualBox and set up three different
virtual machines. Then only a matter of minutes to actually install each
of them.

Some time you should, for example, try installing a remote printer - it's
MUCH easier on Linux.