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Getting Started Guide

User-friendly installation wizards are provided for installing and configuring Xandros Desktop. Use the instructions here to install Xandros Desktop from the installation CD and get started.

Preparing for installation

To prepare for installation

1. Print these instructions.
2. Back up data that you want to keep.
3. Remove all media from drives, such as floppy disks.
4. If you intend to set up an Internet connection, obtain default settings from your Internet service provider or current computer setup, such as static IP address and the names of incoming and outgoing e-mail servers. If the computer connects through Ethernet to a network with a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, your system will be automatically configured by Xandros Desktop.

Installing Xandros Desktop

Xandros Desktop can be installed on a new or existing hard disk, including one that already contains an operating system. It can overwrite or coexist with another operating system.

There are two installation options:

• Express Install - Installs Xandros Desktop on your computer with default settings and commonly used software (2 GB recommended)
• Custom Install - Installs Xandros Desktop on your computer with user-defined settings. There are four options. You can view the applications included for each option during installation.
  • Minimal - Basic installation (1.5 GB)
  • Standard - Commonly used applications; default and recommended Custom option (2 GB)
  • Complete - Install all the software (up to 2.5 GB)
  • Custom - Select the applications required

Xandros Desktop cannot be installed on an Apple Macintosh computer.

Installing Xandros Desktop using Express Install

Express Install automatically handles all installation scenarios, such as installation on a computer without an operating system or with an operating system, including Windows®. It creates a single user account.

To install Xandros Desktop using Express Install

1. Insert the Xandros installation CD into the drive.
2. Restart the computer, and wait for the Xandros Installation Wizard Welcome window. If your computer restarts without displaying the wizard, see Troubleshooting installation and try again.
3. In the Xandros Installation Wizard Welcome window, click Next. (Click the image to view a larger version.)
   
   
   
4. Read and accept the License Agreement, and click Next.
   
   
   
   
5. With the Express install option enabled, click Next.
   
   
   
   
6. When you have an operating system other than Xandros OS installed, you are given the option to keep it or overwrite it. When you have a version of Xandros OS installed, you have the option of keeping your folders and user accounts (Yes option) or overwriting the installation (No option). Select an option, then click Next.
   
   
   
   
7. If an Administration Configuration window appears, type and confirm a password for an Administrator (root) account. In the Computer name field, type a name for the computer or leave the randomly generated name shown. Then click Next.
   
   
   
   
8. If a User Account Configuration window appears, type and confirm the information for a user account. The User name is the name for login to Xandros Desktop. Then click Next.
   
   
   
   
9. Check the information, and click Back if you need to make changes. Otherwise, click Finish to perform the installation. Xandros Desktop is installed.

Installing Xandros Desktop using Custom Install

Custom Install allows you to select applications for installation, set the installation location by configuring your disk or partitions, configure system settings, and add multiple user accounts. Use one of the following installation scenarios:

• Install Xandros Desktop on a computer without an operating system, upgrade Xandros desktop, or replace another Linux® operating system
• Replace a Microsoft® Windows operating system with Xandros Desktop
• Install Xandros Desktop to coexist with another operating system

To install Xandros Desktop on a computer without an operating system, upgrade Xandros Desktop, or replace another Linux operating system

1. Insert the Xandros installation CD into the drive.
2. Restart the computer, and wait for the Xandros Installation Wizard Welcome window. If your computer restarts without displaying the wizard, see Troubleshooting installation and try again.
3. In the Xandros Installation Wizard Welcome window, click Next.
4. Read and accept the License Agreement, and click Next.
5. Enable the Custom install option, and click Next.
6. Select the package that you want to install (Minimal, Standard, Complete, or Custom), select or deselect software from the list as required, and click Next.
7. Enable one of the following options. Only the options applicable to your computer are available for selection.
   • Use free space - Uses largest unallocated space on hard disk
   • Take over disk or partition - Takes over an entire hard disk, specified partition, or previous version of Xandros Desktop; all data is erased
   • Resize a Windows partition - Shrinks a Windows partition and installs within the resulting free space
   • Replace existing Xandros OS - Upgrades a previous version of a Xandros product, keeping user accounts, folders (which are renamed with _old), and some defaults
   • Manage disks and partitions - You reassign a partition and install onto it. When installing on a computer without an operating system, you can add a partition and install onto it. This option is for advanced users.
   
   Click Next.
8. The next screen varies based on selection. A Disk Configuration window can appear from which you select the disk or partition to use. Select it.
   
   
   
   If the Add button is displayed and you want to add a partition, click it, set File system and Size, and click OK.
   
   If the Assign button is displayed, click it and select a File System:
   
   
   • ReiserFS - Default file system; generally better performance than Ext2 or Ext3 in terms of disk space use, access, and crash recovery
   • Ext2 or Ext3 - Alternative file systems; choose this option if you use PartitionMagic to partition your disks (PartitionMagic does not support ReiserFS)
   
   For ReiserFS, enable one of the following options:
   • Replace existing file system - Formats the disk or partition and erases all data on that disk or partition
   • Rename folders - Keeps your /root and /home folders and their contents, and renames them with _old
   • Leave existing file system unchanged
   
   Click Next.
9. In the second Disk Configuration window, to use the default Xandros boot manager (recommended), click Next. A boot manager determines the screen shown on startup, for example to select one operating system to launch instead of another. If you want to use something other than the default boot manager at startup (advanced users only), select it from the Install boot manager on master boot record list box (must already be mapped to the Xandros partition for a second option to appear). Or, when you have a boot manager that can be configured after installation, you can deselect the check box.
10. If the Network Connection Configuration window appears, you can accept the default values, or for each network connection click Configure and enable one of the following options:
    • Dynamic address (DHCP) - When your IP address changes each time you connect to the network, for example to your Internet service provider
    • Static address - When you use a static IP address, enter it in the IP address box and enter the Subnet mask. Obtain them from your system administrator, Internet service provider, by entering /sbin/ifconfig in a Linux console window, or ipconfig /all in a Windows command window.
    • Disable network connection - To disconnect from the network and never use the Internet, for example
    
    Click OK.
    
    
    
    If you are using a static IP address and know the Default gateway IP address, enter it.
    
    If you have a Domain Name System (DNS) server, enable the Use the following DNS server addresses check box and enter the IP address(es).
    
    Click Next.
    
    
11. If the Administration Configuration window appears, enter and confirm a password for an Administrator (root) account. Enable the Make user home folders private check box if you do not want users to browse each others' files. Then click Next.
12. If the User Account Configuration window appears, click Add, enter the information, and click OK to exit from the window. The User name is for login to Xandros Desktop. Then click Next.
13. Check the information, and click Back if you need to make changes. Otherwise, click Finish to perform the installation. Xandros Desktop is installed.

To replace a Microsoft Windows operating system with Xandros Desktop (Windows XP example)

1. Insert the Xandros installation CD into the drive.
2. Restart the computer, and wait for the Xandros Installation Wizard Welcome window. If your computer restarts without displaying the wizard, see Troubleshooting installation and try again.
3. In the Xandros Installation Wizard Welcome window, click Next.
4. Read and accept the License Agreement, and click Next.
5. Enable the Custom install option, and click Next.
6. Select the package that you want to install (Minimal, Standard, Complete, or Custom), select or deselect software from the list as required, and click Next.
7. Enable the Take over disk or partition option, which erases all data on that disk or partition, and click Next.
8. Complete the rest of the installation wizard. See the previous procedure, starting at step 8, for assistance.

To install Xandros Desktop to coexist with another operating system (Windows XP example)

1. In the My Computer window in Windows, check if you have an NTFS-formatted hard disk by right-clicking the disk and selecting Properties. If the File system setting reads NTFS, click Start > Control Panel, click Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Disk Defragmenter, then defragment the appropriate disk.
2. Insert the Xandros installation CD into the drive.
3. Restart the computer, and wait for the Xandros Installation Wizard Welcome window. If your computer restarts without displaying the wizard, see Troubleshooting installation and try again.
4. In the Xandros Installation Wizard Welcome window, click Next.
5. Read and accept the License Agreement, and click Next.
6. Enable the Custom install option, and click Next.
7. Select the package that you want to install (Minimal, Standard, Complete, or Custom), select or deselect software from the list as required, and click Next.
8. In the Disk Configuration window, enable one of the following options:
   • Use free space - Uses largest unallocated space on hard disk
   • Resize a Windows partition - Shrinks a Windows partition and installs within the resulting free space
   
   Click Next.
   
   
9. Complete the rest of the installation wizard. See the Linux installation procedure, starting at step 8, for assistance.

Troubleshooting installation

Xandros Desktop includes a troubleshooting menu that can be used if the computer hardware is not immediately recognized during installation. You can also use it when your installation is successful, but have a hardware issue, such as no sound, to reinstall using another option.

To use the troubleshooting menu for installation

1. With the Xandros installation CD in the drive, restart the computer.
2. During startup, when a Press <Space> for Troubleshooting Menu message appears, press the space bar immediately. Access is successful when the selection screen includes the following options:
   
   

   Option	Description
   Default Setup	Default installation; acpi=on
   Restore Xandros	Restore the startup screen and installation
   Rescue Console	Diagnostic tools; vga=normal
   International Setup	Non-North-American keyboard and language
   256-Colors Setup	Old monitor or video card
   VESA Mode Setup	Generic video support
   Intel i810 Setup	For Intel i810 onboard video
   Text mode boot Setup	To start without showing the splash screen
   ACPI 1 Setup	Default installation; acpi=on
   ACPI 2 Setup	acpi=on noapic
   ACPI 3 Setup	acpi=on pci=biosirq
   ACPI 4 Setup	acpi=on pci=noacpi
   APM 1 Setup	acpi=off
   APM 2 Setup	acpi=off noapic
   APM 3 Setup	acpi=off pci=biosirq

   
   
3. Using the down arrow key, select APM 1 Setup, then press Enter.
   
   If Xandros Desktop does not install, repeat steps 1 to 2, then select ACPI 2 Setup. If it does not install, try ACPI 3 Setup, then try the other ACPI, APM, VESA, 256-Colors, and Intel options until one of the options works.
   
   If you use a non-North-American keyboard and keyboard language, select International Setup to install Xandros Desktop.
   
   If Xandros Desktop still does not install, repeat steps 1 to 2, select Rescue Console, press Enter, and type startx at the bash prompt.

Getting started

You can start the desktop, log in, complete the First Run Wizard, install more applications, set up Internet, wireless, virtual private network (VPN), and other connection accounts, as well as update the installation.

To start Xandros Desktop

1. Start your computer. A menu similar to the following displays. In this example, Xandros Desktop and Windows XP are installed.
   
   
   
   
2. With the Xandros entry selected, press Enter. By default, if 30 seconds elapses without a selection being made, the option at the top of the menu is selected automatically and startup continues.

To log in

1. In the login window, select your user name or Administrator account from the User name drop-down list.
   
   
   
   
2. Type the password for the account in the Password box.
3. Click Login. A First Run Wizard launches the first time you log in.
   If you have trouble logging in, try startup with Safe Video Mode, then Configure (Expert) (for which you press Ctrl+D at the prompt). If these options do not work, insert the installation CD into the drive, restart, access the troubleshooting menu as previously outlined, select Restore Xandros, and press Enter.
   
   If you installed Xandros Desktop with 256-Color Setup and the colors displayed on your monitor require correction, click Launch > Control Center, click Display, then Settings, change the color mode in the Color drop-down list, click Apply, and restart the computer.
   
   
   
   

To learn how to use Xandros Desktop

1. Double-click the Quick Start Guide icon on the desktop.
   
   
   
   

To install other applications

1. For some editions, you install an office suite (StarOffice® or OpenOffice.org) and other applications, such as Adobe® Reader and the GIMP graphics program, using the Applications CD. After login, simply insert the CD and follow the prompts.

To start an application

1. Click Launch > Applications, and select an application.

To set up an Internet or other connection account

1. If you use a modem to connect to the Internet, click Launch > Applications > Internet > Connection Wizard. Use it also to configure a wireless connection and a VPN connections (not included with all editions). (You do not need to set up an account if connected through Ethernet to a network with a DHCP server.)
   
   
   
   
2. Afterwards, to connect to the Internet, right-click the Network Connections icon on the Panel, select the connection account, and select Connect.

To download updates

1. Click Launch > Xandros Networks (requires Internet connection).
2. Click File > Install All Latest Updates from Xandros. You need to register the product in order to install updates.
   
   
   
   

To shut down

1. Click Launch > Logout.
2. Click the Shut down icon.

Getting help

Several resources are available:

• READ ME file on installation CD; access it in Xandros File Manager
• Online help
• FAQs and user forums at http://support.xandros.com
• Installation technical support at http://support.xandros.com/contact.php?contactname=support
• User guide available for purchase at http://shop.xandros.com (included with some editions)

Thank you for purchasing Xandros Desktop.