Newbie alert!

[Chris Barnes <chris w2s net>]

Hi all,

I've just recently joined this list after installing RH7 on my system. So I 
just thought I'd say "hi" to everyone.

I am new to Linux, but I have played with it a lot and I'm getting to know 
my way around. I'm studying Computing at school at the moment (A Level) 
along with Electronics, Maths and French, and I hope to study for a degree 
in Computer Science at university, starting next year. So hopefully a bit 
of experience with Linux will come in useful.

I performed a partitionless install, since I didn't really want to disrupt 
my Win98 installation which I still rely on for some things (e.g. my USB 
scanner). Although the manual warned that this install would reduce 
performance, it doesn't seem too bad - my AMD K6-2 550 MHz (128MB RAM, 10GB 
hard disk with 2GB reserved for the Linux image file) gives me a bogomips 
figure of 1101 according to the Gnome system information tool.

I've managed to use XMMS to listen to my MP3s from my hard disk (which I 
eventually found at /initrd/loopfs), GTV to watch MPEG movies, and I've had 
a quick play with the GIMP too. I've even installed Wine from 
www.winehq.com to run some of my Windows programs for which I haven't found 
a Linux alternative.

The only problem I have had is getting my TV card, a Studio PCTV Rave from 
Pinnacle, working under Linux. I don't have the money or the space for a TV 
in my bedroom, so I invested in the card (30 UKP). It works fine in 
Windows, but I haven't managed in Linux yet.

The card itself, as far as I can gather, is exactly the same as the 
slightly more expensive Studio PCTV, the only difference being the bundled 
software for Windows (the Studio PCTV comes with a full video-editing 
package while the Rave only includes a 30-day trial version). The card is 
also the same as the miro PCTV (Pinnacle have simply bought out miro and 
rebadged the product). The support section on Pinnacle's website, 
www.pinnaclesys.com, states that they do not provide technical support, but 
they do include a link to xawtv (www.strusel007.de/linux/xawtv) which I 
have tried, but unfortunately freezes the entire system every time I have 
tried. - the keyboard and mouse stop responding, and even the power switch 
won't work - the only solution is to hit the reset button, and endure a 
filesystem check next time I boot Linux. I have also tried a program called 
Zapping, from the "Get More Software" page on www.gnome.org, but it has the 
same effect.

If there's a kind soul out there who has managed to get a similar board 
working under Linux, I'd be extremely grateful for their help. Or if you 
have any general suggestions that might help, I'd be only too pleased to 
try them out.

Other information that might help diagnose the problem:

  Board: PCI with Conexant (formerly Brooktree) Bt848/878 video decoder 
(according to manual) - it also mentions that it needs Direct Draw/DirectX

  Graphics board: ATI Rage 128 Fury 16MB AGP (which, according to the PCTV 
manual, has been tested successful with the board)

  Graphics mode for X: 1024x768, 16 bit, using driver "accel"

Many thanks,
      Chris Barnes

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           Chris Barnes, Rugby, UK
    Yahoo: ChrisWCUK     ICQ: 19836660
       SMS: mobile@justchris.co.uk
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