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 ====== Pre-Installation ======
 The first step in creating Slackermedia is to install Slackware and configure it for your machine. It is strongly advised that a user be familiar with GNU, Linux, BSD, or UNIX before attempting to build a Slackermedia system. However,
-it is hardly unheard of (and in fact, arguably best) for someone to start their Linux journey with Slackware. This chapter will guide you through the install process and it will attempt to flag potential points of confusion.
+it is hardly unheard of (and in fact, arguably best) for someone to start their Linux journey with Slackware. This chapter guides you through the install process and highlights potential points of confusion.
-There is no way for this book to anticipate every problem possible, but there are many resources online to help a new Linux or new Slackware user through the installation process, not the least of which is the official Slackware documentation at docs.slackware.com. Some support for installation is available via [[http://linuxquestions.org]], which is a forum run by volunteers, so be patient,
+There is no way for this book to anticipate every problem possible, but there are many resources online to help a new Linux or new Slackware user through the installation process, not the least of which is the official Slackware documentation at [[http://docs.slackware.com]]. Some support for installation is available via [[http://linuxquestions.org]], which is a forum run by volunteers, so be patient,
 friendly, and do as much research as possible before asking questions so that the answers that you do get are not redundant to your efforts.
 If you are looking into using Slackermedia for a large user base and you require paid support, [[http://slackermedia.info/support|contact the author]] to discuss options.
+{{anchor:preinstall}}
 ===== Off-the-Shelf Linux Systems =====
 Computers are mostly sold with an operating system already installed and configured by the OEM vendor. If that is the experience that you seek, then you
-should purchase computers from [[http://zareason.com]] or [[http://system76.com]], or any vendor offering any kind of pre-installed Linux. With Zareason, you can even request a
+should purchase computers from [[http://zareason.com]] or [[http://system76.com]], or any vendor offering any kind of pre-installed Linux. [[http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/555/campaigns/xps-linux-laptop?c=us&l=en&s=biz|Dell]] offers several laptops and desktops loaded with Ubuntu Linux, but and Zareason accepts requests for a Slackware install. Whether or not a vendor agrees to pre-install Slackware, at least when you purchase from a Linux-oriented vendor, you know that the
-Slackware install, but even if the vendor will not pre-install Slackware, at least when you purchase from a Linux-oriented vendor, you know that the
 hardware is tested for compatibility, which makes the install process nearly trivial.
 ===== Hardware Selection =====
@@ Line 26: / Line 22: @@
 If you are a starving artist with strong technical tendencies, then you can even rescue a computer from a dumpster (either figuratively or literally), fix it up as needed, and then install Linux.
-If you have never installed an operating system, you will probably find it far easier than you might imagine, as long as you choose the right hardware. Most problems in a Linux install occur due to closed source drivers, so choosing hardware that is designed to make a user's life easy will save you time and effort.
+If you have never installed an operating system, you will probably find it far easier than you might imagine, as long as you choose the right hardware. Most problems in a Linux install occur due to closed source drivers, so choosing hardware that is designed to make a user's life easy saves you time and effort.
 The Linux kernel has become famous for its hardware support, but it never hurts to research what you are about to purchase with real-world case-studies. There are a handful of sites on the internet dedicated to analyzing how different
@@ Line 35: / Line 31: @@
 Linux is a very good way to judge hardware Linux compatibility and performance.
-While liveCDs will run slower than running an OS from the harddrive, it should still give the user a good idea of severe problems, and the user should make some allowances for the fact that the test is being performed on a liveCD.
+While liveCDs run slower than running an OS from the harddrive, it should still give the user a good idea of severe problems, and the user should make some allowances for the fact that the test is being performed on a liveCD.
 If specific multimedia peripherals are required to work as well, they can be judged separate from the workstation itself. Regardless of what computer is
@@ Line 45: / Line 41: @@
 ==== CPU ====
-There was a time when every last megahertz really did matter to the end user, but lately most CPUs have reached a mostly-equal plateau in speed. Brands and model names will advertise different features but generally speaking any
+There was a time when every last megahertz really did matter to the end user, but lately most CPUs have reached a mostly-equal plateau in speed. Brands and model names advertise different features but generally speaking any
-general-purpose computer AMD or Intel 64-bit CPU will do as well with
+general-purpose computer AMD or Intel 64-bit CPU do as well with
 multimedia as another. "General purpose" excludes chips designed specifically
 for netbooks and other ultra-portable or low-power devices.
@@ Line 57: / Line 53: @@
 speaking, it could be said that the CPU matters most on jobs that involve
 pressing a button and then getting up and going for a cup of coffee in
-anticipation of having to wait for the job to be complete. Some of these jobs
+anticipation of having to wait for the job to be complete. Depending on what kind of art you make, some jobs literally last for days, while others may only be a few seconds past the point
-will literally last for days, others may only be a few seconds past the point
 at which a typical user becomes bored with waiting.
@@ Line 75: / Line 70: @@
 How much RAM you have dictates, largely, what size projects your system can
-comfortably handle. Audacity. for instance, will be responsive with a 30-second
+comfortably handle. Audacity. for instance, might be responsive with a 30-second
 spot but will feel sluggish with longer projects, or projects with a great many
 tracks. GIMP will do well on web graphics but struggle with for-print graphics.
 This is simply because information is moving in and out of RAM; upgrade the
-amount of RAM, and the applications will function more consistently.
+amount of RAM, and the applications function more consistently.
 The speed of RAM is less talked about in consumer electronics, but the overall
@@ Line 91: / Line 86: @@
 RAM disks are notable exceptions). Realistically, you can only be doing so many
 things at once, so unless you just open up every large project simply to spite
-your computer, some RAM will end up net being used. So get a lot of RAM, but if
+your computer, some RAM ends up net being used. So get a lot of RAM, but if
 price is an issue, only get a little more than you anticipate needing. If you
 have money to spend, get some extra RAM for comfort, but don't go overboard
@@ Line 103: / Line 98: @@
 that it is strongly suggested that you purchase an SSD drive for at least part
 of your system; since it only needs to house the applications, it can be a
-small drive (16gb or 32gb will do, considering that the entire Slackware
+small drive (32gb or 64gb will do, considering that the entire Slackware
 distribution, uncompressed, is only about 10gb).
+gb or
 An ideal, but still affordable, setup would be one SSD drive to hold the
 binary, executable applications that run your computer (and the multimedia
-applications which you will run on a daily basis), one standard hard drive to
+applications that you run on a daily basis), one standard hard drive to
 house all of your data as well as the system data, and a third standard hard
 drive to perform constant backups.
@@ Line 115: / Line 110: @@
 ==== Graphics Card ====
-A powerful graphics card is quite important if you will be doing video and
+A powerful graphics card is quite important if you do video and
-graphics work. For serious visual multimedia, it is very likely that you will
+graphics work. For serious visual multimedia, it is very likely that you need to install a proprietary graphics card driver since the companies do not release their driver code as free software. This is unfortunate and taints an otherwise open source system, but the performance increase can be measured in
-need to install a proprietary graphics card driver since the companies do not
-release their driver code as free software. This is unfortunate and taints an
-otherwise open source system, but the performance increase can be measured in
 orders of magnitude.
 If you are not doing intensive video or graphics work, then probably your only
-concern with a graphics card is whether it will work and handle the basic
+concern with a graphics card is whether it handles the basic
 visual needs of your system. For these low-end to mid-range cards, the drivers
 can come from Nvidia, ATI, or Intel, or from the Linux (actually Xorg)
@@ Line 164: / Line 156: @@
 A few unscientific tests to determine the real-world performance of a graphics
-card, should you have the opportunity to test it in a computer store before buying, is to go burn an image of [[http://slax.org|Slax]], a portable live Linux distribution based on Slackware. Take the CD (or USB drive, if you're savvy) to a computer store and put it into any display computer and reboot.
+card, should you have the opportunity to test it in a computer store before buying, is to go burn an image of [[http://porteus.org|Porteus]], a portable live Linux distribution based on Slackware. Take the CD (or USB drive, if you're savvy) to a computer store and put it into any display computer and reboot.
-<WRAP tip>
-For a full explanation of how to use Slax, see the website [[http://straightedgelinux.com/slax]].
-</WRAP>
   -Launch KDE's System Settings and turn on Desktop Effects in the Desktop pane.
@@ Line 180: / Line 168: @@
 visual work you have in mind for it.
+<WRAP tip>
+If these tests sound overwhelming, consider purchasing a system [[#preinstall|built for Linux]].
+</WRAP>
 ==== Sound card ====
@@ Line 188: / Line 179: @@
 Obviously, the more robust the card, the better, but in most computers the real
 test is simply whether or not the sound card is recognized. For multiple inputs
-and outputs, an additional, more professional sound card or interface will need
+and outputs, an additional, more professional sound card or interface needs
 to be added.
@@ Line 195: / Line 186: @@
 headphones with the input for a microphone, meaning that you can never have both plugged into your computer at once).
-If audio does not appear to work during your tests, chances are that it will either never work, or it will work only after much re-configuration. Consider
+If audio does not appear to work during your tests, chances are that it will either never work, or it will work only after much re-configuration. Consider that before you purchase.
-that before you purchase.
 If you are having problems in your sound tests, find out the specs of the audio card with the command ''aplay -l'' and then research the model online.
@@ Line 204: / Line 194: @@
 Although this is less of a problem now than it has been historically, there are wireless network cards that simply do not have Linux drivers. Recently more
-drivers have been developed and hacks around the lack of drivers have been implemented, but a cursory test of the wireless card is worth while. If it is not recognized, issue the command ''lspci'' on the command line and look through the listing to find the card's chipset. Perform an online search to find out how well supported the chipset is and review the necessary steps that will need to be taken for the card to function.
+drivers have been developed and hacks around the lack of drivers have been implemented, but a cursory test of the wireless card is worth while. If it is not recognized, issue the command ''lspci'' on the command line and look through the listing to find the card's chipset. Perform an online search to find out how well supported the chipset is and review the necessary steps that need to be taken for the card to function.
 <WRAP tip>
@@ Line 222: / Line 212: @@
 ==== Miscellaneous Considerations ====
-Anticipate what might be required of the multimedia system and take this into consideration whilst considering the purchase. The outward appearance of a computer matters not at all compared to its capabilities. Proprietary connection types and a lack of common features like an optical drive or SD card reader will only complicate the always complex task of importing media.
+Anticipate what might be required of the multimedia system and take this into consideration whilst considering the purchase. The outward appearance of a computer matters not at all compared to its capabilities. Proprietary connection types and a lack of common features like an optical drive or SD card reader only complicates the task of importing media.
 If it is not a new computer being purchased, but a used computer, the same tests should be performed, in addition to common physical tests, such as
@@ Line 288: / Line 278: @@
 Slackware's installation is menu-based and provides all the information needed to understand the process. This is not necessarily true with all operating system installers, or even with all Linux installers, but with Slackware, reading the screen makes the installation fairly self-explanatory.
-The following walk-through will explain how to do a normal, general-purpose Slackware install. If you require something more complex (hint: you probably
+The following walk-through explains how to do a normal, general-purpose Slackware install. If you require something more complex (hint: you probably
 don't), then refer to [[http://docs.slackware.com]].
@@ Line 317: / Line 307: @@
 First of all, the settings of a motherboard can be modified by an embedded
 firmware interface. By modifying the motherboard settings, you can activate or
-deactivate features that will help your install go much smoother, and possibly
+deactivate features that help your install go smoother, and possibly
 enable your computer to have better performance.
@@ Line 325: / Line 315: @@
 </WRAP>
-To enter the firmware interface of a motherboard, there is a "snag key" that you must press just after powering up the computer. The snag key will probably be different depending on what motherboard your computer uses, but it's usually
+To enter the firmware interface of a motherboard, there is a "snag key" that you must press just after powering up the computer. The snag key is probably different depending on what motherboard your computer uses, but it's usually
 ''Del'' or ''F2'' or ''Esc''. Refer to onscreen instructions if there are any, or to the
 motherboard's documentation, if you are not sure.
@@ Line 332: / Line 322: @@
   * Motherboard Settings
-    * Secure Boot: motherboards made around the time of Windows 8 may have the option of using "Secure Boot" (on some boards, the option is rather to //not// use "Secure Boot"). "Secure Boot" should be deactivated, as it will treat any non-Microsoft OS as, more or less, a virus.
+    * Secure Boot: motherboards made around the time of Windows 8 may have the option of using "Secure Boot" (on some boards, the option is rather to //not// use "Secure Boot"). "Secure Boot" should be deactivated, as it treats any non-Microsoft OS as, more or less, a virus.
-    * Boot Order: this controls which drive gets priority when the computer gets powered on. Set it to look to the optical media first, then whatever drive you will be installing Linux to.\\
+    * Boot Order: this controls which drive gets priority when the computer gets powered on. Set it to look to the optical media first, then whatever drive you are installing Linux to.\\
 \\
 You can usually override this setting manually, as well, with some other snag key at boot time (''F8'' or ''F9'' seem to be popular choices).
@@ Line 340: / Line 330: @@
 There are, basically, two types of motherboards: those that use BIOS and those that use UEFI.\\
 \\
-If your motherboard uses BIOS, then you will use MBR partition headers, and will not be able to use any single drive that is larger than 2TB in size (you can RAID several drives together into an array greater than 2TB, but no single drive can be over 2TB due to limitations of MBR) UEFI motherboards can use the GPT (GUID) partition type, free of any pragmatic limit on drive size.\\
+If your motherboard uses BIOS, then it needs an MBR partition header, and is not able to use any single drive that is larger than 2TB in size (you can RAID several drives together into an array greater than 2TB, but no single drive can be over 2TB due to limitations of MBR). UEFI motherboards can use the GPT (GUID) partition type, free of any pragmatic limit on drive size.\\
 \\
 UEFI motherboards usually have the option to also support MBR partitions (usually labelled "legacy mode").\\