I think ROS is really coming along nicely. I want to use it on my computer, but I also want to make sure it will work. I think that after some more work gets done on the App and GUI part of ROS, the focus should shift to Drivers and how to make it easy to install them! That way, ANYONE could use ROS and it would be eye-catching and easier to advertise.
Oh yes, networking should be #1 on the to do list, but I'm glad you agree.
Just last night, I tried to install ROS svc 0.3 on my 400Mhz... It froze when I got to ntoskrnl.exe. I even tried burning another copy at a different speed. It worked in Vpc2004... I think there was a driver that was conflicting or not corresponding with the hardware. Drivers make the OS.
That sucks, but that's what happens when you try to use nightly SVN versions.
Anyway, for higher-level hardware, I think they should in the meantime at least post a collection or registry import files (.reg) for various drivers that do work. Moving the .sys into the appropriate directory and double clicking the .reg file is a pretty easy workaround for a full driver installer.
In the meantime, I like how the setup has an installer for the VMware graphics driver. That is easy to do and works fine (assuming you remembered to set the VMware OS option to windows 2000 or something.)
Thats right, i think an easy driver installation would be appreciated. The best network support is only of little value, when you can not test it on real hardware
I think the problem, why there is still no parser for driver infs is the fact, that you have to write a new parser for every kind of hardware.
mikedep333 wrote:That sucks, but that's what happens when you try to use nightly SVN versions.
Anyway, for higher-level hardware, I think they should in the meantime at least post a collection or registry import files (.reg) for various drivers that do work. Moving the .sys into the appropriate directory and double clicking the .reg file is a pretty easy workaround for a full driver installer.
In the meantime, I like how the setup has an installer for the VMware graphics driver. That is easy to do and works fine (assuming you remembered to set the VMware OS option to windows 2000 or something.)
Also network can be better off with parts of the pnp/setup part of the OS, so sometimes you can't just do networking first, you still need the other part. Let the developers decide if the chicken or the egg came first.
yes i must say an easy way to install drivers should be on top of the to do list, with proper drivers for ReactOS it will flow better as a whole and feel just like any good OS should,
im using ReactOS as my primary operating system at the moment so getting it more functional as a solid base would be great,
functionality before features!
if need be i can use my pc as a test system for whatever driver install methord is tried, im running on:
P4 3.0Ghz
512MB RAM
256MB GeForce FX 5500
ASUS P5P800 Motherboard
if you want me to test out driver methords then just e-mail me or pm me or something!
Well, that's just swell. Now if only people like me could do it. lol
I kinda understand how to install the driver now, but I don't get the Hardware ID part or the whole thing about "C:\ReactOS\System32\Drivers\Driver.sys"
If this whole driver thing is as simple as I think it is, It should only take like 3 months before this community can release a simple gui-based driver install program for the noob users like myself in the latest release.
for me its a case of having to, i have no other operating system to use, i used to run an OEM version of winxp on two computers but now i cant, some new anti piracy feature im guessin, it now doesnt accept my product key, so i have one pc running winxp and another running on ReactOS,
so while im in this situation i might as well use my pc as a test pc for what ever ReactOS apps and updates are in development, its in my best interests that reactOS becomes easy to work with and functional as soon as possible.
I think they rather should complete the API`s (and I will try to help where I can) etc. So you can take Windows drivers from your hardware vendors CD and install them.
Thats after all the aim of ROS, the ability to use the plenty avaible Windows stuff.
I want to use it on my computer, but I also want to make sure it will work. I think that after some more work gets done on the App and GUI part of ROS, the focus should shift to Drivers 
and how to make it easy to install them! 
That way, ANYONE could use ROS and it would be eye-catching and easier to advertise. 
lol
COOL! I have to test this, when i am at home! Thx for the info!