Okay! I'm jumping into the Linux pool.

[darkronin]

O.K. I have a cd copy of Ubuntu and I have a dedicated laptop to put it onto. A presario 2100. this is my hack around that I use to acquire stuff and test before putting it on my 'good' desktop replacement HP. i am currently running WinXP and would like to install Linux as an alternate operating system. My ultimate goal is to by next year this time conver fully over to Linux. So how do I do this? I have never had two operating systems on one computer before. Do I need to install and run a partioning program and then install Linx through that? I'm scared.....:tcu:

[linuxguru]

Test the laptop first using any number of live CD's that do not need to be installed. I think if you are new to Linux try PCLinuxOS 2007 and see how it runs.
Ubuntu or Kubuntu are also avaiable as live CD's but PCLinux is easier for new users because a number of things come preinstalled that you need to update in Ubuntu. If you like what you see then PCLinux has an installation icon on the desktop and there is a very good guide on the PCLinux forum on partitioning using the built in tools.

[cdnLilWolf]

O.K. I have a cd copy of Ubuntu and I have a dedicated laptop to put it onto. A presario 2100. this is my hack around that I use to acquire stuff and test before putting it on my 'good' desktop replacement HP. i am currently running WinXP and would like to install Linux as an alternate operating system. My ultimate goal is to by next year this time conver fully over to Linux. So how do I do this? I have never had two operating systems on one computer before. Do I need to install and run a partioning program and then install Linx through that? I'm scared.....:tcu:

Ubuntu and its other variants are good choices for newcomers. As Mr. Linuxguru pointed out, PCLinux is a sound choice as well. I would suggest Ubuntu or Kubuntu merely because the "community" is larger. I'm partial to Fedora (political reasons only), but I use Kubuntu and Ubuntu as well.

Anyway, does your laptop you speak of currently have XP? There really is no reason why you can't do a dual boot (unless you have space issues).

Why don't you give us a short list of applications you need or want to use.

[darkronin]

O.K. I am d/ling the PClinux software now. i am assumming that unlike ubuntu, the live CD and the install CD are one in the same right?

[linuxguru]

That is correct. The option to install is an icon on the desktop of the live CD.

User name is usually user=guest password=guest
Root is usually user = root password = root

Simple until you choose to install and then you pick your own user and password setings.

[darkronin]

O.K. I have been trying all day to do this PC linux thing and I can't get the iso file to burn properly. So here is what I have done so far. I have a Ubuntu version 5.1 fresh in the wrapper. So i loaded the live cdrom. I loved it! Going to make sure that it works with my wireless when I get home and if it does, I will load it on my system next to my winXP. But here is the question. The install pouch states that it will erase all existing software. But that an expert instal mode is available. Just follow the instructuions carefully. O.K. here is my question before I put this bad boy into my system. Will the install CD create a new partition for Ubuntu or do I have to do that with Partion magic first? I don't want to do this if it may leave me with no windows operating system at all cause the install got pooched somewhere along the way.

[cdnLilWolf]

O.K. I have been trying all day to do this PC linux thing and I can't get the iso file to burn properly. So here is what I have done so far. I have a Ubuntu version 5.1 fresh in the wrapper. So i loaded the live cdrom. I loved it! Going to make sure that it works with my wireless when I get home and if it does, I will load it on my system next to my winXP. But here is the question. The install pouch states that it will erase all existing software. But that an expert instal mode is available. Just follow the instructuions carefully. O.K. here is my question before I put this bad boy into my system. Will the install CD create a new partition for Ubuntu or do I have to do that with Partion magic first? I don't want to do this if it may leave me with no windows operating system at all cause the install got pooched somewhere along the way.

First, make sure your burning software is set to burn an ISO image. Don't just copy the image to a CD as data.

Second Ubuntu 5.1 is a bit older (Breezy Badger) so I would be wary of it's hardware detection capabilities on newer PC's. I would strongly recommend getting Fiesty Fawn 7.04, I think it would make your life a little easier as the installer is a bit more intuitive.

Ubuntu will partition your drive for you automatically if you like, but I suggest manual (or expert) if you plan to dual-boot (in either version). No, you don't need Partition Magic. You DO need to back up though and then defrag your drive if you are installing on the same physical drive as Windows. Only then would I attempt to install.

There is no guarantee that you won't trash your Windows install, but diligence should prevail. The newer Ubuntu should also help in this regard. The manual partition section is pretty good, even for the uninitiated. You can set everything up and visually check (it tries to stop you from doing stupid things too) what the setup will be.

As an example, if I had an 80GB drive I might do the following.

40GB = NTFS (Windows)
2GB = Linux Swap (size should equal the amount of RAM you have)
10GB = Linux boot partition
28GB = Linux home partition

The above is only a rudimentary example. There is a LOT of info you can Google for.

[darkronin]

thanks I'll try Fiesty Fawn 7.04. I can't get Gparted to work anyway. It just sits there for 5 to 10 minutes scanning and then craps out......Just orded the CD. During the time that I am waiting, I will clean up my computer and backup my stuff.

[linuxguru]

If you are in the Oshawa area ther is a Linux user group meeting next Thursday I can give you directions and an address. We already have many of the distro CD's and would be happy to help you install any of them.

[cdnLilWolf]

If you are in the Oshawa area ther is a Linux user group meeting next Thursday I can give you directions and an address. We already have many of the distro CD's and would be happy to help you install any of them.

There's a LUG in Oshawa?

[linuxguru]

A small group - Part of the DPCUC. Just google DPCUC and you will find us.

[darkronin]

If you are in the Oshawa area ther is a Linux user group meeting next Thursday I can give you directions and an address. We already have many of the distro CD's and would be happy to help you install any of them.


Cool! What I will do once i get my CD is come to the meeting with my laptop and start from sctratch under the tutlage of real Linux users! Do you guys meet every thursday?

[darkronin]

Cool! What I will do once i get my CD is come to the meeting with my laptop and start from sctratch under the tutlage of real Linux users! Do you guys meet every thursday?


O.K. I Googled you! Second Thursday of every month. But you said you are meeting NEXT Thursday??? :rrg: You know what....If you are meeting next Thursday, I'll be there. what is the best way to get to you from the Toronto Airport? Probably going to take me a whaile to get there during rush hour. You can PM if you want. Thank you so much!!!!! I am so excited!!!! I'm going to be moving on over to Linux!!!

[linuxguru]

The main club meets second Thursday but our small linux group meets first Thursday. Click on the link called Special Interest Groups. Rush hour from the airport is murder. Iv'e done that many times. Allow 1 1/2 hours travel time.

[Quicksilver]

General question to any Linux masters out there!!
I am a noob to Linux & wanted to try it out.
I was on YouTube & saw a comparison of Linux-Beryl vs Vista and I was impressed!!
I was impressed & eager to try it out.
After doing some research I was totally confused and that may be the reason why it is not popular with alot of people, too many versions.
There is ubuntu, KDE, Gnome, Kunbuntu, PCLinux, destro,etc etc!!
I thought Windows with its various versions was bad enough.

Any suggestion as to which version I should try?

[linuxguru]

Don't be overwhelmed by the many distributions out there. Just pick one to test. They are all very similar underneath the fancy desktop front ends.

If you liked the Eye Candy [rotating cubes etc..] you saw on YouTube download Sabayon linux [ a DVD download]. It will run from DVD [no need to install] and has all the bells and whistles along with a lot of games.

Sabayon is for show. If you want a stable solid distribution to replace Windows look later at Ubuntu, Kubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Mandriva or a number of others that some in the forum might recommend.

[cdnLilWolf]

After doing some research I was totally confused and that may be the reason why it is not popular with alot of people, too many versions.
There is ubuntu, KDE, Gnome, Kunbuntu, PCLinux, destro,etc etc!!
I thought Windows with its various versions was bad enough.
Any suggestion as to which version I should try?

I will echo what Linuxguru said and add that regardless of the distribution you pick, many suggest using the KDE Desktop interface. For Windows ex-patriots, this is typically the easiest transition. Kubuntu has it built into the installation (hence the "K"), whereas Ubuntu uses Gnome as a Desktop. As near as I can tell, PCLinux comes with the KDE Desktop.

If you're the political type, Fedora 7 is what is regarded as totally "free" (as in legally unencumbered) and you can download it for "free" (as in free beer). Incidentally, the DVD lets you choose between Gnome, KDE, Xfce or a variety of other window managers. You can load them all if you wish and change your desktop with each new session. It won't play MP3's or CSS protected DVD's out of the box, but you can install all that capability after the fact. The reason behind this is a thread for another day.

Granted, too many distro's make for confusion, but as some say, "Variety is the spice of life!". At least you have a "Choice"! If you can't decide between Kubuntu, PCLinux and Fedora you can opt to run all three if you like.

[Quicksilver]

Thanks Linuxguru & cdnLilWolf I really appreciate your suggestions!!
I gonna give it a try!!
Thanks again guys!!

[alladnsane]

Just out of curiosity, I am running Ubuntu but there is some software designed for the KDE desktop that I would like to use. Do I have to switch interfaces or will the KDE software work in Gnome??

[cdnLilWolf]

Just out of curiosity, I am running Ubuntu but there is some software designed for the KDE desktop that I would like to use. Do I have to switch interfaces or will the KDE software work in Gnome??

From my experiences, I've never had a crash doing this, so the short answer is yes. The proviso is that the required libraries are installed for whatever package you are running. If you installed KDE, but are currently using a Gnome session, you will likely have no troubles.

YMMV