tim-from-pa
Member
- Aug 4, 2005
- 4,716
- 435
This is something educational in case anyone wants to try Linux (and prevent oneself from embarrassment if talking with a Linux user).
- How do you start Linux up in safe mode? Ans: There is no safe mode, baby, just GUI and command line, as if I ever needed to start it up that way.
- How do I clean the registry to make it run faster? Ans: Linux has no registry, either, as each program has a configuration file (setting) instead of a communal file like registry. Messing up the registry can affect the performance of the entire Microsoft machine and slow it up. Not on Linux.
- If everyone used Linux it would have the same virus problem as Microsoft! Ans: which only shows that the person making such a statement lacks understanding about the architecture of the operating system (and kernal), assuming it uses the same sloppy programming philosophy as Microsoft. Besides the major differences mentioned so far, which shows apples and oranges, the user generally is isolated from the root directory where all the critical files are, so a virus does not attack it but can only get to the user's directory --- there's no permissions to the root directory, and in a sense the root “downloads†what it needs for the computer to work just as we get stuff from the Internet. In a similar manner, a virus on a local computer here will not infect this forum software because of permissions even though I connect to it.
- Does a Linux machine need virus protection? Ans: “yes†…. only if you want to protect passing on viruses (e.g. by email) to those who do get them. I generally take the stance, “That's their problem not mine!†Linux updates constantly, and as such “virus protection†and vulnerabilities are addressed and built into the operating system.
- How do I tune up a Linux Machine? How do I defrag it? Ans: You don't. It runs the same speed as day one, and does not need defragging. Besides the virus problem I gripe about on Microsoft, the bigger problem is really the “tune-up†stuff taking hours a week like tuning up an old clunker car constantly. The most common complaint is, “My computer is running slower! Let's get a new one!†Won't happen on Linux, so that's hours more a week computing instead of timely “tune-ups†and maybe worse, spending money for such software.
- How much do you know about Linux software? Ans: Very little actually, it's easy to use, and it takes care of itself so I never have a problem often enough to learn very much (e.g. the command line). It's an operating system grandma can easily learn. Plus.... it's free! And that includes most software including Office software equivalent to Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
Linux runs all my personal files fine, so it was just a matter of transferring them from a stick to my machine. Also, I'm not super heavy into all sorts of apps, which admittedly, some only run well in Microsoft simply because the creators of the software designed it to run on Microsoft. I always took the stance to have an ol' Microsoft machine stand-alone to run such apps if a person can't give them up. I only have one astronomy program I like better than the Linux that I'll run on an old Microsoft, but other than that, there's enough on Linux to satisfy an old man like me, and everything else gets run on here. 
(I have another thread where China wants to make Linux their national operating system --- if so, that will spur even more interest to create apps for Linux, but as it now stands, I'm amazed at how much is out there for a free operating system)