Moving from Microsoft to Linux

[Mike]

I have some questions for Linux users. I'm just beginning to look around and considering switching to it. It's quite a paradigm shift for a Windows lifer.

One of my laptops is a beater, and I'd try using this one first. How much RAM is enough? What other things will limit the use of Linux?

Is there a problem with Linux word processors compatibility with Microsoft Word? Can you open Word documents and send them to Word users?

I'm assuming accessing email wouldn't be impacted. Is that right?

Is it the kind of thing I can download and test without losing anything I currently have?

Any other important considerations I haven't mentioned?

I've watched a bunch of youtube videos, read articles, walked through the tutorial at ubuntu.com, but these questions haven't been addressed. Thanks for any info you have!!

 

[Free]

I have some questions for Linux users. I'm just beginning to look around and considering switching to it. It's quite a paradigm shift for a Windows lifer.

One of my laptops is a beater, and I'd try using this one first. How much RAM is enough? What other things will limit the use of Linux?

Is there a problem with Linux word processors compatibility with Microsoft Word? Can you open Word documents and send them to Word users?

I'm assuming accessing email wouldn't be impacted. Is that right?

Is it the kind of thing I can download and test without losing anything I currently have?

Any other important considerations I haven't mentioned?

I've watched a bunch of youtube videos, read articles, walked through the tutorial at ubuntu.com, but these questions haven't been addressed. Thanks for any info you have!!

Haha! I was just looking at my old laptop tonight and thinking the same. I already have an old desktop I had been thinking of converting before as well.

In for info.

 

[Nick]

Word of advice -don't mess with partitions unless you know what you're doing.

On one of my laptops I dual installed vista and opensuse and I want to get rid of Linux and grub is on the windows partition and I have no vista install disc!

That's an issue for another thread, but it illustrates that you'd better know what you're doing.

 

[Mike]

One thing that really scares me is when I read how to install Linux, it says to download the installation file to a disc, keep the disc in, reboot the machine, and it installs Linux. BUT THEN IT ERASES EVERYTHING ON YOUR HARD DRIVE!!! :shocked!

Why would it have to erase everything on your hard drive? They say that with a small warning, like it's a minor thing to consider. Me nowanna erase me hard drive!

 

[Nick]

One thing that really scares me is when I read how to install Linux, it says to download the installation file to a disc, keep the disc in, reboot the machine, and it installs Linux. BUT THEN IT ERASES EVERYTHING ON YOUR HARD DRIVE!!! :shocked!

Why would it have to erase everything on your hard drive? They say that with a small warning, like it's a minor thing to consider. Me nowanna erase me hard drive!

Assuming you want to turn your machine into linux-only, yes you do.

Just remember to take a back-up of everything you want to save.

It's the simplest way.

 

[Mike]

I have an older 32-bit laptop, and if I try it out, I'd like to try it out on this one before ever going to our other ones. I'm taking it slow, and I'm not doing anything until I'm sure of what I'm doing.

I don't know if I have enough space to have both Linux and Windows 7 on it. Are you saying if I go the route with the disc, when it is installed, I will have absolutely nothing on my laptop besides Linux?

 

[Artie]

Download the Linux Mint User Guide, read thoroughly! and just follow the instructions. You don't even have to install anything just to try the disc.

 

[Mike]

Thanks Artie! That looks like a good resource. I saved the PDF. Forgive the ignorance. Can you tell me if Mint is different from Ubuntu? Is that a different version of Linux? I'd like to choose a version that's widely used, so I can get answers to problems more readily. Ubuntu is a name that keeps coming up.

I'll read it, but are you saying you don't have to create a disc; just download the OS directly to the laptop?

For the record, this is the system I'm working with on my beater:

32 bit
2 GB RAM
2.20 GHz processor
80 G hard drive

This is just a spare laptop I picked up used. Is this too limited to run Linux?

 

[Nick]

I have an older 32-bit laptop, and if I try it out, I'd like to try it out on this one before ever going to our other ones. I'm taking it slow, and I'm not doing anything until I'm sure of what I'm doing.

I don't know if I have enough space to have both Linux and Windows 7 on it. Are you saying if I go the route with the disc, when it is installed, I will have absolutely nothing on my laptop besides Linux?

As Artie said, read through all the user guides, and all the main 'distros' of Linux have good forum communities. Also, as artie said, download the distro you want, burn the ISO to disk and try out your 'live cd'. And if you like it, you can install it from that live cd, on as many computers as you like.

There are two routes you can go here: either have both win7 and Linux or only one. If you have both, you will have to divide your hard drive into two 'partitions', or sections. If you just want to have linux, then just install it over your current windows partition. But read more about partitions than my post. This is somthing you will want to know about, especially if you are going to go dual boot.

If you install it on the windows partition, you will lose everything on that partition - either that or it will need to be wiped before installing Linux, I'm not sure, as I've always dual-booted.

Thanks Artie! That looks like a good resource. I saved the PDF. Forgive the ignorance. Can you tell me if Mint is different from Ubuntu? Is that a different version of Linux? I'd like to choose a version that's widely used, so I can get answers to problems more readily. Ubuntu is a name that keeps coming up.

The most widely-used and supported 'version' (called a distro, or distrobution) of Linux is ubuntu, and will probably take the least time to get used to. I've tried mint and openSUSE.

I'll read it, but are you saying you don't have to create a disc; just download the OS directly to the laptop?

I think I've heard Vic say before that you can actually do that, but it can get complicated. I recommend you get the live cd I described above to 'properly' install it.

For the record, this is the system I'm working with on my beater:

32 bit
2 GB RAM
2.20 GHz processor
80 G hard drive

This is just a spare laptop I picked up used. Is this too limited to run Linux?

The main issue here is hard drive space. My linux partition, which only has the OS is 75G. You will definately want to only have one OS on that computer :yes. Or you could buy another hard drive, which suddenly makes Linux not so free. :D

 

[Artie]

Thanks Artie!

You're welcome!

That looks like a good resource. I saved the PDF. Forgive the ignorance. Can you tell me if Mint is different from Ubuntu? Is that a different version of Linux? I'd like to choose a version that's widely used, so I can get answers to problems more readily. Ubuntu is a name that keeps coming up.

Linux Mint is a variation of Ubuntu and is the most popular Linux distro right now.

I'll read it, but are you saying you don't have to create a disc; just download the OS directly to the laptop?

It explains in detail how to download, burn a disc and start up from the disc. The best and easiest way to do it in my opinion.

For the record, this is the system I'm working with on my beater:

32 bit
2 GB RAM
2.20 GHz processor
80 G hard drive

This is just a spare laptop I picked up used. Is this too limited to run Linux?

Should do fine if it has a CD or DVD rom. Just try it.

 

[Mike]

Well, I did all the reading, got all my ducks in a row, went through all the processes, and so it was time. I burned that disc... poor disc burned in there for 2 hours. o

Now I can't get my system to boot up the dvd, so I restart, hitting 22222, and it promps me to the boot sequencing. Artie's PDF (WHICH WAS TERRIFIC!) suggested I need to make sure the boot disc matches code on the downloaded file.

I'm thinking my dvd might have been corrupt, so tomorrow, I'll try again. Right now, I only want to use the Linux on the disc and boot from there. I'm not yet interested in installing it on my PC, let alone dump Windows..

 

[Artie]

Well, I did all the reading, got all my ducks in a row, went through all the processes, and so it was time. I burned that disc... poor disc burned in there for 2 hours. o

Now I can't get my system to boot up the dvd, so I restart, hitting 22222, and it promps me to the boot sequencing. Artie's PDF (WHICH WAS TERRIFIC!) suggested I need to make sure the boot disc matches code on the downloaded file.

I'm thinking my dvd might have been corrupt, so tomorrow, I'll try again. Right now, I only want to use the Linux on the disc and boot from there. I'm not yet interested in installing it on my PC, let alone dump Windows..

Possibly defective download or burn. Very important to check md5sum before burning. Always burn with the slowest speed possible check if you use -R or +R discs and make sure the burner can handle them Verbatim discs are usually reliable. Good luck.

 

[Mike]

Artie, thanks for you help. I know you don't need to do this, so I really appreciate it. I tried to check the md5sum. I downloaded the program to use with Windows, but I couldn't figure out how that process works from there. From the way the PDF shows screen shots, it looks like you're supposed to go to a dos prompt and enter the info.

There might also be a problem with what I burned to the DVD. The instructions say NOT to burn the ISO file, but to burn the "image". I think I need instructions written for a 3rd grader, because I don't know what that means, and I don't see an option for it. :gah

I know there comes a point when you realize the other person is to stupid to help. If you aren't there, you're probably close, so I understand if you move on from this thread.

 

[Artie]

Artie, thanks for you help. I know you don't need to do this, so I really appreciate it. I tried to check the md5sum. I downloaded the program to use with Windows, but I couldn't figure out how that process works from there.

Then I'm stumped. I haven't used Windows to burn anything for ages I only use Linux. You must get help from someone who knows burning in Windows. Good luck!

 

[stovebolts]

Mike,

If you load Ubuntu on a Windows machine, it will see the Windows partition and ask you if you want to preserve it. Biggest problem is it will shrink the Windows partition to a minmal size and give the rest to Ubuntu, so make sure you're reducing the Ubuntu partitioni when the screen presents itself.

If you want, drop the laptop off to me and I'll load Ubuntu for you. I can also load Open Office which is Word / Office compatible.

 

[th1b.taylor]

I have some questions for Linux users. I'm just beginning to look around and considering switching to it. It's quite a paradigm shift for a Windows lifer.

One of my laptops is a beater, and I'd try using this one first. How much RAM is enough? What other things will limit the use of Linux?

32 meg. is all that is required for Puppy and like Windoze, it is for the user and not the geek. It uses the point and click GUI. If you have 380 meg. go with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS. This is a very windoze like system with a very small learning curve for the windoze user and it, like windoze, configures all your hardware on install, itś painless!

Is there a problem with Linux word processors compatibility with Microsoft Word? Can you open Word documents and send them to Word users?

Yes, I do so every day. Open Office and Libre Office, both, open the ,doc format and with a simple click you can choose to save in that format.

I'm assuming accessing email wouldn't be impacted. Is that right?

I do not use the default, Evolution, email but download
Thunderbird and use it. The settings are very close to the same as Lookout by MS.

Is it the kind of thing I can download and test without losing anything I currently have?

The answer is yes to both Puppy and Ubuntu, the downloads are both live CDs. You just make sure your BIOS is set to boot the CD first, pop it in and turn it on. Operating from the Live CD is for test of compatibility only and is terribly slow while the installed system is lightening fast.

Any other important considerations I haven't mentioned?

If you hit a speed bump PM or email me.

I've watched a bunch of youtube videos, read articles, walked through the tutorial at ubuntu.com, but these questions haven't been addressed. Thanks for any info you have!!

God bless and welcome to the free software world!

 

[th1b.taylor]

One thing that really scares me is when I read how to install Linux, it says to download the installation file to a disc, keep the disc in, reboot the machine, and it installs Linux. BUT THEN IT ERASES EVERYTHING ON YOUR HARD DRIVE!!! :shocked!

Why would it have to erase everything on your hard drive? They say that with a small warning, like it's a minor thing to consider. Me nowanna erase me hard drive!

Mike, that is a decision you make on the install, it does not automatically erase everything. If you choose the dual boot it leaves the residing system alone. On the other hand, any time you mess with the harddrive there is a minimal danger that all will be lost but after many many installs, that has yet to be the case for me or the folks I help.

 

[Mike]

Jeff thanks for the offer. I may take you up on that. I've managed to create the disc, and it starts to boot Linux. It gives me the option to fire it up from the disc, but then it errors out. :gah

FuN, thanks for the info. No one had yet commented on the software questions. That's reassuring, because a big concern of mine was that I'd be cut off from all the Microsoft world with Word and Excel.

I'll keep trying to work this out and report back. Nick has me very guarded about having partitions.

 

[Vic C.]

Hi Mike,

I haven't gotten around to downloading and burning an image of Mint, as Artie suggested. This is going to be something I may do in the very near future. I here good things about it and it's based on Debian and Ubuntu.

My personal preference so far is Ubuntu. I go for their LTS (long term support) releases. I use Nero software, which makes it easy to create a setup CD in Windows. Sometimes you may get a funky disc that just won't work. In that case, you may want to try an "Alternate download":

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/alternative-download

It may help if there is any setup compatibility issues.

What is nice about Ubuntu is they offer a "Windows installation" option. You can run setup off the disc while in Windows. It will copy the necessary files needed for the install into it's own directory. It will prompt you to reboot and then it completes the install. It will put the entire install into a directory right in your Windows installation and it will create a dual or multiple boot menu for you.

This way you won't be hassled with formatting or partitioning options that turn off a novice. This setup option is perfect for someone wanting to try out Linux. It allows you to do everything you can to with a stand alone Ubuntu installation.

If you run Ubuntu straight off the CD, any changes you make to the desktop or configuration will be lost. You also can't install other apps through the Ubuntu repository.

The whole task of installing Ubuntu or most other distros isn't as daunting as it sounds. As it was mentioned, Office files can be created and opened using the free Open Office. If you are felling adventurous, you can install a program called, Wine:

http://www.winehq.org/

or any of the other solutions:

http://www.google.com/search?q=runi...fficial&client=firefox-a&source=hp&channel=np

Enjoy! :waving

 

[Mike]

Thanks, Vic!! Ubuntu was my first choice, because it did have such widespread use, and I'm thinking I might need that. My Mint disc isn't working out, so I'll go back to Ubuntu and give it a try.