Ubuntu questions

Hey,

Do you have anything on the computer that you want to keep? - Pix? Videos? Documents? - Please back 'em up before reading further.....

Make sure you can read this newly created backup media - If it's important ****, make sure another 'puter can read the files before proceeding.

[Yes, in theory, you can keep your existing W2000 "stuff" around - But why would you?.....]

Assuming a "blank" hard drive, read on:

1. The Ubuntu download will prompt you to burn a CD - Follow the instructions to do that.

2. Boot from that CD, and follow the directions - Including a drive format. [It will warn you about the overwrite of the disk, but as there's nothing on it you need, don't worry.....] Chances are 99% it'll "recognize" all the parts of your 'puter and broadband link and install itself accordingly - Very, very cool install IMHO.

3. Reboot when prompted and again follow the directions - It'll probably "find" your printer and install the appropriate drivers etc at this point.

4. Enjoy your new found freedom from the evil empire! - Its probably already installed Firefox, but I don't know about Thunderbird - Possibly a separate download and install?

5. Search the Ubuntu site for any other S/W you need and/or want - Download and install - Openoffice is a really good clone of M$ Office for example.

6. Smirk knowingly, grab a beer, and go thru' the tutorials to set it up the way *you* want rather than the way the clowns in Redmond say you have to.

Don't be scared, but *read* what it says during the install and you'll never look back.

Enjoy your new, fast, virus free 'puter!

Any problems (beyond "I didn't back it up, and my ****'s gone!"), please post back.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Google 'ubuntu & live' or 'linux & live', or 'whateverlinuxdistro & live'. Linuxes that have a 'live' version allows you to boot from the CD-ROM and test out that version of Linux before actually loading it onto your system. (assuming your computer allows booting from CD, check your computer BIOS) It's also a good way to check compatability with your hardware devices.

If you like Ubunto, then you can load it onto your system, and/or dual boot between windows & linux. (depends on how your hard drive partitioning is setup) For beginners you are probably safe using all the 'default' setting that are displayed when installing the system.

I wasn't sure what version of Linux to use, so I ended up downloading about 7-9 different live versions before settling on one. Ubuntu seems like a nice starter system. PCLinuxOS also looked nice.

I like to tinker though so I went with Fedora, which I wouldn't recommend starting out with.

While Linux is a safer system, don't think there are NO viruses or other such cr*p out there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_computer_viruses

Practice safe computing......

And despite Linux's claim to high security, be aware that there are some ways to crack/hack passwords.

I've had problems with my new MB built-in sound device. Seems like newer stuff is proprietery and drivers haven't been hacked yet for them. I just installed an older sound card into that computer for sound.

Printers shouldn't be a problem since a lot of them are backward compatible with other stuff that already have drivers written for them.

Check that you have your passwords & setting required for your ISP before starting out. Stuff your probably auto-configured on your current setup..... user name & password, POP & SMTP setting for email, etc.

Definitely back up your stuff before playing around. Actually, back up your stuff frequently just in case of HD crashes. (don't ask me how I know.......)

OpenOffice is great.

Keep an open mind, some things take a little time to undo the MS brainwashing way of doing things, and have fun. Right now I probably split 50-50 between XP & Linux. I should stop procrastinating and switch my main computer Linux only......

 

If you're running Windows 2000 now, I'm assuming that you have older hardware that you're trying to use. I do this now with an old ThinkPad T21 running Ubuntu. Note that with older hardware, you may not have a "plug and play" install, I had to manually do a couple of things to get Ubuntu running with my ThinkPad.

Thunderbird and Firefox work fine, don't expect a performance increase over Windows 2000.

I'm used to it now but my wife does not like it. Some of the flash animation and things like that don't seem to work quite right. Also, her work intranet does not work quite right so she has to use our other computer if she wants to log in. At some point I'll get a new laptop with Vista and keep the Ubuntu laptop around as a secondary for occasional use.

 

[BUMP]

Just wondering if you ever got going on Ubuntu.... I run 9.04 on two dual-monitor computers,
plus two laptops (all dual boot to XP or Vista when I have no other choice). LOVE Ubuntu!
I even have it on an older Mac Book just to mess with my Mac friends

Jedi

 

Ubuntu on dual boot on a 32 and a 64 bit network. ( 2 computers, 7 hard drives) no issues. i do need to do the updates.

 

BUMP!


My comp running Xp got the almight blue screen o' death. I'm VERY close to switching to linux. Anything that i absolutely must know?

 

Yep - Prepare for your quality of life to improve immeasurably!

Seriously, there's some good comments above - Download one or two of the "live" distro's and have a play around.... Take your time, read the driving instructions and you'll be fine.

Good luck, please report your "findings" after you've got it going and feel free to ask any Q's herein - There's lots of people running it that hang out round here.

Cheers,
Ian
PS - There, I didn't recommend a Mac

 

Downloading Ubuntu 9.1 right now.

Doing the install tomorrow.

 

1 blue screen and you want to switch!!?!?!? WEAK!!

 

Trust me, i've had several. This was the first OMFG EPIC WTF BBQ fail though.


. Installing 9.10 on my XP computer. It only allowed me to boot in Demo mode, so i started it up in demo mode and installed from there. When i get to the partitioning part, it will only allow me to let it take up 12 gigs, but it will let XP occupy 67.5. Everytime i move the bar, it stops at 12. Anyway i can let it take up more?

 

After years of building my own computers, and running pre-fabs... sometimes there just are hardware conflicts that are unavoidable. These issues didn't happen so much 25 years ago since the mfr. often made all the parts attached to the mobo work as well... or even mfr. themselves.

Now, its like a japanese block house. Pre-fabricated, and space saving... spacious... But obviously, the quality isn't there.

 

Running ubuntu.

All i need is working dual monitors, and a wireless adapter.