Educate me on Linux ubuntu

scottmandue · 10-22-2013, 09:25 AM

If you saw my other thread my Vista PC is messing up so I want to load a new OS.

My first instinct was to just slap Windows 7 on there.

However my lovely wife is being all fiscally responsible and cut me off on spending.

We have her old XP desktop, a XP laptop with a full hard drive, a kindle, and two android phones so she sees no need for me to resurrect my computer (that is newer than her computer and laptop) . OK, she is right and I have recently dumped several grand into my Miata (still want to do coilovers but I am funding that by selling off some old guitars I haven't touched in years).

So I was thinking (dangerous I know) Linux is free right?

I fooled around here at work years ago loading linux (I think it was redhat) with limited success... it seemed to work just fine but other projects came along and the linux idea got sidelined.

I don't want this thread to get too long so quickly.

Can I upload ubuntu to my wife’s XP machine (without damaging it) burn it to a CD, boot to that CD on my computer, reformat my HDD and install from the CD and be up and running?

Will I be able to immediately get on the internet (check my emails, chat with the goofballs on pelican, shop on Amazon and evilbay)?

Will any of Microsoft office work on a ubuntu box? Not critical but that is all I use my home computer for, light internet surfing and some word processing.

Will my card reader built into the front of my computer still work?:

Will I be able to connect to my android phone with USB?

The phone and card reader are mostly for transferring pictures which I can get around by upload/download via internet if need be.

My computer:
HP Pavilion a6000
AMD Athilon 64 X2 Dual Core 2.2GHz
4 GB ram

Thanks!

masraum · 10-22-2013, 09:38 AM

When you download Linux, you're usually foreclosing I so files for multiple cds (no damage to existing pc).

Pc should get right in the internet. Office won't work, butthere are versions of free office compatible products that you can get for Linux.

You'll have to setup the apps for your voicemail before you can see your voicemail.

masraum · 10-22-2013, 09:40 AM

Card reader might work. Phone should work just fine.

id10t · 10-22-2013, 09:44 AM

The only thing lackign in driver support these days is some wireless chipsets - but you can now use windows drivers in Linux using ndiswrapper. Apple iDevices are a pain, since they require proprietary software to connect and manage files, etc. I use the "files" app on my iphone to load music, etc. from my linux desktops.

I'd skip Ubuntu - very non-traditional looking desktop, caused a great divide amongst us linux desktop users.

OpenOffice is on the install disk and is installed automatically... my windows using coworkers (the entire rest of the college) don't even know I'm not using Word.

I have my students use Linux Mint as their desktops (and debian on servers) - Main Page - Linux Mint

I have a mirror for quick downloads at http://mirror.ite.sfcollege.edu

mjohnson · mjohnson's Garage

Libre Office is very good, too.

I run Ubuntu as a dual-boot on my PC and it works at least as smoothly for software updates as Windows 7. Only driver issues I had was with a eClaro sound card - never fixed that as I use Windows for sound stuff.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

The only thing lackign in driver support these days is some wireless chipsets - but you can now use windows drivers in Linux using ndiswrapper. Apple iDevices are a pain, since they require proprietary software to connect and manage files, etc. I use the "files" app on my iphone to load music, etc. from my linux desktops.

I'd skip Ubuntu - very non-traditional looking desktop, caused a great divide amongst us linux desktop users.

OpenOffice is on the install disk and is installed automatically... my windows using coworkers (the entire rest of the college) don't even know I'm not using Word.

I have my students use Linux Mint as their desktops (and debian on servers) - Main Page - Linux Mint

I have a mirror for quick downloads at http://mirror.ite.sfcollege.edu

+1

Is your current machine connecting over a wired or wireless? Wired is better at least for the install and configuration. I think the biggest question mark will be the card reader. Everything else should work just fine. OpenOffice will open and create documents in MS format if you desire that.

Download Mint, burn to ISO to DVD and run it directly to see if you like it. No need to commit unless you really want to.

stomachmonkey · 10-22-2013, 10:59 AM

Another vote for Mint.

Using it on a couple of boxes.

Not a fan of the latest Ubuntu gui.

scottmandue · 10-22-2013, 11:03 AM

OK I will try Mint... If I were to buy one of their CD's which one should I order?

We have no iDevices so not worried about that.

I have nothing of value on the computer... I'm all in... I want to wipe it off and install Linux.

If I upload and burn a CD how do I format the drive? Will that be obvious? Like when I boot to a windows install CD and it askes if I want to format?

id10t · 10-22-2013, 11:08 AM

If you PM me your address I'll be happy to ship you a DVD. Or just download it and burn it yourself (or put it on a USB flash drive).

The installer is dirt simple - it will ask if you want to completely replace the existing OS, set up a dual boot system, or "something else" where you have full control.

I'd post the document I have my students use, but it is specific to keeping our weird configuration for our lab machines intact so it has lots of extra steps you won't need to do...

KaptKaos · 10-22-2013, 11:12 AM

If the hard drive in the PC is the original one, and it's still functional, you can likely do a system restore from the system partition on the hard drive. PM me if you want more info/details. You would have Vista again, but it would be free.

I can also hook you up with an Ubuntu or Mint install disk.

If all you do is basic web stuff, email, some simple docs/spreadsheets, then Linux is a great platform. If you need special apps to work, then you might need to run Windows.

scottmandue · 10-22-2013, 11:13 AM

I will try to upload but I will sent you my address just in case...

I am bared from uploading here at work but presume I can burn directly to my DVD/RW right here right now?

id10t · 10-22-2013, 11:31 AM

Yup. You'll get a file that ends in .iso - this an image of what would be on the DVD.

Typically, right click on it and pick "open with...." and then choose your CD/DVD burning software.

MysticLlama · 10-22-2013, 11:49 AM

For the not as unreasonable as it sounds suggestion:

Why not just put Vista back on? With drivers having been updated over the years, and reinstalling without all the HP pre-installed junk, it should work just fine.

scottmandue · 10-22-2013, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticLlama

For the not as unreasonable as it sounds suggestion:

Why not just put Vista back on? With drivers having been updated over the years, and reinstalling without all the HP pre-installed junk, it should work just fine.

Bought computer reconditioned from tigerdirct... pretty sure it didn't come with a Vista disk.

scottmandue · 10-22-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

I'd skip Ubuntu - very non-traditional looking desktop, caused a great divide amongst us linux desktop users.

OpenOffice is on the install disk and is installed automatically... my windows using coworkers (the entire rest of the college) don't even know I'm not using Word.

I have my students use Linux Mint as their desktops (and debian on servers) - Main Page - Linux Mint

I have a mirror for quick downloads at http://mirror.ite.sfcollege.edu

Um... I uploaded from the Mint site and all I have is a 170KB file?

Now uploading the 800MB ISO file from your mirror site.

stomachmonkey · 10-22-2013, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Bought computer reconditioned from tigerdirct... pretty sure it didn't come with a Vista disk.

But it should still have the hologram license sticker on the bottom.

Contains the version of OS, home, office, pro plus the activation key.

Just need the disc that matches the OS version.

For linux just d/l the distribution and burn to a disc or put on thumbdrive.

If you use thumbdrive go into BIOS on boot and make sure thumbdrive/usb is set as a boot option and you can even set it as first boot device and switch back to CD after install is complete.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Another option would be to first convert your existing Win machine to a virtual machine. Then you can save it to an external HD and launch it with VMWare player from your brand new Linux machine

Instructions here

scottmandue · 10-22-2013, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

But it should still have the hologram license sticker on the bottom.

Contains the version of OS, home, office, pro plus the activation key.

Yes, it has that sticker... but I have not found the CD.

And even if I had the Vista install disk in my hot little hand I hate, hate, hated Vista from day one.

Plus my wife has a XP desktop and a laptop and a nook and we both have android smart phones, I'm not too worried about messing with this machine.

besides...

Deep down inside...

Don't you yearn to BREAK FREE FROM THE TYRANNY OF MICROSOFT AND APPLE!?! JOIN ME BROTHERS AND SISTERS... THROW OFF THESE CHAINS OF BONDAGE AND SET YOURSELF FREE!!!!

Um... what were we talking about?

scottmandue · 10-22-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Another option would be to first convert your existing Win machine to a virtual machine. Then you can save it to an external HD and launch it with VMWare player from your brand new Linux machine

Cool idea but I save all my stuff to an external 1TB USB drive anyway.

Oh wait...

I have a Windows 2000 install disk in my desk drawer!

I kid! I kid!

BlueSkyJaunte · 10-22-2013, 01:22 PM

It's pretty amazing to me how Mint went from zero to most-popular in the space of just a few years. Shuttleworth blew it.