Linux n00b to the rescue!

[bassybill]

I’ve had my first experience with Linux today whilst trying to salvage a friend’s laptop, which was so badly screwed with malware that I couldn’t get anything at all to run on it using the XP installation that was on it.

So far today, I’ve figured out how to:

Download an ISO image for a Knoppix CD
Verify the download’s md5 checksum
Burn a bootable CD from the ISO image file
Boot the laptop into Knoppix using the CD
Mount the internal HDD and a USB stick as NTFS drives in Knoppix
Transfer data from one drive to the other

When I’ve backed up his stuff, I shall do a clean install of XP for him. I know I could have just booted from a Windows installation CD in safe mode and got at his files that way, but I decided to figure out this way to get some experience with an OS I’ve never used before, because I always enjoy learning new geek stuff like this.

Any good tips from the Linux experts out there? I'm quite liking the OS so far.

[OliverH]

Don't reload XP, chuck Ubuntu on there and let him really reaps the benefits of Linux.

[Vorago]

It's great if all the hardware is recognised by Linux...if not, you're in for a long ride

[DigMe]

Originally Posted by Vorago

It's great if all the hardware is recognised by Linux...if not, you're in for a long ride

Yeah I do enjoy tinkering and geekery but sometimes I just want my OS to see everything and do what it's supposed to. Sometimes That can be an ordeal with Linux.

bc

[fdeck]

I've used Linux for the same purpose.

I'm far from an expert so far, but I am happy with Ubuntu. The process of installing new software is easy -- popular titles are available right there in a menu. You check a box for what you want, and it gets installed. If it's not in the menu and you can find a "deb" file, then it's as easy as installing software under Windows.

I've gotten a number of Windows programs up and running under WINE. My next little project is to see if those programs can talk to external hardware, so I could do my embedded systems work on a Linux box if I wanted to.

What I am figuring is that by the time Microsoft has annoyed me to the point where I am ready to banish it from my house, I will have its replacement up and running. But for some time I might be stuck with a dual boot, not a prospect that I relish but a necessary evil.

There's a Linux build called Puppy Linux which has extremely quick booting and minimal resource usage, so it's a way to breathe new life into an obsolete computer. I'd recommend it for kids computers.

[tplyons]

Biggest problem with Linux was hardware support. Like said above, it takes a lot of digging sometimes.

[ehque]

Regarding Ubuntu, the latest version (9.04) disables the intel graphics accelerator 965 by default - this is a problem because most laptops come with them. I found this out the hard way, so i'm sticking to 8.04 for now.

Seriously though, if you're willing to put in the time into learning a few different things, linux is way better than windows. Be prepared to tweak a little though, until you get it running just the way you like it.

[kserg]

Originally Posted by DigMe

Yeah I do enjoy tinkering and geekery but sometimes I just want my OS to see everything and do what it's supposed to. Sometimes That can be an ordeal with Linux.

bc

For desktop I've started to use openSUSE - So far it recognized every hardware i've thrown at it. Much more then what windows did. Every time i've installed windows on my laptop i had to get jump drive just to install network cards, then download 10 other drivers. OpenSUSE found everything with no problems. As a desktop I actually like it, sad to say. My Server is still Debian though.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by ehque

Regarding Ubuntu, the latest version (9.04) disables the intel graphics accelerator 965 by default - this is a problem because most laptops come with them. I found this out the hard way, so i'm sticking to 8.04 for now.

Seriously though, if you're willing to put in the time into learning a few different things, linux is way better than windows. Be prepared to tweak a little though, until you get it running just the way you like it.

How new does a computer have to be, in order to have this graphics accelerator? I am trying to guess whether this affects my hardware.

[bassybill]

This is getting geekier...

Backed my friend's data up as described above and wiped hard drive to clear crap.
Copied his data to my PC and checked it - seems to be clear.
Couldn't install XP on his PC as I have a retail pro edition disc and he has a home edition OEM licence key.
Found a torrent for the XP home edition retail disc ISO image, downloaded it.
Checked SHA1 for file from torrent and compared to Microsoft's stated value; it's legit.
Used WinISO to edit the setupp.ini file on the ISO image to accept OEM keys (remember, my friend does own a legit licence).
Burned bootable install CD.

Stay tuned for episode 3...

[daystcity]

I love knowing exactly what is going on in my computer. I love linux. It is a geeky operating system, thus the geeky conversation. How I compare linux to windows and mac, you've all seen the comic where a mac owner is riding a shiny race car and the pc owner (I still think macs are personal computers) is busy tweaking his car? If linux were in there, it would be god creating a vehicle out of raw minerals. You can use templates of course like good 'ol ubuntu but the option is there for you to make your computer exactly how you want it. You can literally do anything in linux, with enough time and patience you can solve any problem you have with it.

[fdeck]

I'll admit that I'm one of those people who just wants a package that installs and works. My interest in Linux is due to growing annoyance with Windows, especially regarding the security issue, and general bloat.

[JQ1986]

I had my first experience with Ubuntu the first month I started class. We used Virtual Box to run it. I have to admit, if Vista takes a dump on my laptop I'm gonna install Ubuntu and call it good. But unfortunately I need Microsoft Office Professional for school and I really don't like OpenOffice.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by JQ1986

I had my first experience with Ubuntu the first month I started class. We used Virtual Box to run it. I have to admit, if Vista takes a dump on my laptop I'm gonna install Ubuntu and call it good. But unfortunately I need Microsoft Office Professional for school and I really don't like OpenOffice.

Will the people at school really notice if you don't have MS Office?

[Kenbuntu]

Regarding the M$ Office, You can purchase/..., crossover Linux. Its better than wine and M$ Office '07 Enterprise installed without ANY problems. The only drawback is guitar pro. It takes some setting up to get it working properly.

All i can say is Ubuntu is a great OS, and I'm glad to see soo many of you using it. (whats that 8 something people? )

Windows 7, however, is decent as well. Found it way better than xp and failsta. Not quite as fast as Ubuntu but still usefull.

Haha, i just got avant-window-navigator set up the way i want it...sure is slick.

[fdeck]

I'm still using Office 97. Nobody has noticed yet. A couple of my software purchases -- Office 97 and Visual Basic 5 -- have had remarkable longevity. There's really nothing that the new versions do, that I care about. And they have gotten bloated beyond reason.

[JQ1986]

Originally Posted by fdeck

Will the people at school really notice if you don't have MS Office?

It's what they use to teach, and I already paid for it.

[Quadcam]

I have one of my systems set up to dual boot Ubuntu and Xp.
I love Linux but I usually end up in XP for some reason, mostly because I played Warcraft and couldnt get it running through Ubuntu.
Ubuntu rocks though

[daystcity]

Regarding open office, ever try abiword? Fedora is loaded with it and my current distro http://crunchbanglinux.org/ has it. A few quirks but it gets the job done. If you don't like OO however you probably won't like this, hmm.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by JQ1986

It's what they use to teach, and I already paid for it.

Ah, "already paid for" certainly resonates.