Re: advice on switching to linux
- From: Stefan Patric <tootek2@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:26:20 GMT
On Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:30:12 +0000, John Stumbles wrote:
On Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:22:32 -0700, gerry.casadei wrote:
Hello,
I'd like to make the move from Windows to Linux and have a few
questions.
Currently I'm running Windows98 SE on a Dell Latitude laptop with a 6
GB hard drive and 128 MB RAM. The processor is a 400 MHz Intel
Celeron. My external drives are a CD drive (read only, can't burn), a
floppy drive, and a 4GB USB "thumb" drive.
Here are my questions:
A.) Which version of Linux would you recommend for the above system
and a complete newbie?
B.) What's my best installation option since I don't have a CD burner.
Can I use my thumb drive?
C.) How do I backup my Windows operating system, including Registry
and drivers (I've already backed up my important personal files)? D.)
Is there anything else that is absolutely essential to backup? All of
my programs are open source that I've downloaded from the internet
(except for Internet Explorer). So, I'm not concerned about backing up
my programs.
Thanks in advance for your answers to any or all of these questions.
Also, please feel free to add any important info that I neglected to
ask about.
Finally, please base your answers only on the current specs of my
machine. Don't just tell me to upgrade my machine or get a new one.
I'm using this as a learning experience and a way to possibly get a
little more out of an old (but still useful) machine that I don't want
to throw any money at.
My first experience of running Linux on a machine of my own was a Dell
Latitude laptop much like yours. Mine didn't have an OS on it (I bought
it second-hand that way) and I couldn't find a 98 disk but I had a
Mandrake one kicking around so installed that. The rest, as they say, is
history :-)
If I were doing it now I wouldn't use Mandrake again, but I've had
various versions of Kubuntu (Ubuntu with KDE) running on it OK.
If you can't even burn CDs I'd strongly suggest finding someone who can
do so for you and getting copies of Knoppix and Kubuntu. Knoppix is
great for booting from without installing, to try out and also as a
rescue/utility disk. For example it'll have a partition resizing program
on it (I can't remember if it's gpart or gparted - I think it's the
latter) so you can shrink your Windoze partition to make room for linux.
I'd get the non-liveCD version of kubuntu (I think they call it the
installation disk) (i386 version of course) as that is less gung-ho
about where it installs itself.
kubuntu won't be blindingly quick on that machine if you try to use many
modern applications but it'll let you dip a toe in the water to see if
you're happy with it.
To the OP:
Most Linux distros can be purchased on CD or DVD directly from the
developer or a 3rd party supplier; so, you don't really need a burner.
But one does make it convenient. Or, you can get them as cover disks
from Linux magazines.
I'd also suggest that you take a look at PCLinuxOS 2007
(www.pclinuxos.com). It runs quite nicely on my old Dell Inspiron 5000e
with a 500MHz P3 and 256MB RAM. One major advantage of PCLinux is that
it is both a LiveCD and an InstallCD together. So, you can test drive it
before you install. Also, it is designed with simplicity in mind, and is
perfect for the newbie, while still being robust and full-featured enough
for any user. Updates and adding additional applications is a snap with
Synaptic, its package manager. And, most importantly, it's ready to run
right out of the box. Everything set up and configured. No additional
plugins or utilities that other distros make you search the web for, and
install on your own afterwards.
Stef
.
- References:
- advice on switching to linux
- From: gerry . casadei
- Re: advice on switching to linux
- From: John Stumbles
- advice on switching to linux
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