I have always known of Linux, and recently i heard about Ubutnu and i opted to give one a go, so what do you recommend? Just for something i can use to do everyday stuff, and keep the heavy duty stuff to Vista. I was about to go and ask for an Ubutnu CD, but then i realised that there were different versions, which made me confused. Basically i'm asking for somebody to explain the differences between Linux('s) and Ubutnu's and to help me decide which one would be best for me.

Also, would it be possible instead of partitioning to put the other OS onto an External HDD? Nothing big, just like 20GB. Would this seriously effect the speed?

Thanks

You should select the current LTS version, which is the 8.04. It is probably the most stable, I had problems with 8.10.

What kind of heavy duty jobs are you leaving for Windows? I'm sure that they'd perform the same or better on Ubuntu.

I don't really know if it'd affect the speed but I think that Hawk had it running like that.

Basically just gaming. Had i the money i might have constructed myself a PC, but i think i'll leave that until next year when i don't have so much to save up for.

Right, gaming should be in Windows. Although it's possible in ubuntu by using wine but I don't know how it'd perform with games.

So what's the difference between the versions of Ubutnu, like Kubutnu and everything. Also, from this i take it that Ubutnu is better than Linux for just casual use?

Ubuntu is the distribution based on Gnome intended for personal computers use.
Kubuntu is almost the same but based on Kde.
Edubuntu is Ubuntu for schools.
Xubuntu is a distrubution based on Xfe.

If it's your first time, I'd recommend Ubuntu since it's the most user friendly and it has tons of nice people in their forums who can give you support.

I think i will thanks. Also, would it be possible to do what i was saying about the external HDD but with an 16GB SD Card or USB Stick? Seems a bit of a long shot to me, but i can't see why it wouldn't work as long as it isn't flash memory.

I'm not sure whether SD Cards are bootable.

At first, I installed it to a 4gb USB stick. When I did that, it installed its own Boot Loader, meaning I couldn't boot Windows without the USB plugged in. I had to use my Windows Recovery disk to fix this issue, but that meant I couldn't boot the USB Ubuntu anymore. The USB loaded at a normal speed (same as Windows would for me). I never seemed to have any space for some reason.

I just put a second hard drive into my computer about three or four days ago. It loads way faster than the USB stick did (Data transfer speeds are faster with a HDD than a USB).

I'm not sure if i could put another HDD on, how exactly would i check?

You would have to open your computer. Look on the motherboard for where your first HDD is connected and if there is a second place for the cord to connect, you should be able to (When and if you do this, make sure to have a second cord). The hard dive mounts next to the other one.

Well there certainly were lots of cords lying around, i believe they were the right kind, but i'm not sure if there was a place to mount a HDD. I would have to check.

If I were you I'd just make a partition on your hard drive. How big and how much space is on your current HDD?

Actually i just realised that myself. 70GB Free of 140GB, and i could probably just delete a lot of the stuff i have on here at the moment I would just have to figure out how to do it...

Also, in requesting a CD you have to give your Phone number, so i think it might be a better bet just to download it, even if it is the last thing this router ever does. We have a new Wireless N arriving next week though

How big is it to download?

Just a note, I recommend trying out Ubuntu before installing, I have told this to several friends and they have all decided not to actually install it.

Wubi adds it to the boot list, but makes it so you can install and uninstall from Windows. If you decide to go through, then partition the drives and such.

The LiveCD is usually around 700MB to download.

It's about 710MB for the ISO download. It took me about 3 minutes.

@ Hawk: How would I be able to try out Ubuntu without installing it?

Would that mean i would have to download it twice? Meh, it isn't that hard to simply format the partition then unpartition it.

Well that would probably take me about 4 hours (0.7GB, right?). Also, 32 bit or 64 bit? I don't see why my computer shouldn't be able to use the 64 bit...

You can run it off of the LiveCD.

You wouldn't have to download it twice. And yes, it's .7 gb.

Which version of windows are you currently running?

Do you need the 64 bit? I'd go for it anyway.

And all you do is download the .iso, get a program like imgburn and burn it to a disk, insert the disk, you can either run ubuntu strait from the disk without installing anything or you can then install it onto a new partition (I think you will make the partition while installing it).

Yes, you are correct. During the installation process, it gives you the option to partition. No need to do it beforehand unless you have some other preferred partition program.

Well this is irritating, all the blank CDs we have are 700MB I might have to use a DVD, would that still work?

And could i just burn it using something like WMP?


Just tried downloading, i think i'll wait until the new router arrives because it said it would take twelve hours Is there any way to check if the router will be compatible? Also, would i be able/would it be worth getting my current anti virus software (McAffe) onto it? Is there anything really wrong with the protection that comes with it?

It is designed to fit onto a blank CD. It worked when I used a CD-R I would burn it with a program specifically for burning ISOs (can't remember a good one), if you do it with Windows, it formats the disk to a Windows-only-readable format and you won't be able to boot it.

When I downloaded the ISO for 8.10, it took me about 30 mins despite the predicted 4 hours. If the router can connect to the Internet, then it can download

I would have thought McAffee would be Windows only, and the built in security of Linux is better.. don't ask me how.

Well that's awkward, if it wasn't for a 10MB difference i wouldn't have to go out and buy 1 CD, but hey So i just need to find an ISO burner and download it and get a CD... wait, i'm back on step 1 aren't i?

I ordered a CD because i think it would be good to have that as a proper back up, and a professional one i could let out to my friends, i might not even get it considering all i put as my phone number was '1'

And apparently i have to wait until my dad fixes a laptop till i can do this, he had problems when installing redhat on his laptop and now he's cynical and wants to make sure that there is at least 1 working computer on the network

Download imgburn in the software sticky.

Why didn't you just put your home phone? They don't call you...

Well if they don't call me then there's no point in them having the number. It's ex directory, so i don't want to take the risk of somebody else getting it.

I just thought I'd clarify that Ubuntu is a distribution of Linux. Linux is the main operating system, and Ubuntu is a distribution, which is a version of Linux with slightly different features to the others (a bit like Windows: Windows is the main operating system and Windows Vista and Windows XP are versions of that operating system). Whilst Ubuntu is a very good start if you've never used Linux before, there are hundreds of other distributions and it would be worth checking if any others fit your needs better than Ubuntu.


While Wine can run a lot of things, it can't cope with anything but the very oldest of Windows games.


Personally I wouldn't go for 64-bit Linux at the minute. There's currently no 64-bit version of Adobe Flash Player for Linux, meaning that all Flash content on websites won't work. There are other similar problems too.


Absolutely no need for software like McAfee - it won't run on Linux anyway. Viruses are far less of a problem for Linux users anyway, but if you're concerned, you can get yourself a firewall and an anti-virus scanner.

For the firewall, there are lots of programs such as Firestarter, but personally I like Gufw for its simplicity. Basically, there is already a firewall built into Linux, but it is controlled via the terminal (equivalent to Windows' Command Prompt) and can scare new users slightly You can add a graphical interface very easily to it by downloading Gufw from here.

There is lots of debate over whether Linux users actually need an anti-virus. While responses are mixed, the general consensus at the minute is that there are virtually no "in the wild" Linux viruses out there that will do serious damage right now, and Linux's permission system normally stops them anyway. This means that so-called 'Linux virus scanners' basically only scan for Windows viruses, which are of course harmless on Linux, making the whole thing rather pointless. However, if you regularly share files with Windows users, it's a good idea to scan your files with something like ClamTK or AVG Free for Linux.

Combine this with secure passwords, enabling WPA or stronger encryption on your new router (plus the usuals like changing the default password for the router and stuff), keeping your system up-to-date with the Update Manager, not using the root account for all tasks, and backing up your data, and you'll be fine. TimeVault is a useful tool for backups that's being developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu.

Hope that helped, and good luck with Linux

It did help, although i had cleared up on the first point with my dad. Command Prompt? You mean MS DOS

Theres also a feature to run LiveCD, you run it right off the CD/DVD.
Good for trying it.
But Wubi is a good choice too.
I dont know all about partitioning, but is it taking a clean part of the drive and makes it a separate virtual HDD?
Just because i havent been close to that theme..

But if you like games, Linux is horrible, theres not much good games for it, and small support for phones, only disk-mode.
Wine cant run Windows games, and that means no EA full-screen games either.
They use own framework that isnt supported well.
Just warning you a bit, you wont like Linux if you like games, thats why i will stick with Windows for many years.
But a partition for it makes you have a choice, remember to choose which of them to boot forst, or else you wont be happy when you actually need Linux when it comes Windows.

Well that's what i was doing, as i don't actually have a Vista disc, it was just on when i bought it. I think i have an image of when i first got it but that wouldn't have Linux on.

Would i be able to change the size of the partition that the Ubuntu installer creates or is it automatic? In which case, how would i go about doing it myself?

When you're installing Ubuntu you'll be ask to modify the partitons in step 4.

You should choose guided way (first one) which will resize SCSI which is your first partition and will use the remaining space for Ubuntu.

If you're still going to play games on Windows and have a mid sized hdd then I'd make it 50% for each.

If you post your HDD size I can give some partitioning recommendations.
Also post the games that you're going to play.

It is possible to boot up from USB stick but its overly complicated and most of the apps are in beta:

http://portableapps.com/node/13944

Like Hawk, I'm not sure about SD cards, but USB sticks certainly are bootable. A quick Google search trawled up a very useful site called PendriveLiunx that seemed very informative. Damn Small Linux is a great Linux distro that manages to pack a lot in to to just 64mb. It's not exactly pretty, but it's perfect for carrying on the go. Booting it as a 'live' version (ie. it makes no changes to your system) will mean you can use it without potentially experiencing the problems Hawk had.


Stop being plain picky

@djpailo: The Portable Apps suite you suggested is also very good. However I don't think booting from a USB stick is 'overly complicated' for even a moderately capable user as long as you follow good instructions.

50/50 split (not counting shared) wouldn't really work. As i've already used half of it (140GB). So i was thinking i would give it something like 40GB, as once i've do

Also, i just got a very wierd speed test, i really need to get the new router from Royal Mail soon, or i'll never be able to download this, it was 135mb/s download and 350 upload.

Don't worry, that's plenty enough to download Ubuntu. Feel sorry for the country folk like me, stuck on 576kb/s. And yes, that is BROADBAND Our stupid exchange doesn't get upgraded till 2011, worse luck

No, i got that wrong. Completely. 135kb/s.

Although we live pretty near an exchange, i think we need to change our package or ISP, install the new router and force either BT or the council (not sure who does it) to upgrade our phone line. Anyway, back on topic... so here's a summary of what we've covered so far:

• Ubuntu is a distribution of Linux
• Download and put on a seedy using imgburn (whoever said 710MB was wrong, it was 694MB, which means i can fit it on a CD i already have )
• Version: Ubuntu 8.04 LTS 32 bit
• Partitions can be handled and altered by the installer
• Games are a no go (knew it already tbh)

So i have just one more question (sorry). The problem my dad had when trying to installing Redhat on his laptop was that he couldn't get it to recognise the router, or the adapter. Either way it meant that he couldn't get on the internet with it, so short of just having it plugged in all the time (would that work?) is there any way i could check to see if i wont have that problem with Ubuntu? If it helps then this is the router.

I'm no expert on using wireless routers on Ubuntu, so I did a quick search on the Ubuntu Forums. This topic turned up. Basically:

--ALL routers SHOULD work with Ubuntu as the operating system they're on doesn't matter as long as it has networking capabilities.
HOWEVER:
--Your wireless card may not work with Ubuntu, or you may need special drivers for it. This Ubuntu help document can help you find out whether your wireless card will work or not.
--Any software that came with your router (such as configuration wizards, e.t.c.) MAY not work, however you should be able to configure any settings this wizard would have let you change through the internet interface of your router's settings, which are not operating-system specific.

That's all I could find, sorry, hope it was some help.

And I thought I was disadvantaged on 576kb/s

Well thanks, i see no problems there. Besides, i need not worry myself on something that probably wont happen. Thank you everybody for all your input and help, i really appreciate it. I much prefer speaking to a person than stumbling through an illegible webpage.

Just some replies to the posts above:

The partitioner allows you to drag the middle divider between Windows and Ubuntu so you can choose how large you want each side to be.

Wine will work with some games. Check the AppDB for details on the top applications and a few games that will work perfectly.

You can actually make a USB Startup Disk by using this feature while either having Ubuntu installed or running via LiveCD.

I just set up a wireless connection last night on a laptop running Linux. It basically walked me through the steps, so it is very easy. It automatically connected to my Wired connection.

Just a side note, printers are incredibly easy to set up. You just choose to search for it on the network and it will usually find the drivers and install them for you.

Thanks for adding that Hawk, I'd always been led to believe games wouldn't work on Wine. *strangles person who introduced me to Linux* *eagerly installs all of the games that the AppDB says will work* Aaahhhh that feels much better. I don't need Windows for anything now!

Well the router decided to work (wouldn't set up properly on Vista for some reason) and i downloaded Imgburn in 30 seconds. Also, Ubuntu that would have taken 12 hours with the old router will only take a max of 2:45 with this one So i'll download the iso tomorrow, i have a disc and then all i need to do is convince my dad to let me do it.

So i think this can be closed now

Wait don't close. I want you to post your results.

My results?

Just keep it open in case you have any problems when installing.

By results he means how it's working and what do you think of it.

Ah, yes i understand. Well just 2 and a half hours to go until i've downloaded it.

EDIT) Downloaded it, and i think i used imgburn to burn it to the disc (i might have got a bit confused). Is there any way to check that it is actually on? In windows, if i go to the properties of it then it sais 0 bytes capacity, and 0 bytes used, is this good?

Boot from the CD and when the Ubuntu screen appears, select check CD for errors or something like that.

None of the files on your computer will be modified.

So can i boot from this CD without installing it, or do is that a different download entirely?

Yes it is from that same CD.

Select the first option in the first menu that appears. (it says something like "Boot from CD")

Well i'm pretty certain i did something wrong here, when i try to boot from the disc it just boots Vista as per normal...

Do you have two disc drives? If so, you need to put it into the top drive. Otherwise, what does the boot entry you are selecting say?