UBUNTU

[YosemitePaul]

I'm thinking of converting an old lap top to Linux, if only to see what it's like. However I'm wondering if I'm about to fall at the first hurdle!!!
Once I download the free OS from Ubuntu, do I first have to format the drive and delete the current Windows OS?
To date all I have read on the net features Dual Boot with two hard drives. I don't particularly want to spend money on a new drive, rather just mess around with the new system.
Basically my question is. Will Ubuntu overwrite Windows, or will I have to get rid of it first.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

When you download Ubuntu, they recommend you download GParted too, which allows you to partition your hardrive if you want to. You can also burn the Ubuntu download onto a CD and then run the OS from your CD drive - to see if you like it or not! Basically, it's up to you how you do it.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

run it from a liveCD in the cd drive - it'll find it on boot up

 

[spacemonkey]

it sounds like you're not too bothered about loosing windows on the old drive so as above just put in the live CD and follow the prompts, repartition the drives and it will format the partitions into something it can use.

 

[Garfieldus]

I haven't used Ubuntu although have CentOS on all of my servers and customers' servers and an install option is to delete all existing partitions. I imagine Ubuntu would also have this install option.

 

[cookie]

if you install ubuntu from the cd you get the option to dual boot it with an existing windows partition.

ubuntu itself needs about 4 partitions. can't remember exactly, but i do remember it was a real headache trying to configure them. install routine is little help on this (at least it was on the version i used). it doesn't seem able to configure these automatically, so you have to do it manually with the tools from the install disc. i got there in the end, but i wouldn't recommend it for the short of patience.

my first install of ubuntu went tits up after updating itself and i had to do a reinstall. to avoid the trouble i had first time, i just did a straight install which overwrites the entire HDD. dead simple doing that, it configures everything for you.

this website contains lots of how to info.

if anyone can find one that explains how to install apps easily in ubuntu, feel free to post it. luckily, nearly every thing you need for basic operation is included in the install. adding apps is still a mystery to me sudo blah blah bollocks!
i've followed what looks like good methods on this site with mixed results. if those linux guys would just get a GUI for app installs it would be great.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

if anyone can find one that explains how to install apps easily in ubuntu, feel free to post it. luckily, nearly every thing you need for basic operation is included in the install. adding apps is still a mystery to me sudo blah blah bollocks! if those linux guys would just get a GUI for app installs it would be great.

ditto

linux as a stable OS is great.

for the average user - its complete geeky shite that you can't figure out.

its like a game that you need to find the door to a passageway down a corridor to get the key etc etc........yawn

 

[cookie]

if anyone can find one that explains how to install apps easily in ubuntu, feel free to post it. luckily, nearly every thing you need for basic operation is included in the install. adding apps is still a mystery to me sudo blah blah bollocks! if those linux guys would just get a GUI for app installs it would be great.

ditto

linux as a stable OS is great.

for the average user - its complete geeky shite that you can't figure out.

its like a game that you need to find the door to a passageway down a corridor to get the key etc etc........yawn

yet actually using it to surf the net, email, write letters, listen to music is really easy. i didn't read up on it, i just worked it out. if you can manage basic stuff on xp, it's not a steep learning curve.

installing apps though...

 

[Fanum]

yet actually using it to surf the net, email, write letters, listen to music is really easy. i didn't read up on it, i just worked it out. if you can manage basic stuff on xp, it's not a steep learning curve.

installing apps though...

My....Rob Farmer's let his hair grow long hasn't he!!




In the last few weeks I've played with Ubuntu (live cd anyway) and Vista, and neither come close to XP for ease of use..(with DRM workarounds)..I honestly can't see a reason to move away from XP...it's totally utterly stable (on the three machines I'm running here anyway) and you can make it sing if you want to....the last crash I had was only caused by me over clocking the GPU and that was expected..

Why change...XP's free, stable and does everything

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

i agree - not bothered with linux anymore

...as for a mac....??

 

[cookie]

My....Rob Farmer's let his hair grow long hasn't he!!




In the last few weeks I've played with Ubuntu (live cd anyway) and Vista, and neither come close to XP for ease of use..(with DRM workarounds)..I honestly can't see a reason to move away from XP...it's totally utterly stable (on the three machines I'm running here anyway) and you can make it sing if you want to....the last crash I had was only caused by me over clocking the GPU and that was expected..

Why change...XP's free, stable and does everything

all true, but i think i'd go to linux before vista.


i have been to the new apple store in southampton. it's ok though, i didn't buy anything. couldn't get to the counter for a start

 

[Garfieldus]

Why change...XP's free

enlighten me please

 

[cookie]

enlighten me please

that's free, not counting the cost of a broadband connection.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

enlighten me please

bittorrent - same as everything else.