Hey guys,

I know this has been asked before and is in google and yada - just seems to be too much junk out there to get a clear answer so I decided to ask here for a clear answer:

What will make the best Windows Replacement OS based off this list of requirements:

* First, the reason: I need to upload an OS on a friend's laptop to replace a version of Windows that has an invalid key. This person came up to me saying "stuff don't work". Obviously, without valid key, and thus, no updates, that stuff is going to stay broke. Speaking of broke, I, nor the friend, have the $$$ to buy another Windows, and the OEM Windows that came with the laptop is gone (formated over and there is no sight of original OEM CD). Sony asks about as much $$$ for replacement CD/DVDs as getting a new copy of Windows itself.

* Must be able to look and "fake" like it's windoze so user doesn't get all jittery. I've used Xubuntu in the past successfully as a Windows alternative before with a computer room for kids. Difference between them and my friend is my friend is a computer challenged adult (well, compared to me). Kids don't ask as many questions (they have grown up with computers), so they just use it if it's close enough. I need to be able to better "trick" my friend. I’d prefer that it look and perform a bit closer to XP, though I know it’s easier to make Linux look like Vista/7 – I don’t think my friend has ever used Vista.

* Must be able to able to run, potentially, Windows Media Player and some other apps easily via wine - what GNU/OS will have less problems with wine basically.

* No BSD, Solaris suggestions - I have limited experience w/ solaris platforms and havn't used any of the BSDs. But if I'm missing out related to this situation, let me know (I doubt it in Solaris' case).

* Security and stability are a must: I don’t want calls in the middle of every night on random problems my friend can’t fix (though, I’ll probably still add a remote login a la openVPN to be on the safe side). Must be able to maintain automatic updates and not compromise security and stability. As I have seen myself, for example, Fedora is not the king of stability after updates, and especially after upgrades.

* My background - I have an average knowledge of Red Hat family of Linux distros, i.e Fedora, CentOS, openSuSE. I've also tried some of the Debian family, including Debian itself. So, feel free to suggest anything: I'm not nix ignorant.

So guys, what do you think!? I’m all ears. And BTW, if there is a way I can just use the OEM Windows code off the back of the laptop with a Volume License XP CD, then that will be great too – except that I’m pretty sure that can’t be done and that I’ll have problems getting that activated over the phone, even if I get that far.

Ultimate Edition 2.3 or 2.4 (Ubunt 9.04/9.10)
Has everything!
http://ultimateedition.info/

There's also Linux XP
http://www.linux-xp.com/desktop/

Stop right now. This cannot be done. You cannot fool anyone with any Windows experience into thinking they are running Windows while running Linux. While you may be able to theme it to look like any incarnation of Windows, they do not behave anything alike. Plus, even with Wine/Cedega/Crossover, they will not be able to install any and all Windows executable.

What if they want to download something from the net like those stupid Elf Bowling games. My in-laws try and do that stuff and it doesn't work (thankfully). I don't even think you can install Windows Media Player in Linux (Thank god).

Someone just yesterday was asking about Linux XP. It is just Fedora with a theme set to look like Windows. And Wine is Wine no matter what distro you try. If you are really that desperate, You should be able to find a copy of XP and use the OEM serial number. I did that when I have lost my XP disc back a few years back. Thankfully I have not been back in windows at home in 3 years.

If it were me, I would just tell the people they don't have windows and work with them on the new OS. It will pay off in the long run. If you try to decieve them, they will be severely p_ssed when their cell phone/mp3 player/camera software/and crappy wal-mart software doesn't work.

There is no replacement for Windows!

Thank God there's only one of those around.

Seriously, just try out some LiveCDs to show your friend about Linux, the freedom, the possibilities, and so on. If your friend can not be convinced then redirect him to the Windows store to get a CD with key.

Kind regards,

Eric

@Paul - I fooled the kiddies pretty well, but I think some of them have heard of Linux before, and certainly most of them know of Firefox. My friend, probably would be a different story.

And about the OEM windoze situation, I think this post explains my dilemma a little better when it comes to reinstalling with oem key without original oem CD. With M$, it's not as easy as it seems.

@EricTRA - I have tried the LiveCD for Xubuntu 9.10 on laptop already - finds wpa2 wireless without any mess and has other basic essentials already installed (like open office) with clean desktop ready to be messed with. So, I can always go that route again if all else fails.

I will tell my friend upfront that it is Linux. LOL, I don't want them to be able to install anything on the laptop so that they can't mess it up. And if push comes to shove, I can vpnto it and apt-get, or yum, or whatever else I have to do at the time and log out.

@linus72 - I'll look into it. Thanks!

I forgot how good we have it in Linux land. I read that entire forum link Runge. I have an obsession with fresh installs and distro hopping in my space PC. I can't imagine worrying about licensing anymore.

FWIW, my experience is that the less you know about computers, the easier the switch is.

My wife had no problems whatsoever migrating from XP to Ubuntu (and from IE8 to FF3.0). She noticed stuff look "different" and was up und running in no time (well, about 30 mins with coaching by me).

I took a lot longer to learn even the basic stuff. And am still learning...

Why not let your friend dabble with a live CD and see if he gets the hang of it...

Here's my short-answer:

"You've got this-here computer system. What do you want to do with it? Why is this funny-looking box sitting here on your dining-room table, sucking up electrical power and making funny noises now-and-then?"

Cool.

Now: "what's the shortest distance between two points here?" What's the best available software environment available to you now (for whatever reason...) that will let this box do that task with a minimum of fuss and bother?

"Go now, and with no apologies to anyone, buy that and use it."

Obviously, "learning something new" is as perfectly-valid an objective as any other objective could be. But that certainly does not mean that you must "replace Windows," if Windows (for whatever reason) happens to be for you, right now "the answer to the question that I previously posed." You should not deny yourself (or even risk denying yourself) the easy ability to do, with a particular piece of hardware, "whatever you bought it in order to be able to do." Hardware is cheap.

Apparently, one can use a generic Windows OEM cd and use that to reinstall Windows on a laptop. It was the same version (XP Home) and activated seamlessly online using key from under the laptop. Fortunately, I had bought the oem cd some years ago to reinstall windows on a box I gave away which didn't have a valid version of windows on it.

I forgot to give that person the oem cd, but it sure came in handy for this! So, consider this case closed.

I believe that is precisely what I said to do on the 20th.

Hmm, a long list of requirements, but I would have to suggest Kubuntu. It has the Applications Launcher in the bottom-right of the screen, it is easy to use and has the typically terrific Debian package management. Linux Mint is another option, for much the same reasons.

Meanwhile, I think that you may be ambitious with your desire to run Windows Media Player. M$ are determined to stop WMP from being run on Wine, and they will search for a valid Windows license key. You'll have to use something like softpedia to get it.

The hardest part will be getting all the malware and update nag-boxes to work just like they do in XP
:P