I didn't say a windows feel was good it just makes it easy for someone trying out Linux. I use Fedora 6 and play with three or four live cds

Yep I agree that you can do this with most distros. I was just trying to give some encouragement. It IS worth persevering until you find a flavour that works for you.

marshon

It looks like I'll have to try a dual boot. Can't seem to get the old Gateway that was lent to me to run. First it would not boot off CD, now I don't have power to any drives, optical or HHD.

I really was convinced that installing on the old PC would be the best way to try out a Linux.

You are correct in thinking that they are two diff. desktop environments. Kubuntu also uses the kde envir. but its a little lighter on ram. I'm new also to Linux. I started with Damn Small Linux. and ended with Edgy Eft 6.10 (Ubuntu). Every distro I have used and tried was a live cd, pop it in the cd, turn on the machine and go.
I say try a live cd first of (K)Ubuntu, if you like it throw another stik of ram in the old machine, and let the win. machine alone for now.

It may still be possible to get this computer working. Maybe the power supply is the only thing going bad. Old Gateways had a proprietary power supply shape, but the actual connections were all standard ATX (unlike Dells). Thus, you can connect a different ATX power supply, even if you can't mount it in properly. A quick and dirty solution is to flip the entire case upside-down and just place the power supply on the bottom.

Another option is to live with the flakey power supply and see if you can get the computer to boot off of USB.

Hello, all;

I'm new to this group, and I haven't yet given Linux a try. I think the main reason more people aren't switching over from Windows is that, like me, we're sick of Microsoft monopolizing and charging ridiculous $$ for software that is bloated and creates headaches, but there are some Windows programs we use that we simply can't do without.

While I can gladly get used to using many general Linux programs, there are a handful that I use regularly that I just can't find an equivalent for. I depend on GrabIt Newsreader for downloading files, and I also do some general video editing and DVD authoring as a hobby, and I haven't seen any Linux programs that do more than data DVDs.

I know there is WINE and other emulators available, and I'm trying to look into them, but it seems that every Linux book I check out has nothing on running Windows programs in Linux at all, just running Linux files in Windows.

I know there are virtual PC emulators that can do it, but I'd like to get out of the Windows OS entirely and just keep those few programs until I find something better to replace them.

Everything that I've read seems to assume that anyone who goes into Linux is just going to throw out Windows and never look back, which simply isn't possible for some of us long-time Windows users.

If they could give us all clear and simple instructions on how to set up ways to run those few important programs we really depend on, I think more of us would gladly toss out MS Windows for good.

The more I read about Linux, the more I get excited about trying it, but the lack of info on running Windows progs just holds me back. If someone can point me to some simple info or a good book to check out, I'd appreciate it.

I've seen Frank's Corner, but I still need some clear instructions. I know emulators may not be simple, but neither is Linux, and I've read some really wonderful and clear instructions on setting up various distros. I know that with the right instruction many of us Windows users could be confident enough to change over.

Sorry to be so long-winded, but I think Linux developers really need to push the ability to run Windows progs in Linux if they want more of us to head over, because I think that's all we really need to get the incentive at this point.

Thanks for any info or suggestions with this. If any other newbies like me feel the same, I'd also like to hear their views on this.


Linda

Isiraco,

Why would you have to throw out windows to give Linux a try? Don't you know you can actually dual-boot, i.e. have windos and linux on the same computer? If you can chip 10 GB or so off your ntfs partition, you're all set to install linux. In case you wonder, I am running no less than six operating systems on one pc...

As for your point that linux needs to integrate better with windows, I'm afraid that this is not very realistic. You just sound like the next person who considers linux an inferior system that cannot be put to any use unless it turns into a free windows. I really don't think that this is the sort of compliment that the developers are waiting for. In fact, now that Dell is going to start selling Ubuntu bundled pcs, the Ubuntu team has insisted that their OS will come without any software whatsoever that would allow running ms products (e.g. wine) - for the very reason I just pointed out. But then I also pointed out the solution: set up a dual-boot system. You would be amazed to hear how many are actually doing this, at least temporarily.

Whoa!

If I can not edit and burn home video to DVD with Linux, I would never be able to get rid of MS either.

I really do very little of it, but have had a lot of fun putting together clips of the granddaughter while she grows up.

Thanks

Who says Linux can't do any video editing? I recently had this discussion with a professional music producer who said Linux was absolutely useless. Then I pointed him to JackLabs... Of course, editing may not work as it does on windows. But why change systems if that is the main concern? Anyway, here's a link where people discuss their experiences with video editing on Linux:

http://lifehacker.com/software/video...tem-245086.php

Post # 36.

lsiraco states that he had not found a way to author DVDs.

I will definitely look through the link you posted.

As always, thanks for all the help jay23.

Gparted was a flop for me. Would not come up with GUI, gave message to run force video, got the same message again. Bummed.

I already have several partitions over two HHDs, if I can get gparted, or another utility to run, it should show me all my partitions and allow me to resize any I want to free up unallocated space? Am I thinking of this correctly? I do not want to resize my "c" partition.

Guess I will look for another utility to try, maybe BootIT NG?

Thanks for all the help.

Jay 73, I think you've misunderstood me.

I don't think Linux is inferior AT ALL. That's WHY I want to switch over. I don't want it to be another Windows, I just want to run the Windows programs I rely on in Linux without many hassles.

I've done dual-booting before, but that's defeating the purpose if I want to get out of Windows altogether. That will only be good if I want to try Linux and see how well I can work with it before taking the plunge.

If more mainstream people are going to switch to Linux, we NEED to be assured of being able to run some of the progs we use on a daily basis, otherwise there's no way many of us are going to be willing to dump our current OS.

If I were a manufacturer wanting to sell Linux as an alternative OS, I would have to show Windows users that they would not be giving up anything other than headaches and unstable systems.

Most home users are not tech savvy, this I know. I have an e-mail pal in Australia who doesn't want to learn anything other than how to switch a computer on and use it, which is extremely frustrating.

Regular people need to be reassured that they are not going to be lost trying to find their way around a system that's new, or going to have to give up programs they use. Many people just don't like change, and the less change they have to deal with, the more willing they will be to change their OS.

It's like buying a new house. If you have to take the house with all new furniture and appliances and can't take ANY of your old stuff along, things you really need or rely on, or just prefer, would you want to move? We all have a comfy chair we're NOT getting rid of. Some people will say, sure, and walk right in. Most people won't.

I'm just asking for help on how to run a handful of programs that I really can't do without. If I can't find simple and clear instructions on how to do that, I'm going to have to think twice about getting into Linux.

I believe that Linux IS a great OS, a superior product over MS, but if it's not going to appeal to people enough to encourage them to switch, it's not going to get the kind of foothold it deserves in the non-techie community.

L Siraco (Linda)

Sorry, that was no offence intended. And I do see your point about people being intimidated by having to switch to an all new environment. In fact, it's one that is made quite frequently and not without reason. I have to admit that there are still a small handful of programs that I would like to see ported to Linux but unfortunately,opening up applications to Linux is not something that the open source community should do - if they did, they would be breaking copyright rules... Until software vendors wisen up and realize that they are ignoring a wholly new market by writing for MS only, this will remain problematic. And there is little computer users can do about it except In the meantime, peopel will have to see how they deal with it. Some will dual-boot, others will go one way or the other.

btw, it appears grabIt will run fine on Linux if you use Wine. Wine is a great solution but it simply won't run everything.

Well, since you've got two HDDs, there's not need to touch your c partition. In fact, it would be a good idea to install Linux on the second hard drive; it will be a lot easier to remove should you come to reconsider at some point in the future.

btw, did you know that you can do the resizing from within windows? That would be impossible if you had only one partition but considering you have more, you could go to Start > Control Center > Administrator > Disk Management and manage your partitions from there. Just post back if you would be interested in this procedure; please do not try anything yet unless you know perfectly what you are doing.

jay73,

Thanks for the reminder about the windows disc management! I had forgotten completely about it. I have used it a little, but it has been a while.

No time this evening, but maybe I can google tomorrow for some instructions on using it to resize my existing partitions.

Any links you know of with instructions?

Thanks