Hello to all and sundry,

I am seeking advice i can understand. A friend of mine converted me and my PC to Linux a few years ago and i have not looked back, unfortunately he has moved away now and no longer is in a position to help me with me computer. I am experiencing a few probs with my system and was thinking of updating to a newer version. I am using Linux mint at the mo (installed in Aug 09) and am open to suggestions. One thing is i am not too computer literate so need to down load and install something that is pretty much fool proof and self explanatory.One other thing, I have wine installed on my system at the mo as i need it when emailing invoices etc and paperwork to windows users.
I really appreciate all and any help.

Joeshey

Make sure you back up your files first.
Try Ubuntu or Kubuntu, both distributions are for people like us
You can download an iso file and burn it on CD.
search for install instructions, so you wont get scary questions you have never heard of before (like: "Does your network support DHCP?")
For as far as I know, (k)Ubuntu has some basic questions at install, but no really technical questions. Dont know for sure.
Print the instructions you need!
Make a backup of your files
Then install (k)Ubuntu from CD.
As for wine: you can install it yourself after installing (k)Ubuntu.
Then you can install your windows programms in wine again. Put your backupfiles back and if there are no errors, you have a new distribution.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT:
Make sure you back up your files first.

1 members found this post helpful.

Since Mint is based on Ubuntu, there's not much point in switching. Why not just get a more recent version of Mint?

What are the problems you're having? Have you posted about them? There are (hopefully) bound to be solutions.

One point to consider is whether you have a separate partition for /home. If you have, then your configuration and Windows programs will be preserved. If you haven't, you might like to consider making one this time:

1. back up everything in that directory, including the hidden items like ~/.wine (which you'll have to do anyway)
2. use a live CD version of Linux to reformat the disk, keeping the swap partition, making a 10GM partition for /, and using the rest for /home
3. put all the stuff you backed up into /home
4. install your new Linux in /

Thank you engelienart, your help was fab. I did exactly as you recommended and all was as you said i now have Ubunto installed and all is well.
Gain many thanks.

Joesh

Whoa! That was fast. Are you sure you are not a computer expert?
What David said was also a good comment.

Now you have Ubuntu, dont forget to update regulary. You will get a warning if you need to update, same as Windows.