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True Colors 10-08-2009 10:45 PM

Need help installing Linux on a new Netbook computer.....a few assorted questions
 
Hello there. I have never used a Linux operating system in my life. I have heard great things about it and would like to give it a shot. I do have some assorted questions. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated :cool:

First let me give you some information on my situation

Computer: brand new Asus 1005Ha
Optical disk drive - NONE(it is a netbook)
Hard drive: 160 gig(plenty of free space)
Processor: Intel Atom N270
Processing speed: 1.60 GHz
Memory: 2 gig DDR ram
Current operating system: Windows XP

I use this computer system for very basic applications.... internet surfing, watching video files, and word processing. It is strictly for personal use, so no job concerns involved(such as microsoft outlook, or VPN, or any of that stuff). I rarely run more than one or two applications at any time.

Also, my knowledge of Linux is limited to the articles I have read but my overall technical savvy is pretty good.

There are a couple of main reasons that I would like to give Linux a try. First, it is nice to learn new things(as crazy as that may sound). Second, I have heard that Linux is much less susceptible than windows to viruses, spyware, assorted malware, etc. etc. Lastly, I have heard that it is more lightweight in terms of CPU demands. Do you agree with these things?

I am not wanting to run windows and Linux at the same time, but I do not want to delete the windows XP off of my system. I would like to preserve my current windows OS...... just in case.

Since my computer does not have an optical drive I was wondering if I could install Linux on a flash drive and use that to boot up my computer?

Can I use Linux to access files that are already downloaded onto my computer(such as MP3 audio files or MP4 video files)?

Will I need to get new drivers if I do connect my netbook to a peripheral such as a printer or external hard drive?

It is my understanding that I will need to download the Linux versions of the software that I am currently using in windows(such as firefox, VLC video player, etc.). Is that correct?

Is it okay if I store Linux on the same hard drive that I have linux files stored on? Do I need to create a partition?

Lastly..... I would like to use a version of Linux that is commonly used and very widespread. I do not want to go with some obscure, weird version of Linux that only a few people know about. Would you recommend regular ole ubuntu or something different?

Thanks for any assistance you can provide!

TC

smeezekitty 10-08-2009 11:11 PM

why do you have a netbook?

True Colors 10-08-2009 11:15 PM

I bought a netbook because it meets my needs. I only use it for very light applications such as word processing, internet surfing and playing video files. Netbooks can do all of those things and they are cheap.

TC

wabbalee 10-08-2009 11:20 PM

there is a buntu for netbooks here definitely my choice if I ever get me a netbook.

smeezekitty 10-08-2009 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wabbalee (Post 3713010)
there is a buntu for netbooks here definitely my choice if I ever get me a netbook.

but dont

Ahmed 10-08-2009 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
I am not wanting to run windows and Linux at the same time, but I do not want to delete the windows XP off of my system. I would like to preserve my current windows OS...... just in case.

You'll need to free enough disk space and create a new partition to install linux onto (It's important to install linux after windows, not the other way around). At bootup, you'll get to choose which OS you want to run.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Since my computer does not have an optical drive I was wondering if I could install Linux on a flash drive and use that to boot up my computer?

Yes. There's an OS based on Ubuntu called "Easy Peasy", and it's optimized for netbooks ( http://www.geteasypeasy.com/ )

For instructions go here: http://wiki.geteasypeasy.com/Get_Easy_Peasy

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Can I use Linux to access files that are already downloaded onto my computer(such as MP3 audio files or MP4 video files)?

Yes. Linux can access all your windows partitions and open the vast majority of multimedia files. Windows on the other hand can't view the linux partition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Will I need to get new drivers if I do connect my netbook to a peripheral such as a printer or external hard drive?

Most probably not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
It is my understanding that I will need to download the Linux versions of the software that I am currently using in windows(such as firefox, VLC video player, etc.). Is that correct?

Yes, but it's the easiest thing ever. You have a so-called package manager (On Easy Peasy it's called Synaptic) which has a large (!) list of various programs. You choose whatever you want, it installs it and resolves dependencies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Is it okay if I store Linux on the same hard drive that I have linux files stored on? Do I need to create a partition?

Not sure how to answer this.. The very least you need to create is one partition to store everything on (System + Files). Often one would create more than one partition for linux: One to install the root system on, one for your /home directory where all of your personal files go on, one so-called swap partition which acts as virtual memory in case your RAM gets filled up, etc..

The benefit of having a separate partition for /home is that you can preserve all files on it, install any linux distribution on the other partition and tell it to use the existing /home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Lastly..... I would like to use a version of Linux that is commonly used and very widespread. I do not want to go with some obscure, weird version of Linux that only a few people know about. Would you recommend regular ole ubuntu or something different?

Easy Peasy has basically the same functionality as Ubuntu, and it's rather good to work with. So go for that first :)
//EDIT: wabbalee linked to Ubuntu netbook remix. Apparently I had never heard of it, but that's also a way to go.

-A

True Colors 10-08-2009 11:51 PM

Ahmed..... thank you so much for all the good information. I will go to the links that are provided here and read up on everything.

One more question.....

So I should create the hard drive partition in Windows first and then install Linux......

OR I should install Linux and then use it to create a hard drive partition?

TC

Wim Sturkenboom 10-08-2009 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
... First, it is nice to learn new things(as crazy as that may sound).

Nothing crazy with learning new things; if you don't, you just as well can be dead and burried.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Second, I have heard that Linux is much less susceptible than windows to viruses, spyware, assorted malware, etc. etc. Lastly, I have heard that it is more lightweight in terms of CPU demands. Do you agree with these things?

You don't run linux as an almighty user so if you pick up a virus, it's less damaging to your system. Further there are not as many viruses for Linux as there are for Windows. And Linux users in general are a bit more security conscious.
I personally do not fully agree with lightweight; it highly depends on the graphical environment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
I am not wanting to run windows and Linux at the same time, but I do not want to delete the windows XP off of my system. I would like to preserve my current windows OS...... just in case.

Should be possible; the earlier mentioned Ubuntu Netbook Remix will probably allow you to resize the existing Windows partition. You need ad least 2 and preferably three additional partitions. One for the operating system, one for swap and one for your home directory (my documents in windows terms).

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Since my computer does not have an optical drive I was wondering if I could install Linux on a flash drive and use that to boot up my computer?

Yes, UNR comes as an image the can be copied onto a flash drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Can I use Linux to access files that are already downloaded onto my computer(such as MP3 audio files or MP4 video files)?

Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Will I need to get new drivers if I do connect my netbook to a peripheral such as a printer or external hard drive?

No for external HD, maybe for printers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
It is my understanding that I will need to download the Linux versions of the software that I am currently using in windows(such as firefox, VLC video player, etc.). Is that correct?

In general, yes (exceptions are programs that are written in a scripting language). Most programs are usually in the repositories of the distro and a lot of software is already installed so you might not have to install anything extra.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Is it okay if I store Linux on the same hard drive that I have linux files stored on? Do I need to create a partition?

See earlier

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Lastly..... I would like to use a version of Linux that is commonly used and very widespread. I do not want to go with some obscure, weird version of Linux that only a few people know about. Would you recommend regular ole ubuntu or something different?

Ubuntu is a good choice in that case. EasyPeasy might be another one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3712984)
Thanks for any assistance you can provide!

Good luck

Wim Sturkenboom 10-09-2009 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeezekitty (Post 3713001)
why do you have a netbook?

Can't you read :) As said: surfing, video, word processing.

I have one because they are beautifull little things, easy to carry around and functional for my needs (surfing the web mostly).
In the early mornings, I get myself a mug of coffee, my tobacco and my netbook and sit in the garden and relax and visit LQ.

Wim Sturkenboom 10-09-2009 12:04 AM

Just checked https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupp...20Eee%201005HA. Ubuntu might not be the right choice.

Quote:

Asus Eee 1005HA

Tested with 9.04 NBR. Wireless (Atheros AR9285) doesn't work out of the box. The ath9k module which is supplied by default doesn't seem to work correctly. You have to download the backports .deb file to a usb stick and manually install it to get it working.

Wired nic (atl1e) doesn't work out of the box either. You have to download the sourcefile from the manufactorers page and install it. It's described in Ubuntuforums posting: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...35&postcount=2

lspci output for networking:

user@MiniME:~$ lspci
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Attansic Technology Corp. Device 1062 (rev c0)
02:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)

Ahmed 10-09-2009 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by True Colors (Post 3713047)
Ahmed..... thank you so much for all the good information. I will go to the links that are provided here and read up on everything.

One more question.....

So I should create the hard drive partition in Windows first and then install Linux......

OR I should install Linux and then use it to create a hard drive partition?

TC

You can't install linux before you have that partition :) You could create it under windows, or you can just start the linux installer, which practically always has a partitioner. You'll need to choose one of the following formats for the linux partition: reiserfs, ext3, ext4, xfs, .. ext3 is a good and safe choice, ext4 is a bit better but still fairly new and in some cases unsupported.

Good luck!

-A


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