Vista to Linux help
 

SO, Im wanting to get a new OS due to vista being slow and easting up my ram. I was wanting some advice on Linux, what is good about it, and some information on how to download it and keep my current files. Any info/advice would be great.

Ubuntu would be a good distribution to start with - as it has the most Windows-like features of any Linux distribution when it comes to permissions, and such.

I believe the installer will automagically partition your hard drive for you, so you do not need to worry about backing up your files, but you should still do so - burn the files you would like to keep to a DVD, and then transfer them over.

There is hardly a Microsoft file format that Linux doesn't support through various programs and applications.

is this the same as Beryl? Beryl is the only one i can find on youtube.... also, how does one go about switching to a new OS?

Hi,

(Linux is Not Windows) is a good first read!

'Dual/Multi Booting With Vista' would be another good site too look at.

'Get Slackware Section' has several other good reference that can be used generally for your Vista & Linux experience.

These links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

Hope this helps!

I believe i want Ubuntu. Where can i find the run down on all the distros compared and contrasted? also, in the Live CD List, what does Desktop Version or OSreplacement CD mean? I dont know what to download to try one out.

Visit http://distrowatch.org and http://polishlinux.org for reviews, comparisons, and (at polishlinux) a guide to choice.

When you've chosen, search at http://google.com/linux for an article on "installing ubuntu" or whatever; such things are very useful to ensure that nothing in the installation process takes you by surprise.

Hi,

'The LiveCD List' is a good place to look.

This link and others are available from 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

I say this to everybody, but if you want a very nice Linux experience without the hassle of partitioning or formatting, download Wubi.

http://wubi.sourceforge.net/

Just download the program and it'll take care of the installation for you. Just allocate some amount of space for the Ubuntu workspace and move forward from there. It's a safe install, and I've gotten it to work on 4 systems without any negative side-effects.

You can also just download a live CD of any major Ubuntu distro and put it in the same folder as wubi.exe, and then it'll install from that too. Just make sure your wubi and iso match up.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

if i use wubi, how do i get rid of vista? also, im having a TERRABLE time connecting to my wireless internet when running my live CD of Ubuntu, any help? . Also, how do i upgrade it to beryl ?

Beryl is not a distribution - it is/was a compositing (a.k.a. "fancy") window manager.

I understand it is not a distro, i just wanted to know how to upgrade to beryl once i got ubuntu. and why do you say is/was? and i still have no idea how to get it to connect to WiFi, i can do it fine while running vista, will installing with Wubi fix that for me? I want to be sure that things like this can be fixed before i cross over and cant undo things.

That's why I suggested wubi. It won't get rid of vista per se, but you can just silently leave Vista on your machine, never go back to using it as a front end, and still access all of your old files.

Xubuntu in Wubi works just fine with my and my brother's Wifi, by the way. I don't know about your specifications, but if you just install the first package of updates using a wired connection, it'll usually pick up on any drivers that you need for a wireless one, even if they are proprietary. Therefore, if you can get wireless to work in Wubi, it'll work with a full installation in the same Ubuntu distro.

The best thing about Wubi is that you can always go back from it if it turns out not to be your thing. I've installed, uninstalled, and reinstalled it several times over without any visible damage to my hardware or Vista. See how well it works over the course of a week, and if it works out to your expectations, you can take the plunge and totally reformat your computer.

Whatever you choose to do, good luck.

Wont having them both on my computer take up a lot of space or make my comp run slower? and what do you mean by the first package? What do i do to install it?

it shouldn't slow down your computer much at all, but it's hard to tell with out knowing your specs.

alright,ty, also i got my wireless to work with the packages, however, i have yet to figure out what is wrong with downloading adobe flash player.