Help! I have a pre-newbie question.

I currently use Windows and I would like to convert to being a Linux User, but know very little about it.

Main question - I'm worried about all the existing Files that I have - word, excel, pictures, software, etc. on my Windows platform. Can I move files from one platform to another and have it work in Linux? Or do I need to undergo a painful existence to do that?

Thanks, appreciate your response!

What you want to do is create a dual boot to start out with most likely. Keep your existing Windows and create another partition on your hard drive to boot into Linux to learn it. Unfortunately, not all apps and files will work in Linux, but there are many alternatives though as you will find out if and when you install and use Linux.

Check out the howto's at www.tldp.org for details on dual booting and such.. good info there, also browse the boards here for lots of info.

I am a newbie also, so i don't know how accurate I am when saying this, so you should do some research on the subject.

For one thing, purely accessing the files will be no problem at all. you can either move the data to the linux partition (on my machine, it's formatted as ext2 filesystem), or you can configure linux so that it mounts your windows partition (i think either dos or ntfs?).

As for the software, it is a different story. The programs (word, excell, photoshop) will not work at all in linux. There are, however many programs that do the job (some say better, but i don't really know). Try installing kde or gnome, they have a lot of stuff like that.

The files are different for each circumstance. Pictures (jpg, bmp, etc) will have no problem being opened by the linux programs (as well wav's & mp3's). I don't know much about your' word and excell documents, but i think there are similar programs which will either read the windows stuff, or strip off the windows codes (read it like a .txt).

I also think i read something about the programs you are loooking for in one of the L.Q. archives.

Good luck

As for word equivalent - openoffice ( http://www.openoffice.org ) is the one, it can read and save into word's formats. Photoshop, hmm they will make a killing if Adobe ports Photoshop to linux (but I don't think it will ever happen especially with their arguments with open source community, and even if they do port it they will make it closed source and commercial, I aint buying it) so to speak the psd format is read by the GIMP, all others (jpeg, jpg, giff) are platform independent. So GIMP is the way to go http://www.gimp.org , there's some stuff that GIMP can't do what Photoshop can and there is some stuff that GIMP can do what Photoshop can't (read the following article if you're interested http://www.linuxorbit.com/features/terril1.php3 )
One more point why ppl prefer to dual boot is that windows games are windows games (there are some that were ported to linux http://www.lokigames.com , unfortunately for linux community loki has closed its doors, but there is winex project that picks up the pace http://www.transgaming.com they provide you with ability to run some windows games, and their game list is growing with every winex release, the only drawback it is a pay-per-month service, and the free CVS development snapshot doesn't provide full support to the "converted" games)

using wine you can run some windows programs - i set my wifes system up so she would run efax software which is only available in windows.



http://www.deadmule.com/images/tmp/efax.jpg
http://www.deadmule.com/images/tmp/efax.big.jpg

Definitely dual boot to learn Linux.

However although you may be tempted to try and steer clear of booting into windows all the time (as it can hinder your learning process). If you want to browse the web or e-mail or listen to CD's etc.... Use Linux and if you then encounter a prob all the helpful people on this board will assist as much as possible.

A pre-newbie? Thats a bit odd...

Anywho:
All the above is pretty much true. You should "research" / look into what you currently use, and go from there.

TLDP. Such a great place.
You can use existing files, but not the programs as stated above.

Another thing you might want to do before going on a full conversion bender is LindowsOS. Don't hackle. I was kinda stand-offish at first *i had to test it just for the sake of know exactly what it could do*, but for integrating yourself from a wintendo to a computer you should find a moderate way to dive in.

Too much Linux at once for a n00b can make you stir crazy. Quik!

And get ready for alot of RTFM replies.
It's just the normal thing when your moving up.

L8rz