We have a laptop which runs Vista and I'm totally over it. Is it possible to install Linux on the laptop?

Would the best bet be to reformat and install Linux; or to keep Vista, and install Linux alongside it? The laptop is mostly used for internet access, games and word processing.

The laptop will need to talk to a router which has an iMac I use for work plus a PC which runs XP. This is so it can connect to the internet through a adsl2 modem rather than file swap with the other computers. Will this be fairly straightforward?

Last question - can you install and play a PC/Mac game like Civilization IV on Linux?

Thank you!

Yes.

I'd keep Windows for games if nothing else. Please be aware that Windows software will not run natively under Linux (though there is software like WINE, which will let you run Windows software under Linux).

I don't really understand this. Is the laptop connected directly to the router? If so, you shouldn't have any problems (wireless may be slightly more difficult than wired, though).

The laptop can be connected directly, but is also wireless (which is preferred option).

Do you mean to say that your network has got iMac?
If you have a adsl modem router and you prefer wireless, then better look out for some live cd to know if your wireless card is supported.
If yes then you can go on with the installation.
And if you need to share files in the network with windows pc then you will need samba configured on linux but it is possible.....not fairly simple but with a bit of reading not an impossible task as well.

Best thing to do, is download one of the popular Live CDs, and boot it and see how it detects your hardware, then if there's problems, come here and we can tell you how to work them out, or if it works to your satisfaction, you can install a Dual Boot system... If you're not sure what a Live CD is basically, its a CD you can run the OS from w/o installing to test everything. (Internet connection, sound, video, etc..). If you don't like it, or have some serious hardware problem you need to investigate, you simply remove the CD and reboot, and you're right back at Vista.

First thing you'll need to know when downloading the ISO images, is how to burn an image to a disk...

http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm

Obviously, whatever program you use, will be different, but that site gives you the basic idea, and has some freeware programs. if you want to try them.(Remember, burn slow)...

As for what to try, I would try them in this order:

Ubuntu... http://www.ubuntu.com
PCLinuxOS.... http://www.pclinuxos.com/
OpenSuse.... http://www.opensuse.org/

All Free, you'll only pay for the disk you burn them to. Only other recommendation I would make, is even if your PC is 64bit capable, stick w/ 32bit for the time being. Drivers, and some programs will be far easier to get working (this is especially true of Ubuntu)..

Good luck

IGF

If you can't log in to the router, there's a whole different problem, what type of router?

IGF

Hi,

You could look at 'BackTrack v2.0 and MS Vista, Create Dual Boot Guide' to get an idea as to how to create a dual boot with Vista.

Sure the guide is for BackTrack but you should be able to use the guide generally.

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

i read ur thread.

i suggest u to keep vista & install linux in another partition (ext2/ext3).
ur system will be dual boot then.
if u prefer gaming & internet, linux is not lack of advantages than vista.
even, linux is more fast than vista in all aspects.

u can use wine to run games like civilization IV or world of warcraft. i run then by wine in my linux system....they works fine!

better check http:\\www.winehq.org for more info.

always use linux & become more faster!