Home network of 3 pc's. Two running Xp with ntfs, One running 2000 Pro with ntfs.(wifes pc and cannot be touched. LOL)

My pc is a gamer, mostly for Sierra Nascar 2003 and EA Sports F1 99-02. I play AA and Wolf ET also, but I know them are ported.

The other pc is webpage, (sometime) game, email, ftp server and storage for the apps that I have.

All three are connected with Linksys router. I can see all pcs and file and print share. Except wifes, hers has work on it and I didn't want it open to the network here thinking that it could be open to others that just might peek in. (Paranoid I am)

What I would like to do it dump the windblows on my pc and the server I have. Would also like to dump the router and use Linux RH9 to do all the web stuff. I have a 3rd party dns name would also like Linux to handle that. I would really hate to loose all the apps I have saved. Games, and other apps, to do this though.

I already understand that I have to partition my pc to dual boot to play my racing games, but I am not to sure on what I have to do with my server. Will I have to pretty much have to dump all of what I have to switch it to a Linux DNS/Web/Mail/Firewall/Router? The 2000 pro machine stays the same and has to access the net and probably would be nice to have a backup on the server for her work.

Looking for a yes or no if it can be done, if it can where or what book should I pick up and read to do this? I like reading BOOKS rather than web, but will read web if neccessary.

I want to move to Linux, but still for some ungodly reason which I cannot explain have to hang on to some of the Windblows stuff.


Anyways thanks ahead of time for the tips and responses.

FX

Ok gonna answer myself somewhat I guess. LOL Been doing some reading from the links posted here. From what I have been reading is maybe I can get away without loosing my apps that I have saved. That with either converting from a ntfs to a fat partition or going to Sourcrforge (I believe thats it) and downloading a different nfts kernel I'll be able to right to ntfs. I have one folder on my server that I would like to save and that is the stuff folder. All the stuff I have saved.

I have a website right now that I run off of my server that I would want to write to the linux partition (apache webserver when I get this done) from Windows. I use Dreamweaver for webpage building. I have Bluefish on my linux ONLY laptop but not real good at using it yet.

Ok I'll quit babbeling now. LOL Oh and if you haven't figured it out yes Im a newbie. The reason Im doing this, well gonn start school this fall for CIS-Networking, and Im thinking that alot more co. are gonna start to see the benefit of Linux. I just want to maybe get ahead of the game this time. Im 37 and only start to play with computers 2 yrs ago. Could have taken the classes in H.S. when PC's first became available but never did it. Kicking myself in the butt now.

FX

If I was you I would burn all my important data to CDs or copy it to another machine then reformat my system as I want it. It is much easier than resizing partitions. IF you still want to resize your partitions you could look at parted.

One question I am struggling with is, what is better to partition or get another hdd?

FX

Better? A new drive would be easier but if you have plenty of space on your existing drive that you don't use then it would be more cost effective to repartition/resize partitions

If it was me I'd dump the "other pc" after backing up my data on a cd or wife's pc over the network then use "the other" dedicated for linux apache, email, ftp, storage etc.

Then after a while if you feel you dig the funky linux stuff (cough) you can see about changing/dual booting your own PC over. Zero cost and very easy to get back to your current setup with minimum fuss if it don't turn out to be what you hoped for.

WEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Well I lost some stuff. Like about 19 gigs of it but thats ok I can get that back sooner or later.

Anyways I can see the whole network from the linux box. I can access my pc from the linux box. I can transfer files over. I copied the Webmin d/l package from the Linux box to "My Documents" on my pc.

When I go to "My Network Places" and click on "View Workgroup Computers" I can see the "Samba Server" <name> Linux box just fine, but when I try to access it, I get a popup saying that I don't have rights to do that. I think I need a user name and pw. I am using Webmin and not sure what to change or do.

Could anyone help please.

FX