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Old 08-04-2009, 05:01 PM   #1
Kampfzentrum
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Registered: Aug 2009
Posts: 3

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Help! Help! Help! Noob needing fast answers!


OK,

For the longest time I was running a cracked version of Windows XP from a buddy who built my computer. Today I awoke to find my system held hostage by MS wanting some $$$. My friend offered to reinstall another "cracked" copy of Windows but I refused - I have essentially lost some serious data.

I have some questions about Linux. If anyone can answer them, please make sure to get all of the questions answered:

1) Can I run all of my programs I ran on Windows XP x64 on Linux?
2) Linux is free, right?
3) Can I game off of Linux?
4) Where do I download Linux, and do I install it like Windows?

I'll be monitoring this thread regularly, I need some answers TONIGHT!!!
 
Old 08-04-2009, 05:14 PM   #2
linus72
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Gordonsville-AKA Mayberry-Virginia
Distribution: Slack14.2/Many
Posts: 5,573

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LOL
I had that happen before
Is it asking for the microsoft #?

Screw dindows anyway
you'll be happy to get rid of it

Welcome ot LQ Kampfzentrum!

Here's your questions
Please provide more info on your PC too please

1) Maybe, your system is x64?

2) Most Linux's are free

3) Some distro's are better for gaming
you mean 3d like games?
I'll give suggestions once you abnswer that

4) You can download from many places and many many distro's
We'll discuss this too
The install is easy with most

so, answer about your specs and be more specific about what apps
you wanna run on Linux?

EDIT:
You can save that data on Windows too
Just don't format the drive or anything yet

Last edited by linus72; 08-04-2009 at 05:26 PM.
 
Old 08-04-2009, 05:35 PM   #3
Kampfzentrum
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Registered: Aug 2009
Posts: 3

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by linus72 View Post
LOL
I had that happen before
Is it asking for the microsoft #?

Screw dindows anyway
you'll be happy to get rid of it

Welcome ot LQ Kampfzentrum!

Here's your questions
Please provide more info on your PC too please

1) Maybe, your system is x64?

2) Most Linux's are free

3) Some distro's are better for gaming
you mean 3d like games?
I'll give suggestions once you abnswer that

4) You can download from many places and many many distro's
We'll discuss this too
The install is easy with most

so, answer about your specs and be more specific about what apps
you wanna run on Linux?

EDIT:
You can save that data on Windows too
Just don't format the drive or anything yet
Yeah, it is asking for the serial number. I managed to get all of my personal data off, so no big loss. I just want to get a system up and running.

My system? Well, I have a MSI P45 Platinum mobo, 4870 Radeon card, and 4gbs of RAM, so I guess I would be in the 64-bit catagory.

As far as the games go, I indeed play the 3d games: Battlefield 2, Crysis, Rainbow Six, etc.

So what do I do from here. Let's keep assessing whether this would be a good switch as I don't want to lock into something that will not keep me happy.

Thanks for the help so far!
 
Old 08-04-2009, 05:40 PM   #4
linus72
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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Gordonsville-AKA Mayberry-Virginia
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Well
I'm not really a true 3d gamer
But, in My experience
Ultimate Edition 2.3 is best gaming Linux
I would investigate forum there and ask TheeMhan about 3d stuff
http://ultimateedition.info/

Otheres here who use 3D games can tell what they use too
 
Old 08-04-2009, 05:43 PM   #5
joeBuffer
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Registered: Jul 2009
Distribution: Ubuntu 9.04
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Here are some:
http://appdb.winehq.org/

Last edited by joeBuffer; 08-04-2009 at 05:44 PM.
 
Old 08-04-2009, 05:48 PM   #6
joeBuffer
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Registered: Jul 2009
Distribution: Ubuntu 9.04
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Also, you can use this site:
http://www.cedega.com/
Most distributions of Linux are easy to install, and you'll definitely be able to use your x64 and be able to take advantage of your graphics card and RAM. And there are a lot of Windows programs you can get to work on Linux, and I'm sure there'll be more. Maybe not some of your favorites, though.

Last edited by joeBuffer; 08-04-2009 at 09:12 PM.
 
Old 08-04-2009, 05:50 PM   #7
repo
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Location: Belgium
Distribution: Arch
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Welcome to LQ
Quote:
Help! Help! Help! Noob needing fast answers!
It's not urgent, unless for you.
Please use titles which discribe the problem

However,

Quote:
1) Can I run all of my programs I ran on Windows XP x64 on Linux?
You can't run windows programs in Linux, unless you use wine, and even then not all games will work.
There are linux equivalents for almost all windows programs (microsoft office => open office, outlook => evolution,IE => firefox....)
Quote:
2) Linux is free, right?
yes
Quote:
3) Can I game off of Linux?
yes, but you can't play windows games on linux, unless you use wine.
There are linux games.
Quote:
4) Where do I download Linux, and do I install it like Windows?
Take a look at
http://distrowatch.com/

I would suggest to choose a distribution, and to do some reading on how to install, and how to use it.
Most distribution have a homepage with a howto and FAQ section
Start with a live cd, which will run from cd, to get an impression of what linux is, and how it works.

Bear in mind, linux is NOT windows.

Last edited by repo; 08-04-2009 at 05:52 PM.
 
Old 08-04-2009, 05:57 PM   #8
joeBuffer
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Distribution: Ubuntu 9.04
Posts: 328

Rep: Reputation: 42
Linux is far from Windows.
You can also use Cedega for games ... it isn't free, though. Many commercial games are supported by it. The link I gave above will help.
There are great equivalents to Windows software, plus the links I gave are only for commercial games, really ... there are plenty of good free games.

Last edited by joeBuffer; 08-04-2009 at 09:12 PM.
 
Old 08-04-2009, 08:59 PM   #9
pixellany
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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
Distribution: Mint
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kampfzentrum View Post
I'll be monitoring this thread regularly, I need some answers TONIGHT!!!
Welcome to LQ!!

And a word of caution: If you are expecting Linux to be just like Windows, then get down to the nearest computer store and get a (legal) copy of Windows before your deadline.

Still with us? Good-----now head over to http://distrowatch.com Pick anything in the top ten on their "hit list", go to the relevant website, download, and install. After you have used Linux for a few days, you'll be able to better focus on whether it is going to work for you.

Good luck!!
 
Old 08-04-2009, 11:58 PM   #10
jdkaye
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Dec 2008
Location: Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, UK
Distribution: Debian Testing Amd64
Posts: 5,465

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Quote:
I have some questions about Linux. If anyone can answer them, please make sure to get all of the questions answered:
You are extremely lucky to have run into a group of very kind, tolerant LQ VOLUNTEERS, sonnyboy. None of us are getting paid for this, you know. My strong inclination after reading the above sentence was to tell you to get lost but in much stronger lanugage. If you're going to spend a bit more time here, I suggest a radical attitude adjustment.
jdk
 
Old 08-05-2009, 05:36 AM   #11
mag1strate
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If you really want to game on your PC, you really want hard copies of the games, I found it harder to install games using digital services like STEAM. One thing you should look for by the way is Id Software games such as Doom 3, Quake 4. They work great under linux without the use of wine and have easy to install instructions. If I were to suggest a good and easy distro to use to play games, it would be Ubuntu.
 
Old 08-05-2009, 06:23 AM   #12
Kampfzentrum
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Aug 2009
Posts: 3

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdkaye View Post
You are extremely lucky to have run into a group of very kind, tolerant LQ VOLUNTEERS, sonnyboy. None of us are getting paid for this, you know. My strong inclination after reading the above sentence was to tell you to get lost but in much stronger lanugage. If you're going to spend a bit more time here, I suggest a radical attitude adjustment.
jdk
For everyone that helped and gave me some sound criticism: Tthanks.

<<Mod Edit: Ranting and profanity removed>>

Go ahead and ban me. Won't be here anymore...

Once again, thanks for those that helped.

Last edited by pixellany; 08-05-2009 at 07:48 AM.
 
Old 08-05-2009, 07:45 AM   #13
pixellany
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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
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And with that pleasant diatribe, we'll close this.....

Kamp;

You won't get banned, but please know two things:

1. You cannot talk like that here.

2. You absolutely DID do something to provoke the criticism:
Quote:
......please make sure to get all of the questions answered:

......... I need some answers TONIGHT!!!
 
  


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