Preinstalled Win XP Pro: Keep or Delete? Needed or just taking up space?
 

Hello everyone,

Background:
I acquired a desktop computer recently (Dell Optiplex GX150). It comes with the Japanese version of Windows XP Professional. I don't know much Japanese, but I can slowly decipher it with my electronic dictionary.

Questions:
I was wondering if there is any good to keeping XP Pro. If I embark on the Linux life, is there any reason to go back to Windows OS? Is Windows just taking up space (about 2G) on the hard drive (I have 40Gigs)?

Or are there some good reasons for me to keep XP Pro on my system? Are there some things that can be done on Windows that can't be done on Linux?

What are the pros and cons of keeping WinXPPro? What are the pros and cons of removing VinXPpro, and having a Linux-only system?

I have a recovery CD, so I can just re-install it if:
- I re-sell the system
- I ever need it after deleting it

:newbie:

Delete it. You seems not to have some win$ beloved program. With Linux you can do 95% of what XP can do. With XP, you can do only ~30% of what Linux can do. So make a straight choice. If you are totally newbie, i won't hide you that you must not be afraid to learn. Knowing this forum is already a good point for you ;).

Linux.tar.gz is right.

If you are planning on just using Win$ for nothing Linux can replace most of what win$ can do.

But if you need to run some programs that only run on Win$, and don't want to use/try CodeWeaver's CrossOver Office or WINE, you might just want to partition your computer to dual-boot to both.

manhinli

By the way, you can use Mandrakelinux's (now Mandriva's) First setup CD to partition your disk. Just follow the usual prompts 'till you get to the partitioning program. Click Done when you're finished and eject the CD and reboot. Now you have a free powerful partitioning program in your hands.

Thanks for the advice. I've decided to do as you say and have a Linux-only PC. In this case:

1. Before deleting WinXP, is there any crucial information from within XP that I'd need or that would come in handy? Perhaps information about hardware, tech specs, etc? Or can Linux find out all about the hardware by itself?

2. Is partitioning (of the hard drive) necessary?

I suggest keeping windows XP. This will not be a very popular opinion in a linux forum but occasionally there will be things that you simply need windows for. If you can't do these things you will get annoyed and blame poor linux for not being able to do it. It's just 2Gig, leave it and dual boot your machine. Not much of a price to pay for peace of mind : ) However having said that you will be able to do the vast majority of things on linux.

1- lspci (LSPCI) can list your pci devices. Nowadays, Linux recognize many hardware, so you won't be worried unless you're unlucky.

2- It's recommended. One root partition (/) containing the system, one swap partition and finally one home partition for users data (/home). It's the most common partitions structure.

If he had some apps on top of windows that he
had no Linux alternative for you'd be right. But if
ALL he really has is XP there's no good reason
to carry on with that waste of space ;)


Cheers,
Tink

RE: the advice to keep WinXP

I don't have any specific programs that I'd like to use within Windows. But I'd like to be able to use my electronic devices, such as my digital camera and my PDA. The CD-ROMs that come with these devices have applications for Windows but not for Linux. Correct me if I'm wrong, but though I may not find the exact application in a Linux version (for example, there may not be a Linux version of the Palm Desktop), I believe that I can find similar applications. Or if I really want to use the Windows application, I can always resort to using WINE. Correct?

Correct. Palm seems to be well-supported under Linux. I use a PalmVx and had success with a Zire. I use grabit and Cubase under wine, etc...

It depends what you want to do with your computer. I would have quite easily deleted windows and not thought twice about it, if only the makers of games sold copy's for linux. I think in time they will, as linux is a growing market, but until then I'm going to have to keep windows on my computer.

My 2 cents is you might not need to keep windows on the computer, esp. since you stated that you are having trouble with the Japanese. But Thats all your call.

P.S. Where are you at in Japan?

Keep it.

I wouldn't be suprised if you chickened from linux.

If you find your self running out of hard drive space later, zap it.