Okay, so I am planning to switch to Linux. My family is computer-challenged, and I don't want to change the system style too much, so I am going to go with Linspire (If you have any better ideas, do tell.) So I've got a few questions.

One, I have an Ipod, its got my music, I want to use it so I don't have to back up my music files. Can I transfer my music files from the Ipod based in Windows to Linspire without any problems?


Two, I have alot of files I need to back up (20 GB +) and I was wondering how I would go about saving them. I don't want to put them on CDs, is there a way I can keep the data on the Hard-Drive and then pick it up when Linspire is installed?

Three, I have quite a few programs that require Windows, what Windows Emulator would you suggest for Linspire?

Frankly I've never used Linspire and from the screenshots i've seen, it looks lot like windows. If you've decided to go with Linspire its fine although there are free distros available which can do what Linspire does. Ubuntu comes to mind right away. It has excellent text based installer and almost everything works out of the box. Having said that, its my personal opinion.

I don't have an iPod yet . However there are people who have it and use it without a hitch on linux. So you should be fine with that. You can google around for iPod + linux stories/posts.

.

Thought 1: If you free space available on your hard drive than linux will install in free space and you possibly won't have to backup.

Thought 2: If your windows disk is full, which mostly will be. You can buy partition magic and resize your windows partition and can fit linux in the free space created.

Thought 3: Got a dvd burner?

Thought 4: Do you have a spare disk which you can attach and backup on it.

Thought 5: Burn the cd's.

Thought 6: No more thoughts...

Wine (free)
or
Crossover Office
or
VMware

Tux,

Edit: I am assuming you have only one hard disk in your computer...

I have alot of free disk space, so I am sure Linux would install and leave me with alot of room, but that just leads me to a few other questions.

So I install Linux, how do I bring all of the files on my Hard-Drive from Windows to Linux?

I was also hoping free up as much disk space as possible when switching, so I am wondering, if I install Linux, will Windows' files still be present? (I would imagine yes, so how would I clear these files?)

Well you can do two things,
First:
Linux still has full read but only experimental write support for NTFS file system. However, Linux has full and stable read/write support for FAT file systems. So you can make a fat32 partition and move the data to it. After you install Linux, you just mount that fat32 partition. This way you won't have redundant data and both windows and linux can write to it.

Second:
You can copy files from windows to linux after installation from NTFS windows partition. However this will cause redundant data and unnecessary disk usage of disk space.

Answer to your second question would be to use the first option (i.e. make a fat32 partition). Your windows partition would be untouched during installation so you can say your windows data will stay.

Hope this helps,

Tux

uh i think ... try xandros, I believe you can make it look like windows or mac. Not sure, you should check.

it comes with crossover office also.

So what you are saying is I can select data I wish to save, install Linux, take that data and put it on Linux, and whip any residual data from Windows, and thereby saving what I want, but still be starting out with a clear hard-drive? How would I go about creating a fat32 partition in Windows, and mounting it in Linux?

No you can just move data from a NTFS partition to a fat32 partition and then install linux. After installation just mount the disk (i mean partition) to access the fat32 data. Since you have free space, you can just select a free space for linux to install and linux will take care of partitioning. You are the best judge of what data to keep and what to toss.

In windows, you can go to
Control Panel > Adminstrative Tools > Computer Management
to make a fat partition.

How would I purge any remaining elements of Windows?

what elements??? Sorry I didn't get your question.

Everything other than whats on the fat32 partition, and is a part of Linux.

you have to just copy the data that you need access from linux. Data like mp3's, documents, pictures, videos etc.

Linux won't even touch your fat32. You have to mount it to access its data. Mounting in Linux is necessary if you want to use the data from that partition

Regarding your 20+ gb of data that you don't want to lose, I highly suggest you back it up to cd or dvd. Even keeping it on another partition is high risk. A drive can fail in an instant without warning, it happened to me. And even messing around with partitions, one wrong move and it's gone. Burners are cheap and blank cd's cost pennies.

Okay. I created a Fat32 partition (Z: Back Up) and put my files on there. I haven't decided what Linux I want to use, but I still have a question that I don't think you have answered. How do I erase everything on my Hard-drive, giving me all my space back, and install Linux? (The wipe does not include the Back-Up)

OK, first of all, I highly recommend making backups of all of your important files (the entire 20 GB if possible). Like someone else said, one wrong move when partitioning and your files are toast. DVDs are great ways to backup large quantities of data.

Anyways, the free space you speak of. Is it free space on your C: or actual free, unpartitioned space?