Windows doc.s compatible with Linux Ubuntu
 

Hello boys and girls, me new here so help me if u can.

My Question. After running Windows XP for since it exists and have alot of doc.s, Pic.s and Music in XP My Documents file. So is there any possibility to copy them to a USB mem Stick and then copy them into Linux Ubuntu ??? As i go now for my next Laptop for OS Linux Ubuntu so i need to know about that problem of File transfer XP to Linux Ubuntu. Any hints ideas are verry welcome. If there is no way of course i could make 2 start up options One Windows 7 for all my doc.s and one with Linux Ubuntu for going online. And pls i am no crack, so no complicated talking pls. thanx and be well all.
Ziggy

As far as photos, pictures and music, you really won't hard a hard time with them in Ubuntu. If Windows can play them, more than likely Ubuntu can out of the box. Videos may require certain codecs, but that's really not a big deal, when you come to that you can ask again here.

Now MS Office documents (.doc, .xls, etc), I find that the Office 2003 formats have the best compatibility with the office suites available under any Linux. So, if you can, just re-save them using 2003 format (perhaps a copy so that you don't mess with the original file) and you'll likely be OK.

Libre office can read & write in all msoffice formats even xml.

I second Eddy1's LibreOffice

Typically installed as 'standard' on many distros, and simply 'works'

You may experience some 'glitches', however, you often get those same glitches between different paid for versions of ms office!

Regarding moving data, a simple 'network shared' folder will do
same system (dual boot) gnu/linux is usually capable of mounting the windows 'c' drive

The other direction is more complicated

I've had success with http://www.ext2fsd.com/

Going back to LibreOffice
This is something I install on windows machines when clients are unable to open docx email attachments (but have older pre-2007 ms office)
I usually install via ninite.com (good site for common win software installs)

With LO you can set default to save in mso format.

And 'modern' MS office ( EU 'European union') can be set to save in ODF (open document format)

EU is not all about the 'straightness' of bananas!
But did result in that 'pina' 'browser choice' nagger (hide that update when it comes up)

Which you'll avoid most of by using the 2003 format. I have never had a problem with LO and this format.
I haven't tried the XML formats in some time, maybe it's gotten better.

I was prepared to suggest this as well, but the OP said they're not experienced. This would be their best bet for transferring a large amount of data.

The other thing is the OP did not tell us if we were going to be using more than one computer (I'd guess so, then again the only computer I have is a laptop, so it's not a definite 'yes').

If this will help the OP, some articles on folder sharing:
http://www.howtogeek.com/176471/how-...ows-and-linux/
http://lifehacker.com/288033/mount-a...older-in-linux

As far as sharing a drive with Windows, it will likely be necessary to install ntfs-3g if not installed by default in Ubuntu. Last I tried to use the regular kernel ntfs support, it was a bit of a headache for permissions with a normal user. The OP will likely back for more help on this one if this is the route s/he uses.

The usb drive approach you suggested will definitely work. If that is the approach you feel most comfortable with, that's the way you should go.

When buying a new Laptop either buy one with Linux pre-installed (which also saves you the MS licensing fee) or make sure to get some feedback here on the machine you are planning to buy. You want to make sure that the hardware is well supported on Linux.

Thanx for all replys.

verry helpful.