Thread: Giving Linux a shot (Ubuntu I think.)

Like the title said, I'll give it a shot as soon as I have some spare time (Maybe sunday or something).

Any tips before I get started? I've never worked with anything other than MsDos and Windows apps and OS'

Ubuntu is definitely a good place to start especially the Live CD since you don't have to muck up your existing install of windows ... btw the latest version 7.10 was released today.
Linux can be used very much like Windows if you so wish however the real power lies in the command line which is similar to working in DOS.

Where to start ....

My suggestion is to plan out your installation and its requirements before you start.

Are you planning on dual booting? and if you are, are you going to be repartitioning your hard drive (in which case you'll need some tool to do this - I'm not sure if you can do this with the ubuntu installer without destroying all existing data on your disk) or have you got a separate drive for your linux install.

A suggested basic Hard drive layout for linux would be a partition for swap (1.5 times the system RAM) a partition for / (at least 5GB) and a partition for /home that way if you choose to reinstall the OS you don't have to wipe your data.

For something a little more advanced add a partition for /boot (50MB or so) /var (1-2GB) /usr (5+ GB - you can reduce the / partition if you have a /usr partition) and /tmp (1-2GB) If possible make the swap a Primary partition and put it at the beginning of the disk. If you use a /boot partition then try to make that a primary too.

Nowadays format the partitions to ext3 (apart from the swap since that is a special format)

Ubuntu's default desktop is GNOME though KDE is probably slightly more windows like in its appearance so you may feel happier using that - in which case download the kubuntu iso (just ubuntu with KDE installed by default)

Once you've got it up and running (or run into problems) you'll probably have some more specific questions and I may be able to offer some more concrete advice.

Barney

Read through the documentation, but it's really very simple compared to the older Linux distros. Here are some notes from my limited experience:
1) I'd install Linux on a separate drive. This is not absolutely necessary as I've also run Windows and Linux from the same drive, but it makes your life easier the first time around.
2) Read up on partitioning. Even though stock configuration will work, you can always customize it to suit your needs.
3) Check for hardware compatibility. Now, in my case, everything works fine under Linux, with the exception of the el-cheapo webcam and chances are it will work with yours.
4) Installing apps is very simple. You can access some repositories of applications directly via your OS, for others use the APT tool, which makes it very easy to install apps on Debian-based distros like Ubuntu. If you can't do either, website instructions usually make it very easy even for a total beginner.
5) For security reasons, don't give your default account administrative privileges, like you do in Windows. For any administrative stuff like installing apps, you can either temporarily log in as root (make sure you change the root pass) or use the "sudo" (superuser do) command.

When it comes to desktop environments, even as an old DOS and Windows user, I found that I liked the Gnome environment better. Keep it default and if it becomes really unbearable, you can either retrofit or reinstall the OS with the KDE version.
For partitioning (if you want a dual boot) you should get Partition Magic. Worked just fine for me (even though I had to do some manual configuration of the boot config file in Linux to make it work).

Keep us updated I've been thinking about doping this for years but have been too chicken. So I'd love to hear in a detailed way how it goes.

Originally Posted by barneycg

Ubuntu is definitely a good place to start especially the Live CD since you don't have to muck up your existing install of windows ... btw the latest version 7.10 was released today.
Linux can be used very much like Windows if you so wish however the real power lies in the command line which is similar to working in DOS.

Where to start ....

My suggestion is to plan out your installation and its requirements before you start.

Are you planning on dual booting? and if you are, are you going to be repartitioning your hard drive (in which case you'll need some tool to do this - I'm not sure if you can do this with the ubuntu installer without destroying all existing data on your disk) or have you got a separate drive for your linux install.

A suggested basic Hard drive layout for linux would be a partition for swap (1.5 times the system RAM) a partition for / (at least 5GB) and a partition for /home that way if you choose to reinstall the OS you don't have to wipe your data.

For something a little more advanced add a partition for /boot (50MB or so) /var (1-2GB) /usr (5+ GB - you can reduce the / partition if you have a /usr partition) and /tmp (1-2GB) If possible make the swap a Primary partition and put it at the beginning of the disk. If you use a /boot partition then try to make that a primary too.

Nowadays format the partitions to ext3 (apart from the swap since that is a special format)

Ubuntu's default desktop is GNOME though KDE is probably slightly more windows like in its appearance so you may feel happier using that - in which case download the kubuntu iso (just ubuntu with KDE installed by default)

Once you've got it up and running (or run into problems) you'll probably have some more specific questions and I may be able to offer some more concrete advice.

Barney

This is all pretty much greek to me. I understand what you are saying to do but have no idea how to even start to go about it or where to learn. Any hope for me?

(I just gave up on Druple as my website platform because I couldn't figure it out)

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Read through the documentation, but it's really very simple compared to the older Linux distros. Here are some notes from my limited experience:
1) I'd install Linux on a separate drive. This is not absolutely necessary as I've also run Windows and Linux from the same drive, but it makes your life easier the first time around.

Agreed, definitely easier just more expensive/requires some ability with a screwdriver.

3) Check for hardware compatibility.

Ubuntu's Live CD is good for this ... fully running environment to test out your hardware.

5) For security reasons, don't give your default account administrative privileges, like you do in Windows. For any administrative stuff like installing apps, you can either temporarily log in as root (make sure you change the root pass) or use the "sudo" (superuser do) command.

Again ubuntu is a good choice since it doesn't allow root logins you have to use sudo for all command line progs that require admin rights and gui progs will ask you to enter your admin password

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

When it comes to desktop environments, even as an old DOS and Windows user, I found that I liked the Gnome environment better. Keep it default and if it becomes really unbearable, you can either retrofit or reinstall the OS with the KDE version.

Me too. But a complete newbie needs to be aware of the choice and if you install kubuntu then KDE is the default install.

For partitioning (if you want a dual boot) you should get Partition Magic. Worked just fine for me (even though I had to do some manual configuration of the boot config file in Linux to make it work).

I use Acronis Partition Expert mostly since I have problems with the bloatware/spyware that Norton Produces.

Barney

I run Ubuntu, its good. The only kinks I haven't ironed out aren't major, except the fact there is now driver available for my printer. Otherwise I would lose Winblows completely.

My .02c

Originally Posted by Wildtim

This is all pretty much greek to me.

Nah, Greek looks more like:

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I understand what you are saying to do but have no idea how to even start to go about it or where to learn.

Documentation is always a good place to start. If, for example, you're considering trying Ubuntu Linux check out the documentation section on their web site. And, there are many other distributions out there. Try:

http://www.DistroWatch.com

That site gives information on most of the available distributions. Many distributions are available as a "Live CD" which you can try without even installing anything.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Any hope for me?

There's always hope, especially if you're considering giving Linux a try.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

This is all pretty much greek to me. I understand what you are saying to do but have no idea how to even start to go about it or where to learn. Any hope for me?

BTW it is GEEK not GREEK
Of course there is hope ... my first install of Linux was slackware installed from 3.5" floppy disks - remember those - it was 14 years ago now - before windows 95 and all the fancy partitioning tools. It was a real batism of fire, nowadays you can mostly just stick the disk in an hit go.

(I just gave up on Druple as my website platform because I couldn't figure it out)

Hell I didn't even know what it was till you mentioned it and then google/wikipedia filled in the rest.

I'm kinda old school - I use a Cobalt Raq as a webserver and my web pages are hand coded using a text editor. I also maim people who try to get me to use these "new" fangled terms of Ki/Me/Gi/bibyte that were introduced coz people couldn't get their heads around binary maths

Originally Posted by dokpm0

Nah, Greek looks more like:
......
There's always hope, especially if you're considering giving Linux a try.

Bah ... beat me to it.

Barney