Deep Breath Here Goes Total Newbie with a load of questions < Solved>

Linux Support
1

I am about to buy a new Desktop tower,
I currently use XP and MS office
I am fed up with paying a fortune for Windows operating systems that have issues
i am not PC savvy!
So
can i run linux as an operating system without Microsoft o/s on the HDD
will i be able to transfer my MS office files ie word exel over to Linux from my external HDD that i use for backup and be usable
will my photos be accessable on linux os
i have all my music store as wma will this play on linux ?
Google chrome ?
Norton 360
what cant i do with linux
which linux is best for me as i see there are different versions/types

sorry for all the questions

2
can i run linux as an operating system without Microsoft o/s on the HDD

YES … or with Windows.

will i be able to transfer my MS office files ie word exel over to Linux from my external HDD that i use for backup and be usable

YES … LibreOffice can read and write Microsoft office docs … caveat, if they’re in .docx format there may be some slight formatting changes (pics moved slightly, font changes etc.) … why not download LibreOffice for Windows first, and see how well it opens the Microsoft Office docs.

will my photos be accessable on linux os

Absolutely :slight_smile:

i have all my music store as wma will this play on linux ?

Hmm … if it contains DRM, I can’t say for sure … but Linux allows you to boot from a CD or USB stick to a fully working desktop without changing what’s on your hard drive at all … so Why not create a LiveCD/LiveUSB and test drive it on your current system ?

Google chrome ?

Yup

Norton 360

Nope … but then you don’t need anti-virus for Linux :slight_smile: ← seriously

what cant i do with linux

Besides run Windows software, not a lot … but then there are nearly always a Linux alternative, and itr’s usually free.
(can I add that it’s sometimes possible to get Windows software running In WINE [a Windows compatibility layer], but not always, and to differing degrees … I do however hear MS Office 2007 can be made to work … but quite often getting Windows software to work in Linux through WINE is a PITA, so it’s usuallly best/easiest to go with a Linux native alternative)

which linux is best for me as i see there are different versions/types

Ahh, the $64,000 question, and the one that will get you as many different responses as respondents :slight_smile:

My vote goes for PeppermintOS … but then I’m part of the development team … so I would say that.

As I mentioned before, probably best to test drive a few distro’s on LiveCD/LiveUSB and make up your own mind.

Currently, you may find more help/tutorials/etc. available for Ubuntu based distributions such as Ubuntu (obviously), Mint, Peppermint, etc.

[EDIT]

Oh, nearly forgot … welcome to the forum :slight_smile:

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3

Wow Thanks for that
me thinks i will try the live boot system and see how it goes

1 other question as im going to build my own pc are there any specific hardware requirments i need speeds ram size 64 or 32 bit blah blah blah

4

Not necessarily … I mean, same as Windows the more RAM, faster CPU, more powerful graphics card, the better.

Nearly all CPU’s are 64bit nowadays, but Linux supports 32bit too … so that’s unimportant.

Speed of components is actually LESS important than building for Windows … there are some VERY “light” distro’s out there, Peppermint for example … or heavier ones (more akin to Win7) Like Mint/Ubuntu … so you can choose your distro to suit your hardware, as much as you likes.

If you want to get a list of components together, then post it here … we should be able to tell you if there are any known issues, but this is rare these days.

One thing I will say … if you’re looking at a new printer/AiO … get an HP … most (but not all) other printers are supported, but HP are very good at supporting their prinetrs in Linux

Any other questions, such as how to create a LiveCD/LiveUSB in Windows … just ask, that’s what we’re here for :slight_smile:
(and remember, there are NO daft questions here)

5

thanks again
im just downloading peppermint4 to a cd and having read lots of comments on linux os im going to go for it
thanks again

6
thanks again im just downloading peppermint4 to a cd and having read lots of comments on linux os im going to go for it thanks again

You wont regret it, I’ve just upgraded from Peppermint 3 to 4 and it’s a great distro and a great starting point for someone new to Linux, there is a learning curve and it probably won’t be all plain sailing but I vouch for the fact you’ll find no shortage of willing help on this site, and before you know it you’ll wonder why you ever use Windows

Good luck

Graeme

7

thanks
Well ive just ordered my new pc it has the following Spec
Cany you please tell me what issues if any i might need to be aware of

Zalman Z9 U3 Gaming Case
Motherboard Included Gigabyte 78LMT-USB3
CPU Type AMD FX Six Core
CPU Model AMD Piledriver FX 6300 4.1ghz Six Core 14mb Cache
CPU Socket AMD AM3 / AM3+
CPU Clock Speed 4.1 Ghz
Memory / Kit Size 8gb DDR3 1600mhz
Hard Drive Size 1tb Sata Hard Drive
Graphics Card ATI Radeon 5450 1gb DDR3 with HDMI With Hyper Memory upto 2gb
PSU Size 750 Watt Branded Power Supply
Operating System No Operating System
Rear Panel Connections 1x DVI Port
Front / Top Case Ports 2x USB 2.0 Ports
Features Front Audio Ports
also just trying to figure out how to load it on as i dont have a Disk (also trying to find one above 700 Mb ) to load it

8

Hi tasape

that looks like some rig

You don’t need a disk drive to load you can run a live usb and that should give you a good idea if there’s gonna be any issues, it’s probably the best way to find out

Good luck

Graeme

9

Do you need instructions for creating a LiveUSB stick that can be used for test driving and/or installation ?

Will you using a Windows PC to create the Linux LiveUSB ?

Which Linux distribution ?

10

Hi mark

I have downloaded peppermint 4 to a stick. The new pc is clean and no windows based os will ever touch the hard drive
I want to put pepperming4 on to it
Instructions would be great thanks

11

Sorry, I’ve been ridiculously busy today … see the “Creating an Installation Medium” section here:-

http://peppermintos.com/guide/downloading/

For instructions on how to use Unetbootin to create a LiveUSB stick.

If you get stuck gimme a shout.

12

thanks i will
Im hoping the new rig will arrive on thurs or friday this week

13

Sorry
1 more silly question

when i boot this pc up for the first time do i install the stick then boot up ?

not really shure as iv not done this before

14

If you haven’t already installed an OS

Create the LiveUSB on another PC

insert the LiveUSB in your new machine

Turn ON the new machine.

It should find the only bootable OS on your system … which will be the USB stick.

If it doesn’t … you may need to set the USB stick as the first boot device in the BIOS.

15
and before you know it you'll wonder why you ever use Windows

Heck yes- would NEVER go back to windows, except if I won one of those tablet thingys in a competition, but it would soon be Linuxed… ;D

16

Talking of tablets … I was asked why someone’s iPad wouldn’t upload video to Facebook … after 2 hours messing I’m baffled how they sell such crippled crap.

Hell, you can’t even browse your own files … WTF is that about ???

17
Hell, you can't even browse your own files .. WTF is that about ???

You are not kidding. Having spent the best part of a morning trying to find out where a pdf file that the wife had downloaded I went into the Apple shop with the useless pile of cr@p and asked where the file manager was? Reply… it doesn’t need one as each file is loaded into the specific program…My reply cannot be posted here!

It’s the biggest pile of superbly marketed rubbish that I have ever known. It’s basically a fashion gadget for cafe’ cultured lemmings.

…and while I’m ranting it cost £400 quid!

18

My sentiments exactly :o

19

I think you have to go thro the I tunes dashboard to do it but I won’t swear to it

20

iTunes sucks at the best of times, but the version on the iPad seems even more crippled than ususal … buggered if I could use it to find the videos created by another app ::slight_smile:

Who knows … maybe it’s my lack of a dipsh*t gland that leaves me unable to make sense of it … or possibly my lack of computer skills :wink:

Or maybe they only respond to people who live their lives on Fekbook ??

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