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Home / Win2Lin MIGRATION STORIES / discussion Frightened to change over XP to Linux

Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) Boarderline Hi, I have been an MS user since windows began. Currently I run XP on a Laptop 256mbram 1.1ghz 20gb hdd. I have been reading some of the messages and it is making me worried about even trying to instal linux, as I do not have any coding knowledge. I have visions of ending up with a useless machine which I canīt work. So I want to know what is the best way (without instalation problems etc)of migrating to linux. Also I want to know if the following things will be easy to setup. I use a 256kbps ADSL conection via usb. I use a webcam. Will any of my current applications run under linux or do I wave bye bye to them all and start afresh_ Thanks Richie Oct 06, 2024 04:00:26

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) Judland Fear leads to the Dark side. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering; suffering is Micro$oft ;o) Sorry, I couldn't resist. Seriously, if you'd like to give Linux a try, but do not want to risk your current system. It has been suggested that one of the more simpler ways to do this is to purchase yourself an inexpensive second hard drive to install Linux on. I felt just as you did, so I removed my Windoze hard drive from my PC and put it aside. Then I installed another hard drive and proceeded to install Linux on it. I use Mandrake Linux 8.2 and it's installation was so very easy. Easier than Windoze, that's for sure. Days after, when I upgraded my hardware, my larger hard drive with Windoze on it was wiped and Linux is now utilizing both drives. If you want to know what hardware is most compatible with Mandrake, check out this web link: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/hardware.php3 Oct 06, 2024 05:52:39

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) obsidian_fox Judland is definitely right about use of a second HDD being a risk-free way to handle this. I had no problems with a dual boot install myself, but it certainely was a bit frightening the first time I tried something new and risky. You don't need to be able to code to use Linux. I do know how to code, and I know for a fact that I haven't done more than glance at some Linux and Linux application code out of curiousity. You may eventually learn how to compile a program, but fear not... it isn't difficult, and you don't need to look at any code or anything, and you DON'T need to compile anything if you don't want to. (Typically you'd only compile something if you want to use the most updated version of some software.) The USB modem is something you should look up on the net. Linux works best with Ethernet, and many external modems can handle both ethernet and USB interfaces, so if you have an Ethernet interface on the modem and computer I would consider switching to it. (In this case Linux would have no problem interoperating, guaranteed). However, if that isn't an option, looking up the model of the Modem along with the word "Linux" and possibly "usb" on google is a good start for finding compatibility. There are some hardware compatibility databases out there for Linux (can anyone recall where they are?). I'm not too sure about WebCams and Linux... I never used my WebCam even in Windows. Someone else will need to help there. Finally, as far as your apps go, many will be replaced by Linux Native apps. I'd say that this counts as a fresh start in some ways, but that the total cost of the new programs is mostly the time to learn them. I did purchase a few programs, including Sun's StarOffice and Transgaming's WineX, although it turns out I use Abiword more than StarOffice. If you list your favorite apps here we can list those that can't be replaced with Linux Native apps at the moment, although that list seems to grow shorter every year. Some Windows only apps can be run with Crossover Office (www.codeweavers.com) such as Quicken, MSOffice, Lotus Notes, and several others. Transgaming's WineX can run many games if you are interested in those (www.transgaming.com). Judland made the whole switch eventually... I use my Windows drive to store music, movies, videos, documents, and other architecture independant files, but can still boot to it when I need to (...which has only happened to play some Morrowind). Tell us more and we'll help where we can. obsidian_fox Oct 06, 2024 08:17:54

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) Scumop Profile The second drive is the way to go. There are two ways to do this: 1) Swap drives (physical). 2) Dual drive system with loader. You can swap drives/cables and garantee nothing will break. BUT If the two drives are different, swapping them can be a pain. Situation "1" (which we like and don't see often enough) Shutdown Power off Swap drive cable to other drive Power up Boots up, Runs great Situation "2" (which I get) Shutdown Power off Swap drive cable to other drive Power up HOARK! Reason: BIOS does not check to see if the drive changed, uses (some) settings stored in CMOS memory. If you are in Situation 2, you may need to: Shutdown Power off Swap drive cable to other drive Power up Enter BIOS and Delete drive Tell BIOS to detect new drive. Save settings and reboot Boots up, Runs great Better Solution..... You can do a "safe" dual boot by making the new drive a second drive and having linux reside exclusively on it. A loader will be added to the main drive boot area (scary stuff, eh). No cable swaps required, and you can get them to share some space on one or both drives. This is your best bet as it makes moving files back and forth easy. I've not done this myself, so can't describe exact steps. There are dual-boot how-to docs covering it though. As for the webcam and USB+ADSL, most distro sites have hardware compatibility info. There are the other issues besides raw h/w compatibillity with USB + ADSL modem. Swap for ethernet if you can. If you make a list of apps you use and post it here, someone will probably post a list of similar linux apps you can use. A few exist already... shop the forums. Oct 08, 2024 14:44:48

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) irlandes Two HD is certainly a valid choice. But, that's all it is. Dual boot has worked very well for a lot of people. I understand there is a special problem with XP that might make it more desirable to use two HD, if you are not sure of your XP computer. I don't have XP, and if I buy a computer that has it, will see if Norton's still has the WIPE utility. But, I have read that some manufacturers decided to put XP RESTORE in a hidden partition instead of supplying a restore CD, and this causes problems when some poor geek writes linux over that hidden partition. Sounds like a bummer to me, but I am only reporting what I have read on some forums. What I don't like is when someone, anyone, tries to present his personal choice as the only choice, and that includes dual-boot fans as well as dual HD fans. Not to mention those who say, "You can't use a winmodem, don't even try." Or, distro fanatics. In this case, since you already think you'd like dual HD, and you have expert help responding here, sounds like the right choice for YOU. Oct 08, 2024 16:27:41

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) obsidian_fox I personally used the dual-boot, but at the time I was of the mind "If I accidently wipe my Windows ME drive... no biggie." After the first time it was very easy to do again. Using the second HDD, however, and shelling out a little extra $$ for that extra space to install linux, is a good idea if you both have the money and it will reduce the fright to change. Further, having dual-boot capacity adds a security layer... you have something to fall back to. This helps on more than one psychological level. Being independant is for LATER, when you know what you are doing. I think most new users of Linux both need and want a little handholding... and eventually a handshake and a welcome into the community. That is why I help provide my opinions and technical help on these forums. Irlandes is right that we aren't representing all the options... we instead are trying to present the ones that offer the least hassle and still meet Boarderline's needs. If his needs include low expenditure of $$, then stating that will allow us to make appropriate suggestions. In any case, Linux can read a WinXP partition, but cannot write to it. This may change in the future. WinXP can't read Linux at all (because Microsoft doesn't want any encouragement to change even to a dual boot, I'm sure.) Having to physically change cables can be a hassle, but I'm not too sure that having 2 HDDs is even a real option on a Laptop. Oct 09, 2024 16:40:32

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) Scumop Profile I should have clarified: The cable swapping is to get it working and identify any gotchas before committing to anything. If you want total isolation and two drives, and it works, you can then get drive holders that allow you to plug in the different drives (forget the exact name- drive drawers?). But these cost money and you still have the bios issue. This is a tower-only possibillity, not available for laptops. It constrains file copying too, which is a second reason for running both drives together. Nothing i have said should be construed as a "do this", just "how to do this" + side effects. I've never done a dual boot on the same drive, so I simply have no comments on it- good, bad or how to. Oct 10, 2024 17:01:41

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) obsidian_fox For dual booting the hardest and scariest part is resizing the Windows partition which initially takes up most of the drive. Non-destructive partitioner software (such as partition magic) is a good idea when doing this. Creating new partitions in the space made available is easy and pretty much risk free (so long as you are careful not to wipe or reformat your windows partition). I used fdisk to resize things... not a very good idea, in general, unless you really know what you are doing. (I didn't, but my Windows partition survived me.) If you wish to do a dual boot on one HDD the easiest and least risky way is to buy Partition Magic or equivalent software for non-destructive partitioning and resizing of HDD space, and use it. Oct 10, 2024 19:43:23

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) irlandes Well, O_fox, our streak of agreeing is over. The install partitioning stuff in both Redhat and Mandrake is perfect for dual-boot setup, and there is absolutely no reason for anyone choosing current versions of these two distros to buy anything else. If anyone has money to throw away like that, send it to me; I'm not broke, but will take any and all donations. For those who are both newbie and chicken, buy the commercial pack from the vendor at your local electronics place, or on the Web, so you get the instruction manual -- and support the linux industry as well. Of course, I know nothing about other distros. Oct 11, 2024 17:47:14

RE:Frightened to change over (modified 0 times) obsidian_fox I haven't used RedHat, but the partitioning software in Mandrake 8.2 and SuSE 7.3 was pretty much non-existant. Mandrake 8.2 had none at all (which surprised me because Mandrake 8.0 did have partitioning software in the installer) and SuSE 7.3 required I use fdisk. Gentoo also uses fdisk, but this doesn't surprise me much because gentoo is not a very install friendly distribution at the moment. Further, the partitioner for Mandrake 8.0, and most likely the versions available in RedHat and Mandrake 9.0, are just frontends to fdisk. They don't offer non-destructive resizing of partitions. You CAN resize with them, but only if that particular part of the partition is completely empty (as you can with fdisk). Partition Magic and non-destructive partitioners in general are actually capable of moving files around in order to create the space you are grabbing for your partition. The Mandrake 8.0 installer was at least good enough that it wouldn't let you wipe files, but it couldn't move them for you either; if you had even a single file at the end of your partition you cannot resize that partition. Fdisk has the same protection, although you can force it (which is destructive). The risk involved is minor if you know what you are doing. You simply must defrag your drive before resizing, and make sure you don't take more space than is being used by Windows. However, it is still the scariest and riskiest part of a new Linux install. If you feel confident enough about the RedHat and Mandrake installers that you'd let a friend who knows nothing about computers use them to partition YOUR hard disk, without assistance and only knowing that one of the existing partitions is supposed to remain intact but be smaller, then feel free to reccomend them fully. If, however, you feel your friend might make a mistake and reformat your partition with all your precious data on it, then you must also agree with me that partitioning is one of the scariest parts of installation. Oct 11, 2024 19:48:31

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