Help with computer.

Freerepublic ^ | 6/27/2008 | raybbr

[raybbr]

I have an older computer that I have cleaned out of W2000 Pro. I tried loading a version of XP Pro that I have on this machine. MS wants $269 for an additional key. I am not willing to pay that.

I am currently downloading Ubuntu and would like to put Linux on this box. It has an Athlon XP with a gig of memory and no video card.

I don't plan on any gaming or high end computing. Just photo editing, video editing and web surfing.

Do I need Ubuntu or is there something else smaller and simpler I can use?

Also, what can I use to wipe XP off and start over? Will the installation disk of Ubuntu do that?

Thanks in advance, Ray.

[raygun]

WShy would you want to get rid of tha (other thsn it NOT being “Netgear”.

But still.

[raygun]

That’s the ONE!!!!!

DreamSPARC

I would never have thunk of that.

Dude.

I’m ON it.

[rabscuttle385]

The student license for XP non-transferable.

True, but the student-priced Office 2007 Ultimate license obtained through Microsoft's The Ultimate Steal program for about $60.00 is most definitely transferable, as it's a FPP retail license.

Of course, around here, folks are using Open Office, so it's not particularly applicable.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

i don't know if this would be useful but here is a link:

Linux Mint 5
June 28, 2008.. Review

*******************EXCERPT**********************

It’s been a while since I did a technological (read: geek) blog, so I thought I would update you on what’s going on.

As you are aware, I am a full-fledged geek by trade and passion and I have gone from Windows to Mac to Linux.  My Linux evolution went from Linspire to Mepis to PCLinuxOS to Ubuntu.  I stayed with PCLinuxOS and Ubuntu for the longest.  However, I have always read good things about another distribution called Linux Mint.  It’s based on the latest Ubuntu release but with a lot of add-ons.  The latest version is called Linux Mint 5, Elyssa.  So, at the office, I downloaded the latest iso and tried it out to see how it all worked.

First of all, there are always some things I keep in mind when trying any new Linux distro, the primary thing being, ‘How would the average user feel about using this OS?’  ‘Is it (very) simple to install?  Is it easy to use?  Is it easy to get help?  Is it easy to add or remove applications?  Is the terminal (command line) used a lot?’  In my opinion, all of these are valid questions, especially if I am looking to recommend an open source alternative to proprietary software or hardware.  Which I am always looking for. 

[raybbr]

Thanks Ernest. (How do you surf from the beach?)

Mint Elyssa is up and running with one exception - wi fi. I have started a thread http://www.linuxmint.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=14222&sid=58626d18664a2a68bfe5481dbecfa91a that has been very educational.

I like the OS very much. It's a learning curve to get the full functionality. I LOVE the terminal function.

Anyway, take a look and see if anything strikes you. Ray

[isom35]

“what can I use to wipe XP off and start over? I always use magnets.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Looks like folks that know what they are doing on that thread....

[Bikkuri]

Amen... :D
hehe

[Bikkuri]

I agree. I dumped XP on this machine to install Vista (x64) and have had NO problems in the last year.

As a matter of fact, on my Dynabook (laptop), it had Japanese XP Home installed, but didn’t come with a CD... I went back to the store and asked (I was having problems and wanted to reinstall).. and they told me that the licensed XP Home was ON THE HD!?!? (wtf!?) I had to hit some function key or another during boot to get to it.

I decided I wanted to install an English version of XP PRO instead.. so I did. SO many problems with the drivers since it was a laptop AND had a Japanese keyboard. I gave up and went ahead and reinstalled the Japanese version of XP Home.. :/

THEN I installed VISTA and everything fell into place on its own! no problems whatsoever, although I spent 2 days searching the web for a graphics driver for that model I had (4 years old now)... Japanese support sites are NOT the friendliest.. had to go through about 15 web pages to be able to finally be able to download the latest driver (All Japanese.. mostly kanji X( )

As for Linux... I’ve been wanting to mess with it for a few years... but the limitations on games (I’m an extreme gamer) has held me back. If I get around to setting up my spare AMD system, I might play around with it.. not sure wich one yet though.

[Bikkuri]

Thanks for that info... I am DLing the torrent now :D

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Distro Watch Weekly just out... has an interesting ?Feature Story:

Package management (by John Frey)

***********************EXCERPT Intro**************************

A few weeks ago on DistroWatch there was some debate about package managers. I think you will agree that we can never know too much about package management. I have done some research and would like to share some of what I have learned.


What is a package?

The first thing we need to know is, what is a package? There are two ways to install software. The first way is to get source code and compile it on your system.

********************snip*********************

The 2nd way is to get and install a package. A package contains source code pre-compiled and packaged as a binary installation file (executable). It may include icons, libraries, configuration files, binaries, man pages, desktop shortcuts, header files, fonts, etc. In addition, it may contain meta data, such as version information, package maintainer and software authors' names and contact information, licensing, changelogs, READMEs and web location for the project and source code. Each package format has a file structure for storing data and is compressed. When the package is executed, it uncompresses the data and copies all the files from the package into the file system of the operating system, creating symbolic links where needed, putting start-up links in the menu and on the desktop, and sometimes giving configuration options to the user.

Packages are distribution and version-specific as the location for dependencies may vary between distributions and between versions of a distribution. Sometimes it is possible to download and install software the Windows way by just clicking on the package, provided it is compatible with the operating system.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From your original post:

I don't plan on any gaming or high end computing. Just photo editing, video editing and web surfing.

Was just looking at this distro ....:

Grafpup

Got some Bird photos with a new SONY Alpha2 Digital camera I want to see what I can do with improving.

***********************EXCERPT Intro **********************

Grafpup is a compact distribution containing the Linux kernel and various Open Source and freeware programs. It is especially well suited towards graphic artists and other imaging proffessionals but has many other tools available as well. Grafpup has been loosely based upon Puppy Linux, which is a creation of Barry Kauler. However, there are a lot of unique features which set it apart both from it's parent and most other Linux distributions.
    Grafpup strives to provide a complete workflow for the digital artist, from beginning to end. As such along with the major graphics applications like Gimp and Inkscape you will also find a variety of support programs and extra features. Color management is enabled for all applications that support it, and there is a basic selection of color profiles included in the standard install. For those doing photographic work there is almost complete support for raw image formats via both dcraw and the ufraw plugin (both Gimp and Cinepaint), as well as the gtkam utility for directly connecting a wide variety of cameras. Scribus and Abiword take care of publishing needs, and Gutenprint provides a wide range of printer drivers.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

It’s not 100%, but you can find a guide to PSP on Linux here:

http://frankscorner.org/index.php?p=psp8

If you invest in Crossover Office (http://www.codeweavers.com), you’ll find that running a lot of Windows applications is a lot easier. Photoshop CS2, for instance, works very well.

I recently switched my main computer to Linux and I’ve never been so happy with my setup.

If the program doesn’t run, it’s VERY simple to set up a virtual copy of XP inside your Ubuntu with Virtualbox, which is also free to use. So, you can have the best of both worlds.

[raybbr]

If the program doesn’t run, it’s VERY simple to set up a virtual copy of XP inside your Ubuntu with Virtualbox, which is also free to use. So, you can have the best of both worlds.

I downloaded Ubuntu and tried to connect via wireless. No luck. I downloaded Mint and that's running fine but still no wireless.

I ordered a new wireless card but am considering loading Linux Studio over the Mint.

Linux is fun the learning curve is very shallow. I can navigate my way around any Windows machine but I feel like a baby mouse in Linux.

I can't run XP on this machine. The XP I have came with only one license. That's why I'm putting Linux on. To get a second machine but I don't want to pay for another XP license.

[bigdcaldavis]

You may want to try Xubuntu. It runs just as well as Ubuntu but uses the lightweight Xfce desktop environment as opposed to Ubuntu’s GNOME desktop environment. I don’t recommend any of the 8.04 releases because it’s impossible to add new users or manage groups using the Users & Groups GUI program. Hopefully Xubuntu 8.04.1 fixes that. If it does, then I’ll recommend Xubuntu 8.04. If you’d like an even lighter desktop environment, then go for Linux Mint 4,0 Fluxbox Community Edition (uses Fluxbox, which is VERY lightweight), OzOs (uses the latest builds of Enlightenment E17, which is very lightweight but as a very nice look), or gOS Ultimate E (remastered version of gOS Rocket E that I have on my laptop right now...I love it).

[raybbr]

I have since installed Mint Elyssa. It works pretty good. I have the PC in the basement and haven’t had a lot of time to hook up speakers and test it out. It took a few days to get the wi-fi up and running.