How easy is it to switch to Linux from Windows

[amheck]

Longtime windows user here. My machine has recently crashed again. I was trying to install a game and the whole system locked up, and after 5 minutes I just hit the pwer button. Now the PC won't boot up saying its missing windows files. I've had this happen before too.

So I was thinking about maybe just trying linux. Been reading around and Ubuntu seems to be pretty popular. Also saw a 50% off deal for Linspire. My main concern, however, is obviously how easy it would be to migrate over. I assume MS Office is now a thing of the past, right? What about games, like HL2 and Doom3, etc. I guess I can't run those anymore? Its just that all of my current software (nero, etc, etc) is all for Windows, so I'm just unsure whether to make the leap or not.

Any advise/comments/suggestions?

Thanks!
Aaron

 

[n0cmonkey]

Doom 3 has a native Linux version. I think you can download parts of it from the id site (you'll need stuff from your disc too). Cedega(WineX?) might be able to get HL2 working. MS Office works in the form of crossover office, but why bother? There's both KOffice and the blob that is Open Office. Nero offers a Linux version.

If issues like that have happened multiple times, I'd be checking my hardware and drivers.

 

[amheck]

Thanks for the info I know there are a lot of users, so most applications must be accounted for to keep people on linux.

Any sugestions between Linspire and Ubuntu.

Windows not booting up after hard power down has only happened 2, maybe 3 times over 2-3 years. Not a huge deal, but it gets old after a while. Although it is nice to have a fresh OS, but loosing data sucks.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Linspire is a gerbil.

 

[EndGame]

#1 What version of windows? Sounds like more of a hardware/driver problem

#2 imho, Ubuntu

#3 "long time windows user" don't expect to just jump in and go, I mean check your hardware and read, read, read. Gain a fundamental understanding, dive in and learn as much as you can. It's nothing like windows and you'll most likely be lost at first, but it's not that hard.

 

[amheck]

Win XP Pro.

Yeah, Ill do some more reading. Probably will take more time than I have and I'll just end up putting XP back on. But maybe a good think to research in the mean time.

Thanks guys.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: amheck
Been reading around and Ubuntu seems to be pretty popular. Also saw a 50% off deal for Linspire.

Ubuntu is popular, but I've seen distros with much better hardware detection + more intuitive software (like their ncurses based installer..). Never tried Linspire, but heard it was easy to use.

Personally I would recommend you try out a livecd first, that way you can get your feet wet with linux and never mess with your hard drive. Check out SimplyMepis. If you want to jump right in and install I'd recommend openSuSE (Suse).

Also, check out this link. It may help you in choosing a distro.

Originally posted by: amheck
My main concern, however, is obviously how easy it would be to migrate over. I assume MS Office is now a thing of the past, right?

Usually depends. MS Office can be easily replaced with OpenOffice. In fact, you can try it right now within Windows. And best thing is, its completely free and open-source.

Originally posted by: amheck
What about games, like HL2 and Doom3, etc. I guess I can't run those anymore? Its just that all of my current software (nero, etc, etc) is all for Windows, so I'm just unsure whether to make the leap or not.

Doom 3, afaik, is supported in Linux. Half-Life 2 was made with DirectX so you'll have to use Wine or Cedega to get it to work. Cedega is a great Wine clone for games, unfortunately you have to pay a subscription for their gui based application. They do offer their CVS version for free, however, it'll only be command line version.

HL2 Wine Guide || Cedega CVS Guide

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX
Cedega is a great Wine clone for games, unfortunately you have to pay a subscription for their gui based application. They do offer their CVS version for free, however, it'll only be command line version.

More than that, the CVS version lacks copy-protection code because the project cannot legally redistribute the source code for the parts of WineX that touch proprietary copy-protection schemes. Unless you know what you're doing linux-wise, and also know that the games you're interested don't need that code, the CVS version is not a viable alternative.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: amheck
Longtime windows user here. My machine has recently crashed again. I was trying to install a game and the whole system locked up, and after 5 minutes I just hit the pwer button. Now the PC won't boot up saying its missing windows files. I've had this happen before too.

So I was thinking about maybe just trying linux. Been reading around and Ubuntu seems to be pretty popular. Also saw a 50% off deal for Linspire. My main concern, however, is obviously how easy it would be to migrate over. I assume MS Office is now a thing of the past, right? What about games, like HL2 and Doom3, etc. I guess I can't run those anymore? Its just that all of my current software (nero, etc, etc) is all for Windows, so I'm just unsure whether to make the leap or not.

Any advise/comments/suggestions?

Thanks!
Aaron

Sounds to me like you have hardware issues, something Linux wont clear up.
I will say if you cant get a Windows machine to run correctly you may have your hands full with a Linux one.

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Linspire is a gerbil.

lol, some people like gerbils.
try pclinux os for a pretty easy switch amheck.
personally I think its better then ubuntu although that would be my second choice.
Gaming isn't going to be the same if gaming is your main thing keep windows.
or duel boot and enjoy the best of both worlds.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: amheck
Longtime windows user here. My machine has recently crashed again. I was trying to install a game and the whole system locked up, and after 5 minutes I just hit the pwer button. Now the PC won't boot up saying its missing windows files. I've had this happen before too.

So I was thinking about maybe just trying linux. Been reading around and Ubuntu seems to be pretty popular. Also saw a 50% off deal for Linspire. My main concern, however, is obviously how easy it would be to migrate over. I assume MS Office is now a thing of the past, right? What about games, like HL2 and Doom3, etc. I guess I can't run those anymore? Its just that all of my current software (nero, etc, etc) is all for Windows, so I'm just unsure whether to make the leap or not.

Any advise/comments/suggestions?

Thanks!
Aaron

Sounds to me like you have hardware issues, something Linux wont clear up.
I will say if you cant get a Windows machine to run correctly you may have your hands full with a Linux one.

Yes, only times windows XP or any NT kernal based version of windows has ever lost files and failed to boot was with a faulty samsung SP160 HDD. That was a couple of years back when i got my last ever store bought comp.

Any other time that ive had to re-install windows has been deliberately my fault.

 

[Robor]

I switched my laptop from WinXP Pro to Ubuntu about 2 months ago. I have mine dual booted but honestly I haven't booted WinXP except to patch it against that nasty security bug. I'll admit that the initial change was a major adjustment and the first 2 weeks I was pretty lost. Be prepared to spend a lot of time searching for help on Google and the forum for your disto you choose.

My recommendation would be to dual boot Windows and Ubuntu and the reason I recommend Ubuntu is you can install it then use Automatix to easily get all the extra stuff that's not installed by default. Plus, if you dual boot you can always switch back and forth if you get frustrated and need a break from Linux. That said, the more you use it the more you'll learn so try to stick with Linux. It's tough at first but as you go you'll learn as you go and it will start to make sense. That's how it's been for me anyways.

 

[TAandy]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Linspire is a gerbil.

Small furry thing, goes well between 2 rounds of toast

 

[The Linuxator]

Try Fedora Core or Ubuntu, personally I tried a sht load of distros untill I setelled on Fedora Core, but for a new comer I suggest Ubuntu from now on, they seem to have put their sht together as the newest version seems to work now on all of the machines that I have at home that it never worked on before!

Fedora Core requires a bit more tinkering with but when you do get it setup there is no going back , however Ubuntu is very smooth for a newbie (however it still misses a more friendly installer amongst other things) but I LOVE their package management solution, but still a lot of other things in it I just don't like.
But I liked it enough to have one machine running it among the 5 machines at home running Fedora Core, but that as far as it goes.

But TBH Ubuntu bores the hell out of me, there is nothing to do with it it's all there

 

[Fish11]

As a new Linux user I can't speak of all the distros like the knowledgable ones here can but I installed SUSE as my first.

It went smooth. Found all of my hardware and I like YaST. It's very userfriendly and powerful. It has, I believe, the most software and documentation of all the distros from what I've read.

 

[silverpig]

The only thing I can add to the responses in this thread is that I KNOW you can run hl2 with cedega. The only thing is your ATI card will only run at about 60% of the windows speed. I'm in the same boat with the same card, and am going to be getting rid of it in favour of an nvidia card.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: cleverhandle
More than that, the CVS version lacks copy-protection code because the project cannot legally redistribute the source code for the parts of WineX that touch proprietary copy-protection schemes. Unless you know what you're doing linux-wise, and also know that the games you're interested don't need that code, the CVS version is not a viable alternative.

That sucks. Unfortunately, gaming is pretty limited in Linux (even when spending money for software like Cedega). You might want to rethink going to Linux if you're a gamer..

Originally posted by: cleverhandle
The only thing I can add to the responses in this thread is that I KNOW you can run hl2 with cedega. The only thing is your ATI card will only run at about 60% of the windows speed. I'm in the same boat with the same card, and am going to be getting rid of it in favour of an nvidia card.

^tru.dat, however an x800xl can still play most games smoothly in linux, especially at 1024x768. I had a 9800XT and my CS 1.6 performance wasn't very smooth so I got a 6800GS.

 

[Cerb]

Partition the drive liberally, with three partitons (Linux, shared, Windows). It took a long time for me to break down and do this, but it really is worth it.

IMO, start with Ubuntu (don't forget to try Kubuntu and Xubuntu). The niceties of Debian on a nice desktop. There are many nice desktops, including MEPIS, PCLinuxOS, and SUSE, but Ubuntu is the best, IMO. I am partial to Debian in general, though . Xandros offers the easiest thing to use coming from Windows, but it can get annoying...

Just start playing around with apps, and install lots of them . Get KDE 3.5, whether you use KDE as the DE or not (don't let zealots have you thinking you shouldn't use KDE apps in Gnome, FI ).
Do not underestimate the power of finding a WM+DE that fits you (Window Manager, Desktop Environment).
MS Office should actually run in WINE. personally, the Stylist is a fantastic feature that now has me hooked on O, though.
K3b is the burning app.
Kate is a nice little text editor, fast enough to be used like Notepad, versatile enough to replace things like vim.
Media players abound, and for the unreplaceable, Foobar2000 runs well under WINE.
FF and TB work the same as in Windows.

 

[mikeford]

Backup data.
Make system dual bootable.
Get feet wet.

 

[Doh!]

Try any of the LiveCD to get a feel for linux. If you think you can give it a try, get an install version & dual boot.

edit: no need to download two separate versions since Mepis is both a livecd and install version (option provided) & there are others as well.

 

[PEEONPENGUINS]

Linux is pain!!!!! You have to enjoy spending weeks getting a computer running properly. I'll bet you'll be trying your best to forget about your linux experience in a month.

 

[ndruw]

Originally posted by: PEEONPENGUINS
Linux is pain!!!!! You have to enjoy spending weeks getting a computer running properly. I'll bet you'll be trying your best to forget about your linux experience in a month.

a weekend? im a complete linux noob but i got Debian working in 1 hour and ubuntu in under 30 minutes ... for the record, it takes me 2 hours to get XP set up withh all of the security settings/drivers/etc i need to have it run the way i need it to

stop trolling

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: TAandy

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Linspire is a gerbil.

Small furry thing, goes well between 2 rounds of toast

I'm looking forward to the spreadable version though, I hate ripped bread.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: PEEONPENGUINS
Linux is pain!!!!! You have to enjoy spending weeks getting a computer running properly. I'll bet you'll be trying your best to forget about your linux experience in a month.

Troll!!!!!!!!!!

Sound familiar? It applies this time though.

EDIT: BTW, it takes me about an hour to get OpenBSD setup to my liking, that includes downloading the entire thing.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: PEEONPENGUINS
Linux is pain!!!!! You have to enjoy spending weeks getting a computer running properly. I'll bet you'll be trying your best to forget about your linux experience in a month.

In my windows install it takes forever to get it running up to speed. Once I got so used to linux setting up my ethernet and wireless card drivers during the install that I installed Windows XP on someone's computer and they couldn't even go online!! I had to go home and get him a copy of his chipset drivers. Took forever.

When I installed Suse ALL of my drivers were automatically detected. I went online as soon as the install was done. In fact, I remember YOU patching my system and then I just opened Kynaptic, updated my repositories, and updated ALL my software. With windows it would've taken forever to get all the programs I used (and patching the system would take longer too cause you have to reboot your system after getting a few patches and patch some more, with Suse I just had to patch my system once).

I'm using Suse SUPER and I love it!