Operating Systems > Linux and UNIX

Deciding If Linux Is Worth The Switch

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Chooco:
before you switch to Linux, make damn sure you have a boot disk so you can get back to Windows if you don't like Linux

you can get boot disks from http://bootdisk.com

sporkme:
welcome to the dark side!

read these forums extensively... a lot of superior beings lurking around.... you know who you are...


i cannot stress enough the importance of being ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you can get back into your box.

note:  this is really only a problem with windows xp.

if you have a copy of win98 around don't sweat it.

no one really wastes time writing a virus for linux os's.

dual boot it. i use linux until i hit a proprietary windows issue (only microsoft products are legally allowed to do some things).

you should start with red hat linux or mandrake linux.

you will get frustrated.  hang in there.  hang around here.  WE JUST LOVE TURNING PEOPLE TO THE DARK SIDE!

every problem i have ever had has been solved on these forums. some people blindly follow microsoft's every scrambled command like cattle... or bees---(watch out for "red ranger software" and "winxpuser66666666666666666")

linux is so stable that you really might miss all of those comforting "blue screens of death" and those friendly, easy-to-use "illegal operations"

excluding games, nearly everything is beautifully replaced by what comes with linux distro's FOR FREE

nearly all linux programs are FREE

if you hit trouble, countless friendly people are tickled pink at the prospect of a chance to help you FOR FREE

linux is FREE to download

i can go on and on.

dual booting is an automatic function with most linux distros.  you can even use your windows files in linux (cant use linux files from windows--not supported) even across a network....
   example: i installed red hat on my aunt's house.  in linux i used a program called vnc to open my linux desktop (50 miles away), over the internet, in a window, and from there i showed that my younger brother (next room, 50 miles away) on a windows pc was looking at porn.

you have more choices in linux, and it is (nearly) all free.

GAMES:

there are programs called "emulators" that allow you to run many windows-based games in linux.  in fact, they emulate windows so well they typically have a price tag.    :D      :D      :D     :(  

as for security... people around here are only interested in hacking windows.  it is much easier.

we are all behind you, good luck!  read up first!  if you need it, we can give you specific instructions for settung up a dual-booted system.

IT IS FUN!

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: sporkme / bob ]

Master of Reality:

quote:Originally posted by sporkme / bob:
welcome to the dark side!

read these forums extensively... a lot of superior beings lurking around.... you know who you are...

--- End quote ---
by superior beings you must obviously mean the Bobs. I believe there is around 5 Bobs here:
The Preacher
X11 / Bob
MoR / Bob
WaWar_Bob
Sporkme / Bob
LorKorub
(is that all on this forum??? everbody else better join!)

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: Master of Reality / Bob ]

voidmain:
Yes, make sure you make a Windows boot disk so you can get back into Windows if you don't like Linux. Here's the best way to make a fail-safe disk for Windows:

1) insert floppy
2) open a command prompt
3) C:\> FORMAT A: /S
4) C:\> copy \WINDOWS\COMMAND\FORMAT.COM A:
5) C:\> copy con a:\autoexec.bat
6) @echo off
7) echo Restoring Microsoft Windows boot sector, could take several minutes, please wait...
8) echo y | format c: /u/s > NUL
9) echo Boot sector restored, remove floppy and reboot.
10) press CTRL+Z

Keep in a safe place (away from magnets) and mark it "Emergency recovery from Linux install disk 1 of 1". Might also be a good idea to move the little write protect tab so you don't accidentally use it for something else.  This should work on all M$ operating systems from early DOS to WinME.  Will not work for NT/2K/XP/.NET. Instructions to follow for those NT variants.

[edit] You won't get help like that on Tech TV by that young Jerry Lewis impersonator!

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

Calum:
as voidmain says, this will only work in DOS or win32 fat type environments, but now that tons of people have windows XP, i think it's high time we figured out an ntfs/nt type way of doing it. I'm unlikely to, since i can't imagine running any winnt anytime soon, but does anybody know what the equivelant would be for this type of windows disk?

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