Getting tired of Windows

[M_D]

Hi all this is not a bash microsoft thread

I am a noobie through and through, but I do like to tinker with my PC

after building a new PC, I discovered that swapping my original hard drive with XP on it to my new build was not permitted. Apparently because my original drive has an OEM XP (legal) version from ebay,

I thought once I bought a legal version of windows, I would be able to upgrade my computer as I long as I kept the OS on the hard drive.

I was wrong....I think the oem EULA is bunk by the way BUT if that is what it is that is what it is

the retail version of windows is about $200.00, a bit much for a cheapo like me.

I tried Ubuntu, Suse, PowerLinux but they are all too hard for a "dummy" like me.

can anyone suggest an easy Linux distro.....I heard Linspire and Xandros are easy. What do you all think?

[faulkner132]

I've found Ubuntu to be as easy as they come. What problems did you have?

All Linux distros are going to require some use of the command line, but for the most part, this is kept to a bare minimum. Once you have your system up... it just works. Maybe give Mandriva a shot?

[gary_hendricks]

I like Ubuntu too. It has extremely catchy graphics and a super clean feel. And these days, all these Linux distros are available on a runetime CD which is just amazing. :)

[not important]

I have "played" around with Ubuntu also and it is a very clean interface. I never figured out how to connect to the internet using dialup. I still prefer Windows for everyday use.

[Ind-PC_student]

Try Open suse and take a look at this site: http://www.novell.com/products/suselinux/installation.html

[Ob1]

here's a site that has iso files for a lot of the linux OS's

http://www.linuxiso.org/

[Metamorphousthe]

I am a SUSE user and have been since 8.2 and currently use 10.

However I think that the easiest Linux and best for a migratting into linux that installs with one CD and easy to install software with is Linspire. Though this is the best for migratting from windows (IMHO), it still has some of its own limitations, for instance, installing other non-linspire supported software.

[flawedreality5]

I've had experience with Ubuntu too. It's not bad for what you get with it, but if you want to install a program outside of the package manager, you're going to have to use some command line. I get frustrated easily by it, but that's just me.

[glc]

I know this is the AltOS forum, but you certainly can move your hard drive to another computer as long as the OEM version of XP is not brand-specific. You will just have to call M$ to reactivate it if it's been activated within 120 days prior and explain you have done some hardware upgrades. However, if the XP you bought is one of those surplus Dell or other major OEM CD's, then you are probably out of luck - and it wasn't legal to begin with anyway.

[Redo40]

Give PCLinuxOS (http://www.pclinuxos.com/page.php?6) a try, it's about as simple as linux gets. It and Ubuntu are the 2 that I have found the easiest for the beginner.

[kilgoretrout]

I second PCLOS as well. For one thing it's free and a live cd as well so you can test it before you do the install and see how it likes your hardware.
Of the other two you mentioned, Xandros and Linspire, I'd give Xandros a try but neither of these are free. IIRC you can download the old version of Xandros for free so you might want to look at that but it's probably a little dated. For the current version you have to pay.

[DynamicTech]

I too am becoming tired of the M$ machine digging money out of our pockets, and have been toying with linux. i have found Mandriva (limited edition 2005, to be exact) to be a very intuitive and attractive alternative to wondoze. It setup on my test machine just fine, and it runs all of my hardware right out of the box. The only things missing are handing over a fistful of cash, having to enter an activation code (and connecting to M$ for a thorough inspection of MY system, which I think is an invasion of privacy). I'm getting ready to dump windows as soon as I have to upgrade my main system. In the mean time, I'm learning Linux and loving it.