Linux worth a try?

[kram 2.0]

Hey,

I'm completely new to Linux, as many here who start a thread are, and I need a good bit of advice. As I have not booted WinXP Home on my HDD quite yet, I'm considering partitioning about 10GB of my 75+ GB on the Seagate HDD to some form of open source operating system, Linux.

First of all, I hear that in Linux, you have to do a bunch of command prompts and stuff - kinda like MS-DOS. I'm not too intereted in that, if that can be skipped. I'm just interested in the graphic interface, much like explorer.exe in Windows XP Home. Second of all, which Linux software should I go with? I'm leaning towards RedHat or Mandrake, often times the most heard of Linux OS, but I'm not too sure. I'd appreciate some recommendations on a good user-friendly one.

Also, another thing - security. I'm concerned about viri and spyware lately, as I toughened up on my security layer on all my computers. If I should create a partition of Linux, and should I connected it the internet, would I need to get some sort of software seperate from what I would install in the WinXP Partition (as with all programs)? In other words, would it be like a completely seperate hard drive concerning programs and all?

Well, hope those are good places to get started with. First Mac, then Windows, now Linux . Any suggestions? I very much appreciate your help .


Thanks,
kram

[8raker]

Kram,

Never personally tried Linux, want to though

Have you ever heard of Minuet OS or something like that? It is open source and like 1 mb, but has internet, its own audio player and a very graphical interface......if your looking for something other than Micro$oft than try googling it

But I think you would have to get a seperate AV program running on the linux partition...


Redhat is one of the most popular so I would try that..


Feel free to ask me anything

8raker

[kram 2.0]

The Security Measure (AV/Adaware/Spybot) shouldn't be a problem, as I just looked and AVG has a strong Linux compatible AV, but Spybot doesn't support Linux neither does Adaware. You know whether I'd want to get a seperate partition or a whole seperate HDD? I'm reluctant to do a partition as 75+ real GB storage will disappear quickly, not even leaving 10GB for a partition of Linux. I see a good HDD on sale at BestBuy - Seagate 80GB Ultra ATA 8MB (same HDD I have right now, just half the price ) - might get it.

Thanks,
kram

[8raker]

WAAIIIIT! You can get that seagate 40$ at bestbuy! That's what im getting for 68! Hmm.... I would def. get the new hd because at that cheap....it will be worth it because 80 can go ohsofast......

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by 8raker WAAIIIIT! You can get that seagate 40$ at bestbuy! That's what im getting for 68! Hmm.... I would def. get the new hd because at that cheap....it will be worth it because 80 can go ohsofast......

It's on a nationwise sale this week at BestBuy. I got it at 80USD, thinking that was a good deal, to see later that it can be cut into half the price

kram

[nocturnx]

hey kram,

I thought the same way you did a couple of weeks ago. I am a linux newb also. I first tried out the Redhat linux fedora core 2 and that worked pretty good and i liked it but then I was recommended to try Mandrake 10 official and it is great. It is very easy to use and similar to windows. You do not have to use the command prompt if you do not want to. It is very stable and comes with its own antivirus by Dr. Web.

I have 2 80 gig maxtor hdds. The one harddrive has windows xp pro on it and the other has a 10 gig partition for linux with the rest being for xp as storage. Mandrake 10 works great, very easy to use, I would recommend it if you are looking to try it out and see if you like it. If you want a link for the download of mandrake 10 or any questions let me know. I would never go back to windows if I could play my pc games in linux

Noc

[kram 2.0]

Now since I'm still partially undecided and everything except a good PSU is supposed to arrive today, would it be fine to go ahead and boot Windows XP onto the HDD as NTFS? Should I make it into a partition of 65 GB as I start, or should I do that later? I'd hate to start with WinXP then have to reformat the partition and stuff later

kram

[aym]

When partitioning the hard disk, leave an unpartitioned area for Linux, and install WinXP, later, when you want to install Linux, you can create Linux partitions (using the Linux setup program), and install a boot manager for the OS selection menu.

Recent versions of Linux can read NTFS partitions just fine.

Fedora, SuSE, and Mandrake all use a GUI to install the OS, programs, and change settings.

Good luck

[Xayd]

You don't need antivirus programs or spyware removal programs for linux.

If you want a full graphical install with desktop configuration utilities, give SuSE a try.

[nocturnx]

The mandrake 10 I am running comes with Dr. Web antivirus installed. But an antivirus is not really needed for linux.

[kram 2.0]

Well, out of pure anticipation, I already booted WinXP on a 74GB partition (99% of HDD) onto it. Is it still possible to set aside 10GB to install Linux? It seems like I'm probably going to go Mandrake first, see how that goes. I always thought that there was always one dominant Linux or something - Redhat...looks like I was rong .

Now when I partition my HDD with a different OS, would it be like I have a whole new computer operating under a whole different HDD of lesser capacity? I'm new to this partitioning concept, hence my asking. Thanks for the suggestions so far .


Thanks,
kram

[ogrerocks]

When you partition a hard drive, the OS will recognize each partition as a different drive. As if you were to have two HDDs.

Since You already have Windows using up all of the HDD, you need to 'shrink' that partition. I have used a program called 'Partition Magic' to do that before. There are also other programs that can do it. Seach these forums, and I'm sure you'll find some.

Once you have shrunk your Windows partition, you will have 10GB of free space. Make sure it's unformatted.
Tom's Hardware has a good beginners guide to Linux:
http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040412/index.html
Pcmech.com even has some Linux guides. They're in the articles section under Operating Systems.

Viruses, Spyware, Trojans, etc. are not a problem in Linux. Just about all viruses are Windows specific. Even if you click a link that would give you a virus in Windows, it won't in Linux. Trust me, I've done it. You can get an anti-virus for Linux, but I know people that have used Linux for years without any virus protection or anything without any problems.

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by ogrerocks When you partition a hard drive, the OS will recognize each partition as a different drive. As if you were to have two HDDs. Since You already have Windows using up all of the HDD, you need to 'shrink' that partition. I have used a program called 'Partition Magic' to do that before. There are also other programs that can do it. Seach these forums, and I'm sure you'll find some. Once you have shrunk your Windows partition, you will have 10GB of free space. Make sure it's unformatted. Tom's Hardware has a good beginners guide to Linux: http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040412/index.html Pcmech.com even has some Linux guides. They're in the articles section under Operating Systems. Viruses, Spyware, Trojans, etc. are not a problem in Linux. Just about all viruses are Windows specific. Even if you click a link that would give you a virus in Windows, it won't in Linux. Trust me, I've done it. You can get an anti-virus for Linux, but I know people that have used Linux for years without any virus protection or anything without any problems.

Thanks a bunch - I'll get partitioning going at home with DSL connection . Too bad I couldn't do it at UofM while I had T3 . I'm guessing a 7GB Partition is enough for Mandrake Linux.

As for the AntiVirus, I take it it's similar to Apple's Macintosh Computers. I used a Mac for the first time in about three months and I have to say I have a strong preference to its interface over Windows XP even though I've gotten used to MS Windows a lot. MacOSX, not matter what you do, will not get a virus! If anything, you get it so infrequently. I guess it's the same concept - I'll just get whatever comes with the OS if I should need a AV.

Thanks,
kram