Ubuntu Linux - Split Thread

[soup]

@ soup - why not download the pgm. & run the Live CD Vers.? That is what got me interested in it so much!

We shall see, as well as this thread I think I will make it a point of talking to my friend this week & going a little more in depth discussing it.

[katzdvd]

Received the HD today, ready to get this new pc up & running. I guess I am looking at dual boot, because I still need to be able to work with windows pgms. during the "weaning off" period.

1. Can I install windows, & then ubunto at a later date? How does that work with re-partitioning? I guess I just create a part. for linux & leave in empty until I am ready to install it?

2. What about the NTFS & Linux? Do I make that empty part. NTFS? Will that work?

3. Or to put it this way; if I would install ubuntu first, then windows at a later date, is it an easy straightforward install, or does windows want the 3rd. party driver, etc. all that stuff we discussed before?

Again, sorry for the ultra-noob questions, I just want to be sure! BTW, it is neat that interest is sparking with some of the other members.

[UncasMS]

Can/does those areas become corrupt/hosed, as with Windows?

i wouldnt dare saying it doesnt/cant get corrupted but because linux or mac os installs programms for example by extracting them to a subdicrectory WITHOUT creating dozens of entries in a "registry" there is no such thing as a registry that can become corrupted

moreover, as anony has already said before, most installations or changes can bedone with your OS running without having to restart
this too is an indicator for a straight-forward method of managing simple or even critical aspects of the entire system

What exactly makes Linux "more secure" than other OS? It seems to me that with all the "open source" development going on, that it would be even easier for a hacker to exploit the system, even an inside job?

take simple changes for examples like the setting for your screen resolution or changing the ip address of a network card:
OS will ask for an admin password or otherwise you wont be able to make changes at all - something vista now sells you as a breakthrough in security

moreover, linux/mac os are hardly ever the target of virii/worms/exploits or they simply cannot be targeted because of their architecture - remember blaster/lovesan the DCOM RPC exploit on windows xp systems?

and opensource show up security leaks way better because everyone would be familiar with the weak part of the OS in no time

[katzdvd]

It all sounds so good! I can't wait for the 7.04 release - right around the corner!

Are there any numbers anywhere as to the amount of users that run linux? 10% 20% < > ?

And what about this?

1. Can I install windows, & then ubunto at a later date? How does that work with re-partitioning? I guess I just create a part. for linux & leave in empty until I am ready to install it?

2. What about the NTFS & Linux? Do I make that empty part. NTFS? Will that work?

3. Or to put it this way; if I would install ubuntu first, then windows at a later date, is it an easy straightforward install, or does windows want the 3rd. party driver, etc. all that stuff we discussed before?

@UncasMS - I take it that you are an experienced Linux user - how long have you been at it? What distro do you use? Do you game at all?

Judging from your username, (UncasMS) I always thought you were a big Microsoft fan!

[BR7]

Is dialup a problem with Linux? Oh wait, BR7 you are still using dialup?!?! I thought I was way out there, but you must live out in the woods!

@Katz

Dish Network is now offering DSL in my area, I don't think my phone company is going to offer me dsl like they said it's been over a year now.So I dont think I'll have much of choice but to get Satellite DSL Dish Network is working with WildBlue.Here is what they are offering

[anonymez]

I am going to give it another go and see if I can't get the dial up working for it.

I had a fairly old, no-name modem back when I was on dialup, it worked for me then. If restricted drivers are needed, they can be downloaded/installed via the Restricted Driver Manager, new to the latest release.

What exactly makes Linux "more secure" than other OS?

I would say a strong foundation and security model.

Can I install windows, & then ubunto at a later date?

You can install any OS in any order.

What about the NTFS & Linux? Do I make that empty part. NTFS? Will that work?

Linux partitions should be ext3, and the swap partition needs to be formatted as swap. Windows NTFS.

Or to put it this way; if I would install ubuntu first, then windows at a later date, is it an easy straightforward install, or does windows want the 3rd. party driver, etc. all that stuff we discussed before?

Install in any order you wish. I do recommend you use GParted for preparing partitions before installing any OS, simply because it is easier to use than both Windows and Feisty's (They removed GParted in this latest release for their own tool, which was not graphical, at least in the Beta). Windows does not need the driver unless you want to access the Linux partitions through it.

It all sounds so good! I can't wait for the 7.04 release - right around the corner!

Join the club. Already running the RC though.

[katzdvd]

and the swap partition needs to be formatted as swap.

I'm a little unclear on that, but I guess things will start to fall into place as I go thru the process.

I will continue to research at the linux forums for more understanding too.

Install in any order you wish. I do recommend you use GParted for preparing partitions before installing any OS

So, IIUC, when I first boot the pc, I run GParted first, then continue with install of OS's after that.

Windows does not need the driver unless you want to access the Linux partitions through it.

Do you do that, or do you just boot into either OS when you need to?

[anonymez]

So, IIUC, when I first boot the pc, I run GParted first, then continue with install of OS's after that.

See next post.

Regarding partitioning, this is where it can get confusing. How much space to allocate and which file systems to use depends on what kind of setup you're after.

Types of partitions you should have:

1. The "/" or "root" partition, similar to "C:\Windows" and "C:\Program Files". Bare minimum 4GB I think, even bigger if you ignore point 3. Format as "ext3".

2. The "swap" partition. Space reserved for virtual memory. How much you need depends on the amount of RAM in your system, I'm sure there's a standard in the wiki somewhere. Format as "swap".

3. Optional, you can have a separate partition for "/home", similar to "My Documents" and "%appdata%". Have it as large as you need to. Format as "ext3"

4. The Windows partition, as large as you need. Format as "NTFS" (obviously!)

If you want, you can use the remainder for data, formatted as NTFS, so that both OS's can access it.

Do you do that, or do you just boot into either OS when you need to?

Since Ubuntu is my main OS, I installed NTFS-3G which means it can now read/write all partitions. Since I rarely use Windows, I don't have the ext2fsd driver installed-- it does not "see" any of the Linux partitions.

Sounds hard, but setup guides you through the process, It's really quite simple.

[anonymez]

OK looks like Gparted will be included again in the Live CD after a few complaints... you can just install Windows as normal (making the entire drive NTFS), then run Ubuntu, run Gparted via System-->Administration, resize the NTFS partition and create new ones as needed. Then click the Install icon on the desktop.

[katzdvd]

OK looks like Gparted will be included again in the Live CD after a few complaints... you can just install Windows as normal (making the entire drive NTFS), then run Ubuntu, run Gparted via System-->Administration, resize the NTFS partition and create new ones as needed. Then click the Install icon on the desktop.

Well, that sounds easier, since I have been down that road before. Your previous post had me a bit worried, it sounded very confusing to me!


The part that seems odd is that I install Windows w/o partitioning, & then partition during the ubuntu install. I always thought it was more difficult to "resize windows" when it is taking up the entire drive.

Also: When you install a new vers. of the OS, how does that work? Do you install overtop of the current OS, reformat, etc.? I guess you have to back up all your data & then re-enter it all manually?

[katzdvd]

anony - Just for the heck of it, I did an ebay search on ubuntu, & I see many auctons selling the software - what's up with that? One of the auctions;

NEW! UBUNTU CHRISTIAN EDITION v 2.2 32BIT KID SAFE NEW

which is interesting. Since I have kids that I want to protect while on the 'net, that would seem appealing, since it contains parental control software. If the distro is "free" I guess you are just paying for the CD?

[anonymez]

Also: When you install a new vers. of the OS, how does that work? Do you install overtop of the current OS, reformat, etc.?

It is possible to simply do an update. For example, I can install 6.10, then update to the latest 7.04 release from there.

For a clean install you would just need to boot off the live CD, tell it to format the root paritition during setup and you're good to go.

I always thought it was more difficult to "resize windows" when it is taking up the entire drive.

Resizing a partition is a breeze, take a look at these screenshots to get an idea: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/screenshots.php

If the distro is "free" I guess you are just paying for the CD?

That depends on what they're charging-- we've seen folks selling DVD Shrink too . See here for the Christian Edition. It's not an "official" version of Ubuntu, BTW (Kubuntu, Xubuntu and Edubuntu, for example, are).

[katzdvd]

I looked at the screenshots. I guess it seems simple to you, but when I see "/dev/hda - GParted" that looks confusing to me! And the last one, "manage flags"

at least it is in a GUI based format! It is easier with pictures!

Since I am not at all familiar with the terminology, I feel lost. Now I know how my Mother-in-law feels when she calls me with a *simple* windows question!

[katzdvd]

Do you use Kino? I was looking at the features/video transitions, & it looks good, but I don't see a "fade to black" unless I miss it.

Why do all the editors leave that out?

[anonymez]

but when I see "/dev/hda - GParted" that looks confusing to me!

Don't worry about the "/dev". Just FYI (you don't really need to know this), In "hda1", the "hd" is for hard disk, the "a" is for the physical drive and the "1" is for the partition.

eg.

hda1 - 1st hard disk, 1st partition
hda2 - 1st hard disk, 2nd partition
hdb1 - 2nd hard disk, 1st partition
hdc1 - 3rd hard disk, 1st partition

and so on. If there is an "s" in place of the "h" it means it's a SATA drive as opposed to IDE.

And the last one, "manage flags"

You won't need it.

I was looking at the features/video transitions, & it looks good, but I don't see a "fade to black" unless I miss it.

You miss it.