33 replies to this topic

[Dave Burrell]

I have one of my laptops with Vista- Can I convert to Ubuntu on it and not loose my data ? Also will other programs such as Picasa , and google chrome, etc work in it ?

yes you can install ubuntu without losing your data - and you can keep vista on it too - it can be setup for dual boot, meaning you can choose which operating system you want to boot into when you use it at any given time.

not sure about picasa but no google chrome for ubuntu yet - however firefox works great with it.

I can install this all for you and set it up to see if you like it
give me a call this week and we'll go over everything including your other work
- shoot me an email davburr@yahoo.com

[Dave Burrell]

This ubuntu thing has been suggested to me by vrious people, but that sounds like more complex than I can handle.

actually once its all installed and configured it looks just like windoze, except it works 100x's better and faster

first OS I've ever had that can boot in a minute or less

If you need any help, shoot me an email davburr@yahoo.com

[femmesavante]

actually once its all installed and configured it looks just like windoze, except it works 100x's better and faster

first OS I've ever had that can boot in a minute or less

If you need any help, shoot me an email davburr@yahoo.com

Just wanted to say I had Ubuntu and XP on mine and I really liked Ubuntu for the most part. Kinda reminded me of a mac because it was really easy to use. Of course, I couldn't use my windows messenger on it and for some reason I couldn't find a compatible video player (for dvds), so I would often have to boot XP. Not sure about chrome or picassa, though I thought I used both with Ubuntu. I no longer have Ubuntu as, in the end, I liked the familiarity of xp.

[palango]

actually once its all installed and configured it looks just like windoze, except it works 100x's better and faster

first OS I've ever had that can boot in a minute or less

If you need any help, shoot me an email davburr@yahoo.com

So I just go to ubunto.com and download the program and then what? Do I have to purchase XP and insert the disk and then I get the dual option of XP or Vista during reboot?
Forgive my dumbness in this, but this sounds kind of cool.

[Dave Burrell]

So I just go to ubunto.com and download the program and then what? Do I have to purchase XP and insert the disk and then I get the dual option of XP or Vista during reboot?
Forgive my dumbness in this, but this sounds kind of cool.

yes, start with the download but there's a bit more to it depending on your system

first you'll need ample hard disk space available - about 10-20gb's (or more) is good. If you don't have the room you can use a program such as Partition Magic to move your data and re-partition your drive to set it up for Ubuntu

From here you'll install XP on the Windows partition and Ubuntu on the other, OR you can install Ubuntu on the entire drive and just runs Windows XP in a virtual environment

lots of options, but first thing to do is backup your entire system before you start any of this.

[palango]

yes, start with the download but there's a bit more to it depending on your system

first you'll need ample hard disk space available - about 10-20gb's (or more) is good. If you don't have the room you can use a program such as Partition Magic to move your data and re-partition your drive to set it up for Ubuntu

From here you'll install XP on the Windows partition and Ubuntu on the other, OR you can install Ubuntu on the entire drive and just runs Windows XP in a virtual environment

lots of options, but first thing to do is backup your entire system before you start any of this.

Thanks for that. As far as back up, can I just back up all my files/photos to the external hard drive? When you say backup, do you only nmean some personal folders or are you talking about systemwide back up in which case I would not know how to do that.

backing up personal files and folders are easy as click and drag to the external hard drive.

[Dave Burrell]

Thanks for that. As far as back up, can I just back up all my files/photos to the external hard drive? When you say backup, do you only nmean some personal folders or are you talking about systemwide back up in which case I would not know how to do that.

backing up personal files and folders are easy as click and drag to the external hard drive.

Yes, just your personal files unless you have some apps and associated files you need. Backing up to an external drive is the best way to go.

[eVader]

Not aware of HP or Dell systems not supporting IDE or compatibility mode to run SATA HDDs on XP BIOS and this includes not yet released systems. Look for AHCI, RAID, IDE\ATA compatibility mode in BIOS normally under Config or Hard Drives.

Ubuntu\XP dual boot would be a good choice but I like Mylo's suggestion with Ubuntu then virtual XP. Super stable OS for most of the things you need (OpenOffice is a great MS Office alternative and oh yeah...free!). For the apps that require XP (or Windows) access them via Virtual Box, Citrix or VMware. Dave has done this quite abit lately. Also a benefit of virtual machines is that if you install an app that just trashes the OS or when Windows gets a bit wonky after years of use instead of rebuilding the OS, simply reload the master virtual image.

One suggestion not mentioned and free (until Q2 2010) and IMHO a rock solid OS - install Windows 7 Ultimate RC which includes XP Compatibility Mode for software and hardware. Older versions of Windows apps or XP era USB printers, scanners, drives etc can function as an XP device\program. Hard to say if a VPN client would work til you try. As to Win7, it again IMHO so much better and more stable than XP and certainly Vista. Vista isnt too bad it gets a bad rep because it required new drivers and application framework and software and hardware companies didnt ramp up fast enough plus it required new hardware to really benefit from Vista from more memory or HDD to a complete new system.

1st pick: Win7
2nd pick: Ubuntu with XP in a virtual machine
3rd pick: Ubuntu \ XP dual boot.

[Dave Burrell]

Not aware of HP or Dell systems not supporting IDE or compatibility mode to run SATA HDDs on XP BIOS and this includes not yet released systems. Look for AHCI, RAID, IDE\ATA compatibility mode in BIOS normally under Config or Hard Drives.

Ubuntu\XP dual boot would be a good choice but I like Mylo's suggestion with Ubuntu then virtual XP. Super stable OS for most of the things you need (OpenOffice is a great MS Office alternative and oh yeah...free!). For the apps that require XP (or Windows) access them via Virtual Box, Citrix or VMware. Dave has done this quite abit lately. Also a benefit of virtual machines is that if you install an app that just trashes the OS or when Windows gets a bit wonky after years of use instead of rebuilding the OS, simply reload the master virtual image.

One suggestion not mentioned and free (until Q2 2010) and IMHO a rock solid OS - install Windows 7 Ultimate RC which includes XP Compatibility Mode for software and hardware. Older versions of Windows apps or XP era USB printers, scanners, drives etc can function as an XP device\program. Hard to say if a VPN client would work til you try. As to Win7, it again IMHO so much better and more stable than XP and certainly Vista. Vista isnt too bad it gets a bad rep because it required new drivers and application framework and software and hardware companies didnt ramp up fast enough plus it required new hardware to really benefit from Vista from more memory or HDD to a complete new system.

1st pick: Win7
2nd pick: Ubuntu with XP in a virtual machine
3rd pick: Ubuntu \ XP dual boot.

I'd like to find where to get the free copy of Win 7 - shoot me an email when you have time

[palango]

Not aware of HP or Dell systems not supporting IDE or compatibility mode to run SATA HDDs on XP BIOS and this includes not yet released systems. Look for AHCI, RAID, IDE\ATA compatibility mode in BIOS normally under Config or Hard Drives.

Ubuntu\XP dual boot would be a good choice but I like Mylo's suggestion with Ubuntu then virtual XP. Super stable OS for most of the things you need (OpenOffice is a great MS Office alternative and oh yeah...free!). For the apps that require XP (or Windows) access them via Virtual Box, Citrix or VMware. Dave has done this quite abit lately. Also a benefit of virtual machines is that if you install an app that just trashes the OS or when Windows gets a bit wonky after years of use instead of rebuilding the OS, simply reload the master virtual image.

One suggestion not mentioned and free (until Q2 2010) and IMHO a rock solid OS - install Windows 7 Ultimate RC which includes XP Compatibility Mode for software and hardware. Older versions of Windows apps or XP era USB printers, scanners, drives etc can function as an XP device\program. Hard to say if a VPN client would work til you try. As to Win7, it again IMHO so much better and more stable than XP and certainly Vista. Vista isnt too bad it gets a bad rep because it required new drivers and application framework and software and hardware companies didnt ramp up fast enough plus it required new hardware to really benefit from Vista from more memory or HDD to a complete new system.

1st pick: Win7
2nd pick: Ubuntu with XP in a virtual machine
3rd pick: Ubuntu \ XP dual boot.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will opt for pick # 2 and report back soon.

[palango]

so now I cannot find xp software to purchase. Best Buy told me that they stopped selling it like 1.5 years ago. any ideas?

[Dave Burrell]

so now I cannot find xp software to purchase. Best Buy told me that they stopped selling it like 1.5 years ago. any ideas?

Click this link
http://www.amazon.co...duct/B0018RCAD4

[eVader]

so now I cannot find xp software to purchase. Best Buy told me that they stopped selling it like 1.5 years ago. any ideas?

Did you buy yet on Amazon or somewhere else?

If not Fry's has XP Home for $79.99. Upper right corner of ad (yes its from San JOse but same as SacBee ad)

[palango]

Did you buy yet on Amazon or somewhere else?

If not Fry's has XP Home for $79.99. Upper right corner of ad (yes its from San JOse but same as SacBee ad)

Thank you. I am going to have to make a trip to Roseville Frys to get that. Thanks again.

[palango]

One last update. I just talked to an IT guy who told me to WAIT for the Windows 7 because it has the option to run @ XP or Windows 7 right out of the box @ boot time. So that may solve all my issues.

The funny thing is that Microsoft is basically by passing Vista (backwards) by allowing users to run XP or Windows 7.