You can't go wrong with Debian or Ubuntu. The apt-get/aptitude utilities are wonderful. My personal favorite at the moment. However all the available flavors of linux have matured and are good choices. Pick one and immerse yourself to the degree that suits your inner geek :-) The driver support for Linux variants has never been better.
Another option is Apple. The $1500 24" iMac is sweet. If I recall correctly, Apple dropped their proprietary kernel and switched to a Linux base - was that when they went with Intel hardware? -Dave Walton On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 8:32 PM, LarryT <l02tur...@comcast.net> wrote: > Well, Microsoft has just about done it - forced me to join the Linux army. > I can install a free OS called Debian (there's others, but I know so little > about any so I'm basically throwing a dart) that I thought I'd try. > > Since buying a Toshiba with Vista pre-loaded I am more & more irritated > that it seems MS deliberately put roadblocks in the way of anyone wishing to > dump Vista and stay with XP. > > After repeated attempts to install XP on a new SATA HD, I am on the verge > of giving up and trying to see how well Debian will work with the rest of my > LAN, SW & HW. > > Does anyone have comments about going to Debian Vs Vista? > > Thx -- LarryT > > https://www.nrahq.org/nrabonus/accept-membership.asp > > Free 1 year NRA membership to anyone interested! > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "LarryT" <l02tur...@comcast.net> > To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:06 PM > Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Retrospect backup problem > > >> I've battled problems with so-called "help" from MS tech support. I >> usually do it all via email and still have language problems. I usually >> send an email an then they repeat my problem - usually incorrectly - before >> saying they need to pass me to a more Senior Tech - who will be in touch >> within a few days. Still no help.... So I proceed on my own - and with >> help from this and other lists - until I find a solution. >> >> Still tryin to find a good way to go back to XP from Vista. I may try >> Ubuntu to see how well it works. >> >> I'm slowly getting used to Vista and the horrible WinMail but still have a >> problem in Vista laptop will not communicate well with desktop XP - on my >> LAN. So I still want to be rid of vista - I just know I will not get any >> help from MS. >> >> At the risk of going from the frying pan into the fire, I've been reading >> about a free download of Win 7 - free until next summer when it will stop >> working and will require a paid copy to continue. or go back to vista. >> >> knowing MS they will make it so cumbersome to get away from W 7 that >> people will either be frustrated and buy W7 or get disgusted and go with >> Linux or a Free SYstem. >> >> Aren't computers fun? >> >> LarryT >> >> https://www.nrahq.org/nrabonus/accept-membership.asp >> Free 1 year NRA membership to anyone interested! >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Loren Faeth" >> <lfa...@leadingchange.com> >> To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> >> Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:17 PM >> Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Retrospect backup problem >> >> >>> Most of the activation calls I have made, I have talked to people who >>> sound like native American english speakers. >>> >>> MS technical support however...... at least 3 layers of indians without >>> any hope of a native english speaker. And, you never get to talk to anyone >>> higher than 2 up. Almost all are well meaning, smart people, but there are >>> problems. It usually takes hours over several days, and in the end, you >>> have to reload the OS and start over anyway. (Which was exactly what I was >>> trying to avoid.) >>> >>> At 02:45 PM 5/22/2009, you wrote: >>>> >>>> "and it costs MS every time you call!" >>>> >>>> Plus you are putting Rupees into the pockets of very hard working >>>> support techs. >>>> >>>> -Dave Walton >>>> >>>> On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 2:10 PM, Loren Faeth <lfa...@leadingchange.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> > Be careful with the workarounds. I used one on xp and Server 2003 for >>>> > years. THen one day all those machines had a "patch" installed >>>> that "fixed" >>>> > some problem, and the result was that all those machines were >>>> unusable until >>>> > reloaded and activated. It was a loop: login screen, then a screen > >>>> > that >>>> > says windows was not activated. If you tried to activate, you gat a > >>>> > screen >>>> > that says windows is already activated and logs you out, to try the > >>>> > process >>>> > again. >>>> > >>>> > MS has gotten much more lackadaisical about activation. CALL in, > >>>> > force the >>>> > robot to get you a real person, and activate. it works, and it costs >>>> > > MS >>>> > every time you call! >>>> > >>>> > At 12:19 PM 5/22/2009, you wrote: >>>> >> >>>> >> I might try that when I get to it. I found a web site with a >> >>>> >> workaround >>>> >> by putting some stuff in the registry that spoofs it, could try that >>>> >> >> too. >>>> >> >>>> >> --R >>>> >> >>>> >> Tim C. wrote: >>>> >>> >>>> >>> You usetacould authenticate XP via telephone, I assume you still >>> >>>> >>> can; you >>>> >>> should be presented a popup when it comes time (first full boot >>>> IIRC). HDD >>>> >>> dupe will probably not do what you want. >>>> >>> >>>> >>> Cheers, >>>> >>> -Tim >>>> >>> >>>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>>> >>> From: Rich Thomas <richthomas79td...@constructivity.net> >>>> >>> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 1:32 PM >>>> >>> To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> >>>> >>> Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: Retrospect backup problem >>>> >>> >>>> >>> A sorta related question -- I want to set up a dedicated machine in >>>> >>> >>> my >>>> >>> shop to run my CNC machine, I can bodge one up using some old >>>> stuff I have >>>> >>> around. The control software I use runs on XP. I have XP on a >>> >>>> >>> disk. I >>>> >>> vaguely recall in various reinstalls that XP wants to connect >>>> to the network >>>> >>> to get verified and install updates and make it so it is not being >>>> >>> >>> used >>>> >>> twice and all that stuff. Is there an easy way to just load it >>>> and make it >>>> >>> work without doing all that? Or make an SP2 XP disk to load up >>>> and forget >>>> >>> all the other stuff it wants to do? I seem to recall that >>>> might be doable, >>>> >>> but I forget how to do it. >>>> >>> >>>> >>> I suppose I could just make a backup image of my boot hard drive on >>>> >>> another one to put into that machine? >>>> >>> >>>> >>> --R >>>> >>> >>>> >>> Loren Faeth wrote: >>>> >>> >>>> >>>> Sounds like typical MS. I don't have a solution to this problem >>>> >>>> >>>> In the >>>> >>>> Retrospect when you are making the disaster recovery cd, will >>>> it take your >>>> >>>> product key? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> if not, then this is time consuming, but the only shot I can think >>>> >>>> >>>> of: >>>> >>>> in the "install programs control panel: >>>> >>>> Remove SP3 >>>> >>>> Restart twice with full shutdown (this clears the removed files) >>>> >>>> Now you will have xp SP2 ( I am not sure if this breaks any other >>>> >>>> patches) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Try the retrospect using the WinXP key you have >>>> >>>> You may have to make an additional backup of the current state >>>> >>>> >>>> first, >>>> >>>> before making the disaster recovery CD >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> At 11:47 AM 5/19/2009, you wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> I set up an external HD and loaded a Retrospect backup set of this >>>> >>>>> computers HD on it. When I tried to make a "disaster >>>> recovery" CD using >>>> >>>>> Retrospects program it said I needed the WinXP product key. >>>> >>>>> When I loaded the WinXP disk in order to be sure the product key >>>> >>>>> worked, WinXP refused to go beyond the first couple of >>>> screens because it >>>> >>>>> said that the version on the computer was a later version >>>> than that on the >>>> >>>>> WinXP disc. The WinXP disc is Service Pack 2, and since I >>>> initially used >>>> >>>>> this disc to load WinXP, Microsoft has added WinXP Service >>>> Pack 3 to the >>>> >>>>> computer via their periodic updates. >>>> >>>>> I can probably check the Product Key by letting the WinXP Service >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Pack >>>> >>>>> 2 boot the computer just like I was going to replace the >>>> WinXP service pack >>>> >>>>> 3 program with the WinXP service pack 2 program on the disk, but >>>> >>>>> >>>>> if the >>>> >>>>> WinXP service pack 3 program loaded on the computer rejects >>>> the Product Key >>>> >>>>> from the WinXP service pack 2 which will be in Retrospects >>>> Disaster Recovery >>>> >>>>> CD, I've lost a lot of data. >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> Simple, isn't it? (o:] It's enough to make me buy a MacIntosh >>>> >>>>> >>>>> and >>>> >>>>> load Linux on it which I might do after I get the data on this old >>>> >>>>> >>>>> PC >>>> >>>>> secured. >>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>>> Gerry >>>> >>>>> -------------- next part -------------- >>>> >>>>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>> >>>>> URL: >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> <http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090519/a3f29ff6/attachment.html> >>>> >>>>> -------------- next part -------------- >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> No virus found in this outgoing message. >>>> >>>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>>> >>>>> Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.34/2122 - Release Date: >>>> >>>>> 05/19/09 06:21:00 >>>> >>>>> _______________________________________ >>>> >>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> >>>>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> Loren Faeth >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> >>>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________ >>>> >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>> >>>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> >>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>> >>>> >>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________ >>>> >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>> >>>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> >>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>> >>>> >>> >>>> >> -------------- next part -------------- >>>> >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>> >> URL: >>>> >> >>>> >>>> <http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090522/e27af627/attachment.html> >>>> >> _______________________________________ >>>> >> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> >> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >> >>>> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> >> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> > >>>> > Loren Faeth >>>> > >>>> > _______________________________________ >>>> > http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> > >>>> > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> > >>>> >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>> >>> Loren Faeth >>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
