On 5/4/07, Ken and Jenny Hawley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I was at the Cebit Computer show in Sydney yesterday and spoke to
Richard working at the stand. He was most helpful in suggestions which I
have now made to work.
There were 2 areas that we discussed but I did not write down his
comments but still wish to find answers
1. My problem or fear is to install Ubuntu 6.10, which I understand
may wipe out the Windows information on my Windows dedicated partitions.
I haven't had any issues with this, when I've setup systems. by
default, Ubuntu will resize the Windows partitions and install itself
alongside Windows. They only wiping out you have to worry about is
that Windows may rewrite the boot sector and you'll have a hard time
booting into Linux until you get it fixed.
Installation and initial setup, while not overly onerous, is still the
hardest part of starting with Linux in my opinion. You may wish to
have someone guide you through the process.
Richard suggested putting a hard drive into "Carts" or a removal HD and
insert it into my PC. (I intend to do this today by buying the Carts
from Dick Smith).
2. He then suggested that I download and alternative Ubuntu which
will enable me to use it on this new Carts drive with safety and thus
not compromise my Windows drives.
3. Is it correct to say that this Ubuntu Carts drive installation
will dual boot with windows?
I'm guessing what's being referred to is a removable drive caddy and
Richard was suggesting you have Windows on one drive and Linux on the
other, and then you just slot the one you want into the PC before you
turn it on (which will work), but it wouldn't be considered a dual
boot, and accessing data on your Windows drive when it isn't plugged
in would be tricky, although you could use dual caddy system and the
drive in the top bay could be the one that's going to boot, for
example. This would be a bit fiddlier to setup though.
Perhaps he meant something else, so I'll stop speculating.
4. I am not sure if Richard said this or I read it on a Linux web
site. I understand that there is a programme, which allows me to access
the data on my windows drives from within Ubuntu.
The program you want is ntfs-3g
It has read and fairly good write support for NTFS partitions (what
modern Windows uses by default)
Also, I think I
read that it is possible to use some of my Windows software from within
Ubuntu.
With varying degrees of success. :-)
I have a Windows version of Firefox running with Shockwave installed
(there is no Shockwave for Linux, but we do have Flash). It really
depends on the program.
The software you're after is called "wine": winehq.org
There is a paid version of wine called "CrossOver Office" which has
been specially tweaked to make it work better with Office programs and
there is another one called "Cedega" which is tweaked for games.
All this seems too good to be true. I look forward to your answers I am
now registered on the Slug mailing list
Ken Hawley
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