Seriousness Should I switch to Ubuntu, or stay with Windows XP? - Page 13

F1Wild · 05-16-2009, 07:02 PM

My husband and I had been using the Beta versions of Windows 7 for quite a bit (he's the software architect) and recently installed Win7 RC1. He's looked at it from a more technical standpoint and I am the non-pro user. We both like it. To me, it seems to be a mix of the best parts of XP-Pro and Vista with a lot less headaches.

How's that for a very non-tech version of a cheer?!

ilovejedd · 05-16-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

I run successfully Kororaa Live CD on a Pentium III computer 550MHZ, 380MB RAM and Nvidia MX440 graphics card with 32 MB of RAM.
Nvidia MX440 is the lowest and oldest graphics card that can run this.

Even the humblest Ion configuration is much faster than the above mentioned configuration.
And wait until you get the newest mini board with Atom processor and Nvidia chipset.

Compiz runs great even on relatively old Intel graphics chip-sets that are installed on budget motherboards.

Thank you. That answers my question perfectly. I'm planning on getting a couple of Zotac IONITX-A-U boards (GeForce 9300M/9400M?, Atom N330, 802.11n, 90W PSU) once Newegg stocks them. Right now, Newegg only has the B and C models. In the meantime, I have an Intel D945GCLF2-based quad-boot computer (XP Pro, Vista Ultimate, 7 Beta, OS X 10.5.6) where I can play with Compiz-Fusion. I didn't really like OS X so I can get rid of that, convert the old OS X partition from primary to extended, and install a couple of distros to play with.

Greg Anos · 05-16-2009, 08:28 PM

Well. I got it up high enough to crash. Took me 30 minutes of hunting to figure out how to turn on the headphone out jack....

(But we don't give up. Our men are still out there searching! - Doc Savage, the movie...)

GeoffC · 06-05-2009, 04:59 AM

who's otherwise brilliant idea was this ....... !!!!!

bobbarkerissatan · 06-05-2009, 11:50 AM

I currently triple boot Ubuntu, XP and OSX.

I've been using Ubuntu since 7.10 (currently at 9.04) and Ubuntu has improved greatly and keeps getting better with more stability and better compatibility with each release.

So far I've installed Ubuntu on four different machines, including an iMac, which also triple boots, and I haven't had any issues.

If more companies would port their software to Linux, Microsoft would have a real run for their money.

GeoffC · 06-05-2009, 12:16 PM

Since late April, I've

Loaded 9.04 onto an old laptop as a total installation.
Turned the laptop off and when re-started had problem errors with ntdlr (or similar) missing. Took me 3 weeks to sort that out after I had discovered the original Toshiba rescue discs.
New windows installation upto SP2.
I cannot, now, get my laptop to boot from cd; it insists on loading windows.....

I do not want (really) to install as a virtual installation alongside windows using wubi (too much like hard work LOL)....

I've burned 5 cds and 1 dvd and none of them will boot.
Disc drive will read each of them (except 2 that I burned as boot discs).
Ubuntu menu gives me options, but only the 'help with cd boot' menu option works - and that fails to deliver the necessary extra files at 99% of installation.....

frabjous · 06-06-2009, 12:37 AM

Sorry to hear it, Geoff. On my computer, there's a button you need to press to set up boot options when the computer is booting. Can't remember which one it is. I used to have it set up so that it wouldn't even check to see if the CD is bootable. I had to change that to install Ubuntu.

Peverel · 06-06-2009, 03:28 AM

I had an old laptop that had a boot order in the bios and that was the only way it determined where it booted from. The system restore hasn't reset the bios and put the CD boot option after everything else has it?

GeoffC · 06-07-2009, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frabjous

Sorry to hear it, Geoff. On my computer, there's a button you need to press to set up boot options when the computer is booting. Can't remember which one it is. I used to have it set up so that it wouldn't even check to see if the CD is bootable. I had to change that to install Ubuntu.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peverel

I had an old laptop that had a boot order in the bios and that was the only way it determined where it booted from. The system restore hasn't reset the bios and put the CD boot option after everything else has it?

I manually changed the BIOS settings so the CD always booted first. When the laptop starts the rom drive is active for 10 seconds and then the main drive 'takes' over. I can't help wondering if it is the toshiba junk that is preventing the boot from the ubuntu disc.
I know the laptop will boot from the CD drive, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to rescue it twice .....
The ubuntu disc I've burned could be the problem - but I can read it and activate wubi - in fact I've burned 6 discs in all - they can't all be 'dodgy'.

The iso file was unzipped on 3 occasions and the result burned to disc. On the other occasions I used the 'burn image' option.. I've used both Nero and InfraRecorder.

I am flummoxed ....

frabjous · 06-07-2009, 10:10 AM

You might try something like Linux Mint instead.

GeoffC · 06-07-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frabjous

You might try something like Linux Mint instead.

problem at the moment is trying to 'find' out where the current error is likely to be .....

in the drive
the burn
the existing software
etc etc

there doesn't 'seem' to be any problem with my hdd (according to seatools diagnostics)

Timoleon · 06-07-2009, 10:24 AM

I triple boot Windows XP SP3, Fedora 11, and Linux Mint from my desktop. On my laptop I run the latest iterations of Windows 7. I like 'em all.

GeoffC · 06-13-2009, 10:00 AM

After failing miserably over a number of installs and refusals of my burnt disc to boot on my laptop - i've had to do another restore (3rd!) from recovery (looks like my disc drive is Okay ?!).

I ditched that route and loaded Ubuntu via Wubi and a direct internet download which successfully bypassed any need to burn a disc.

onwards and upwards as perserverance pays off.....

Andybaby · 06-13-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

After failing miserably over a number of installs and refusals of my burnt disc to boot on my laptop - i've had to do another restore (3rd!) from recovery (looks like my disc drive is Okay ?!).

I ditched that route and loaded Ubuntu via Wubi and a direct internet download which successfully bypassed any need to burn a disc.

onwards and upwards as perserverance pays off.....

my guess was the burn. remember when burning cds or dvds burn on a low speed. right after boot-up, don't run any other programs, and always used IMGBURN when burning in windows, and always do a CRC check on the disk(which Imgburn can do)

GeoffC · 06-14-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andybaby

my guess was the burn. remember when burning cds or dvds burn on a low speed. right after boot-up, don't run any other programs, and always used IMGBURN when burning in windows, and always do a CRC check on the disk(which Imgburn can do)

most of the burns used infrarecorder, which was as recommended - set at 1x burn speed it insisted on burning at variable speeds upto 3.9x.....

View Poll Results: What OS should I use?
Stick with Windows	22	22.45%
Ubuntu	46	46.94%
Go scrounge up lots of money and buy a mac!	18	18.37%
What the hell -- Free BSD!	1	1.02%
Use another Linux distribution.	6	6.12%
Something else entirely.	5	5.10%
Voters: 98. You may not vote on this poll

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05-16-2009, 07:02 PM	#181
F1Wild Addict Posts: 346 Karma: 170 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix (Ahwatukee), AZ Device: Paolo-my Kindle2, Blackberry Curve	My husband and I had been using the Beta versions of Windows 7 for quite a bit (he's the software architect) and recently installed Win7 RC1. He's looked at it from a more technical standpoint and I am the non-pro user. We both like it. To me, it seems to be a mix of the best parts of XP-Pro and Vista with a lot less headaches. How's that for a very non-tech version of a cheer?!

05-16-2009, 08:28 PM	#183
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,531 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Well. I got it up high enough to crash. Took me 30 minutes of hunting to figure out how to turn on the headphone out jack.... (But we don't give up. Our men are still out there searching! - Doc Savage, the movie...)

06-05-2009, 04:59 AM	#184
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	who's otherwise brilliant idea was this ....... !!!!!

06-05-2009, 11:50 AM	#185
bobbarkerissatan Member Posts: 21 Karma: 298 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: prs500	I currently triple boot Ubuntu, XP and OSX. I've been using Ubuntu since 7.10 (currently at 9.04) and Ubuntu has improved greatly and keeps getting better with more stability and better compatibility with each release. So far I've installed Ubuntu on four different machines, including an iMac, which also triple boots, and I haven't had any issues. If more companies would port their software to Linux, Microsoft would have a real run for their money.

06-05-2009, 12:16 PM	#186
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Since late April, I've Loaded 9.04 onto an old laptop as a total installation. Turned the laptop off and when re-started had problem errors with ntdlr (or similar) missing. Took me 3 weeks to sort that out after I had discovered the original Toshiba rescue discs. New windows installation upto SP2. I cannot, now, get my laptop to boot from cd; it insists on loading windows..... I do not want (really) to install as a virtual installation alongside windows using wubi (too much like hard work LOL).... I've burned 5 cds and 1 dvd and none of them will boot. Disc drive will read each of them (except 2 that I burned as boot discs). Ubuntu menu gives me options, but only the 'help with cd boot' menu option works - and that fails to deliver the necessary extra files at 99% of installation.....

06-06-2009, 12:37 AM	#187
frabjous Wizard Posts: 1,213 Karma: 12890 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA Device: Sony PRS-505	Sorry to hear it, Geoff. On my computer, there's a button you need to press to set up boot options when the computer is booting. Can't remember which one it is. I used to have it set up so that it wouldn't even check to see if the CD is bootable. I had to change that to install Ubuntu.

06-06-2009, 03:28 AM	#188
Peverel Still Easily Confused Posts: 889 Karma: 505319 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey - yes I am that big Device: Kindle	I had an old laptop that had a boot order in the bios and that was the only way it determined where it booted from. The system restore hasn't reset the bios and put the CD boot option after everything else has it?

06-07-2009, 10:10 AM	#190
frabjous Wizard Posts: 1,213 Karma: 12890 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA Device: Sony PRS-505	You might try something like Linux Mint instead.

06-07-2009, 10:24 AM	#192
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	I triple boot Windows XP SP3, Fedora 11, and Linux Mint from my desktop. On my laptop I run the latest iterations of Windows 7. I like 'em all.

06-13-2009, 10:00 AM	#193
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	After failing miserably over a number of installs and refusals of my burnt disc to boot on my laptop - i've had to do another restore (3rd!) from recovery (looks like my disc drive is Okay ?!). I ditched that route and loaded Ubuntu via Wubi and a direct internet download which successfully bypassed any need to burn a disc. onwards and upwards as perserverance pays off.....