Help for Linux on My Laptop

[tusharj]

Hi
I have always been curious about using linux, but i was always scared to replace the OS in my laptop as I did not want to lose my documents and other data. Now finally I have bought a new computer so i would like to install Linux on my old one. But I am unsure about how to go about it.

Can any one please give me pointers on how to go about it?

I will be using the laptop for the basic home/office purposes, mainly web access, email some word processing and a few spreadsheets. And not to forget a few MP3's . If I am able to play some games That would be a bonus ( Nothing hard care just stuff like solitaire etc)


So Can any one please advice me what i should do?

The Laptop I am using is about 6 years old.

It is a sony Viao PCG GX 580
Intel Pentium 4 Mobile CPU 1.7 Ghz
512 MB RAM
Sony CD-RW CRX810E
2 PCMCI Slots
Network Adapter
It also has a Sound card Yahama AC - XG
Build in Modem (Conexant Ambit Soft 56K Data fax Modem)

Any And All help will be greatly appreciated

thanks in advance

-Tushar

ps I consider my self a decently tech savy person but am by no means an expert or even close to one so please bear that in mind

thanks again

 

[praka123]

Linux is a Free,open source operating system which does not need any "anti-virus" anti-spyware or any such softwares because of the superiority of its platform(UNIX-like).
post ur Linux questions in Open SOurce section.guys there are ready to help you.
aware that many laptops as of now are made for Windows OS.yeah no probs Linux works very well.but those extra keys or "dead keys" u have in ur keyboard may not work without customization in GNU/Linux.
Try some simple distros like Ubuntu,Fedora or Mandriva.dont go for source based distros which out-of-the box works great,but later u find it hard to cop up with their software management;for eg:gentoo,sabayon maybe
if u want outofthebox playing of proprietory plugins and softwares(flash,mp3,wma,wmv etc) you should go for Ubuntu clone called Linux Mint @ *linuxmint.com
U can dual boot windows and GNU/Linux without any fear.GNU/Linux supports almost all the things which u can do with other OS.
My suggestion is go for Ubuntu Feisty Linux.you can refer *ubuntu.com .
Ubuntu CD is a ~700MB download.later u can install ur software easily with synaptic package manager and apt unlike some distros which is tough to tinker once installed.yes Bery,compiz or any and most softwares are available in Ubuntu repositories,both official and unofficial
the ubuntu guide solves most of ur queries regarding.
*ubuntuguide.org
for a free shipping of a ubuntu feisty cd u can ask shipit @ ubuntu.
*whylinuxisbetter.net explains the basic things why Linux rocks.
ubuntu+windows:
*www.matthewjmiller.net/howtos/dual-boot-linux-and-windows/
best of Luck,
~~~~

 

[faraaz]

First things first, go to *www.sabayonlinux.org and download their v3.3 ISO file. A new version is due in a little while, but if you want to install the stable version, you should get this only.

Its a big download (about 3.2 GB) but it installs every application you will ever need! It comes with Beryl installed already (which has some really hi funda effects) as well as all your other major applications.

And it has a reputation as being a hard distribution to use...but I'm a total newbie. Like you I am very new to the whole thing, and I only shifted less than a month ago. I started off with a distribution called PCLOS but I got sick of lack of inability to install third party software as well as bad repository, so I tried out Ubuntu, Linux Mint, SuSE etc and finally settled on Sabayon.

This is the prettiest and simplest distribution out there and it WILL run MP3s, all your office documents, pretty much every multimedia file out there...so give it a go. If you have any trouble, drop by the Sabayon forums, where there are a lot of people will to help you out. If any trouble, there is also the Sabayon Wiki and other community docs that can help you out.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SABAYON!

PS: What's your HDD capacity? You didnt mention...Sabayon need 10 GB to install fully...but thats because it install almost EVERY application out there you could ever need...so the system works great out of the box!

 

[amitava82]

I'll Suggest Linux Mint. Its based on Ubuntu, Comes with all audio video codecs, NTFS read write support, beryl etc and its bit faster compared to Ubuntu and Looks Cool
get latest version Mint linux 3.0 cassandra from *linuxmint.com/ about 700MB Download.

 

[faraaz]

@tusharj: yeah, linux mint is a cool distro too...but be warned...Ubuntu and Ubuntu derivatives are hell to configure after initial installation for newbies...

I say this from bitter experience...

 

[tusharj]

Hi Guys
Does it matter what distro I use with respect to the Laptop. I mean can the same distros be used for Laptops and Desk tops? Especially since The laptop has the touch pad and then special config for the keyboard.

as for my HDD its a 40 GB HDD partationed into 25 & 15 GB's

does that matter?

 

[dabster]

@tusharj: yeah, linux mint is a cool distro too...but be warned...Ubuntu and Ubuntu derivatives are hell to configure after initial installation for newbies...

I say this from bitter experience...

from where did you get that...?

Ubuntu and their derivatives are much better in terms of package handling, just next to SUSE's Yast. The apt-get works superbly for everything. and the synaptic manager is equally good.

@Tusharj: Since your laptop is 6 year old there should be no hardware configuration issues they will be installed and configured by any of the Distros, But ubuntu like lightweight shd work better for yr kind of works

Cheers,
Anurag

 

[subratabera]

As I am using Linux Mint currently, I can say that it is very very user friendly. Almost all necessary applications are installed by default (except games, which can be installed easily). Its a newbie friendly distro and has a strong foundation (Ubuntu+Fedora). Its menu structure is too good. You can use wine to install many Windows applications which automatically group under "Wine" menu entry. There is also a tool to edit Xorg.cong file graphically, which you may need to configure your display. Software installation is a very easy in Linux Mint, just a point and click affair (need Internet connection). I think Linux Mint 3.0 codename "Cassandra" is really the OS for you...

With regards...

Subrata Bera.

 

[faraaz]

from where did you get that...?

Ubuntu and their derivatives are much better in terms of package handling, just next to SUSE's Yast. The apt-get works superbly for everything. and the synaptic manager is equally good.

@Tusharj: Since your laptop is 6 year old there should be no hardware configuration issues they will be installed and configured by any of the Distros, But ubuntu like lightweight shd work better for yr kind of works

Cheers,
Anurag

Personal experience? Admittedly, I'm a noob and I don't have the experience you guys have, so I don't even know what Yast is. But I CAN tell you this much...the Ubuntu community is elitist and arrogant. Sabayon's community isn't. Neither is PCLOS' community. I don't care how good the package handling is. I care about how easy it is to set up and use a distro. AND NO...package management isn't the same thing as setting it up. If I want to change my resolution to 1440x900, I shouldn't have to learn how to convert a .run file to a .deb file and then install it, just because Ubuntu's crappy ATI compatible drivers aren't working...

In Sabayon, the xorg.conf file was fully commented, telling me what each section was for and WHAT to put in there to get what I want. NO OTHER DISTRO OUT THERE DOES THAT! Atleast, that I know of...and these little touches make all the difference to a user like myself.

@the OP: Dude, your laptop will be fine, install Sabayon and just sit back and relax!