Reformatting, and got some kubuntu questions.

Hey everybody. I'm planning on reformatting my pc within a few days. I'm donna do it according to the directions given by [this website] and i think i can do that, I'll just print the directions and follow it. Now i wnna have windows xp AND either kubuntu or edubuntu. Edubuntu is an OS just like kubuntu I gues but with a GNOME interface and is made for kids (teens and so on) (and is a dead givaway by the "ed" in edibuntu). Get a look at edubuntu at [this website]. Get a look at kubuntu at [this website]. OR... should I use a different linux OS like Suse or GNOME? What I'm basicly going after is having Windows XP and some other Linux OS(free) together, probably on a small partition. And once i get that straight, i wanna be able to share my files betwen both of the OS's. Or does it already do that?

PS. I have already backed up my files on a small hardrive somewhere else (about 700mb)

Please give your opinion withing the next 2 days before easter comes,, PLEASE.

#378690

You should carefully check out a few different linux distros to see what fits you.

For example:

Ubuntu - If you wanna use the current popular distro, thats based on debian.

Debian - Google apt, its the reason people use debian, slashdot loves it.

Slackware - If you want to be forced to learn how to use the terminal.

Also to share files, you want to have a fat32 partition for that sole purpose.

#378706

if you are a first timer, you shouldn't use Slackware. It's a little too complicated for the first time linux user.

You should begin with one of those: Ubuntu (Kubuntu if you want KDE...), Mandriva, SuSE and Fedora.

My personal favorite is Mandriva, though Ubuntu does a fairly good job at being easy (installs like a charm, Synapse is a pretty easy to use tool for installing programs, etc...)

for answering your other questions..

To be able to share your files, you'll have to ask yourself this first: is my windows partition a NTFS or a Fat32 one?

If it's Fat32, nice, Linux will be able to read/write to it natively with no problem.

If it's NTFS (likely), then you'll have to install a NTFS coded to be able to Read the windows partition, but you won't be able to write to it (well you can, but it's at your own risk -_-') and for what to install it'll depends on the distribution you have chosen.

For Windows to be able to read Linux partitions, there was a driver I used a while back, I'll try digging it tonight...

oh and Gnome ain't a distrib, it's a DE (desktop environment) and his a favorite of mine

and finally, shouldn't this go into the Other section?

#378719

well i use ubuntu, but if you want kde the kubuntu is fine. i prefer gnome myself. for shareing files, i know there is a way you can read the ext 3 file system from windows, but i forget how. now if u want to read your ntfs files from ubuntu, that can be done pretty easly, u just have to modify your fstab file in ect, of cource thats on ubuntu. i know mandrivia has really good ntfs support, but i dont really like mandrivia. anyways, ubuntu is awsome, i would go with it.

ext 3 fs on windows http://www.fs-driver.org/index.html

#378738

Well that kinda, well.... sucks because I have a NFTS partition for windows XP. I think I'll be able to go through the linux stuff and figure out (thanks for all the names and stuff) what I want. Now i'm honestly not into codes and I'm not planning on buying partition magic. And with the codes you said you would bring, are they like emulator codes? Will my pc slow down? This is a diagram of how i want my partitons:

Windows XP os-----Data space-----Linux os (kubuntu, suse, red hat, whatever)

And I want to be able to switch between both operating systems for things. And lets say i download a file on the internet, for example a jpeg or someting. And lets just say i downloaded while operating windows xp. I want to be able to then switch over to the linix operating system and see that SAME FILE IN THE SAME SPOT. And if I edit files, then it also appears edited on the other OS.

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Edit:

Ok, I looked at SuSe and it seems pretty cool. It has the features that I wanted including being able to run the smae programs and same files I have on my pc. (this is SuSe 10.0 btw) But it also has either the KDE enviroment or the GNOME enviroment. I want to know, If i use the kde enviroment, will it look just like Kubuntu then?

#378783

Sorry for this doubble post, but i have toi get attention to my final question on which linux os.

If for Kubuntu, Say "Aye"

If fore SuSe, Say "Ney"

#378923

it won't look exactly has Kubuntu since they always tweak the DE to go with their desktop but the bases will be there yes.

for your partition:

the best way to do this would be to have three partition, two for the OSes and one for the DATA.

let's take exemple on a 80 Go.

we would have to create three partition there, two of 20 Go, and one of 40 Go (you could also use two 10 Go partitions and one 60 Go).

on the first two, you install XP and Linux (on a NTFS and a Ext3 partition, respectively) then, the remaining paritition will be FAT32, so both OSes can read/write to it with no problem. you then put there all the data you want

recap:

20 Go: Windows (NTFS)

40 Go: Data (Fat 32)

20 Go: Linux (Ext3, divided into three. (/, swap and /home)

for your Linux choice, it's really just a matter of taste. you'll have to try them to see if it fits your personality (a hint, Live CDs are great for that) and besides, most of the linux distribution creates three partition, one of them being your home. so even if you decide to switch distribs, your home doesn't get erased (warning, it's not the case with Ubuntu/Kubuntu, it creates only two partition for "easier management". bleh...)

#378939

+Wow thanks, cuz what i have is an 80gb hardrive. But does the OS partitions NEED to be 20gb? Cuz thats kindof alot (i only used 24gb on this hardrive alone)

And what progrogram should I use? Or should I follow [this website] and just type a code during the time the computer starts up?

I would rather use some kind of windows utility from microsoft intergrated in the system to resize, ad, and edit partitions.

#378944

no, the partition doesn't need to be 20 Go, it's just a figure to demonstrate what I was explaining

now most linux distribution comes with a partition tool (the best I know of is the one that comes with Mandriva, diskdrake) that will help you partition your system. now be careful though if you want to resize an NTFS partition, it's a trick you have to plan carefully. you'll have to defrag the NTFS partition before closing Windows prior to installing linux, and don't do anything else. (once you defrag, reboot. do not open anything) if you did it right, the resizing will be successful. if not, you'll have a windows that won't boot (in this case, just erase Linux and resize the NTSF partition to it's ancient format, and it will boot again)

Mandriva/Ubuntu installs are pretty straight forward so you shouldn't have any problem installing those two.

#378949

You know what? I made my decision, thankyou soooo much, I'm stupid, but heh, I'm 12. Now the website I mentioned, is that a porper way to reformat?

#378960

it's as good as any, but you should try the official forums of the distribution you've chosen

it's always the best place to get some help on installing a particuliar distrib

#379008

Wow, thanks for all the help everyone. If this topic is wanted to be pinned, then go agead.

What now? Ok, i reformatted my pc, blah blah blah.... Now I download the breezy badger live cd for windows xp. I look at the file type it was (uknown to my pc (some native format) an ".iso" format. My dad says it was some kinda international standards of something. (can't figure out the o)

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Posts merged. Please do not double post. - Pe8er

#379028

try http://www.isobuster.com/

or mount it using daemontools at

http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/announcements.php

oh if you only wanted to know what iso stands for, wiki it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660

#380811

don't mount it with Daemon, you need to reboot to use it

the .iso is an image of an actual CD, wich you can burn using various burning software (NERO, easy cd&dvd creator, etc..)

you can find one free for windows here if you don't already have one:

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

(this is only for .iso though, but it's pretty good )

#381092

Well, it's probably too late to put in my $.02, but I highly recommend gentoo - it may be more difficult than ubuntu to set up, but once you learn how to work it, gentoo is very good to you. It gives you the choice to pick essentially whatever you'd like to do and teaches you some powerful techniques for administrating your newly-linux machine. It also has a large and very helpful community, and a package repository of 140,000 programs. Very handy!

But, ubuntu is debian-based, so you can't go too far amiss with it. All the best luck!

#381190

Thanks guys. As I mentioned, I have a limited cd drive. It can only read cd's (and even yet, not very well. ) So I am VERY limited. So is there a program where I can actually run the file during the time my pc is active? And I will not get a new pc for atleast a month because my dad's hardrive is encrypted and can't be used on a new pc. [i will get my dads pc, He will get my mom's old one.]

PS: I have decided to switch to another linux Called SuSe, or maybe others like:

1. Skyos

2. BEOS/ZETA

3. C=64

4. OS/2

#381397

hmm..the only way I can think of if you don't have a burner is make someone ship a CD, or buy one (SuSE sells boxes)

or, you can try Ship it with Ubuntu (it's free, and they give you loads of CDs to give to people around you)

https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

#381419

Well i decided Suse (10.1 beta 5) and there is no cd's. So I'll wait for me to get new hardware.

#381475