Which FREE version of Linux?

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fredwilliams
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Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 5, 2017, 3:04 pm

Or Ubuntu, please.

I'm running Win 7 on a Sony VAIO.

Is the free OS straightforward to install and will my existing files 'n' stuff, especially on D:, be okay?

Thanks.



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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by BobHelm » October 5, 2017, 3:24 pm

It depends entirely on what you want & if you need something to mimic Windows or not.
As well as which distribution you pick, you also need to pick what desktop you run as well.

I am using Mint 18.2 with a cinnamon desktop. Mint is the most used Distribution but it doesn't suit everybody & doesn't always run faultlessly on all computer configurations.

Many Distributions are based on Ubuntu (Mint, for one) but they are about to release their next new long term support distribution (17.10) so it is probably best to stay away from that for a while unless you are happy to sort teething issues.

http://distrowatch.com/

Is undoubtedly the best place that to go for a good overall view of what is available. They do a weekly newsheet that always reviews a recent distribution with a fairly critical rundown of what it was like to instal & run..

As far as file security goes...
You can replace Windows completely on the C drive with a Linux replacement, or add Linux in a newly created drive & then dual boot into either Windows or Linux on startup.
Realistically you should make a backup of any data files before you install any system. The chances of over writing them is pretty small, but the risk is always there!!!

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 5, 2017, 4:00 pm

Thanks, Bob.

:D

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 22, 2017, 6:35 am

Hi, Bob.

Any news on the release of the new Ubuntu yet, please?

I was doing a search just now and something very recent came up that looked about right but it was a dead link!

Cheers,
Fred.

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by BobHelm » October 22, 2017, 7:17 am

Ubuntu 17.10 was released earlier this week.
That means that many of its' different desktop versions have also been released.
Ubuntu MATE, Xubuntu, Kubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Studio & Lubuntu have all released 17.10 versions.
As 17.10 is not a Long Term Support (LTS) version Mint will not be doing an update.
A copy of Ubuntu 17.10 can be downloaded from here..
https://www.ubuntu.com/
If you fancy trying one of the other flavours instead then give me a shout..

Version 17.10 may not be LTS but it has some major changes.
The most obvious is that the Unity graphic shell is no more & the commonly used Gnome is now back in use. This is largely because Canonical. who own Unbuntu, have abandoned plans for an all embracing computer/phone operating system & are back concentrating on creating computer operating systems.
One of the (to me) annoying 'differentials' of Ubuntu has also gone.
That was that the maximise, minimise, close buttons are now at the top right of screens rather than the top left!!


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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by BobHelm » October 22, 2017, 8:36 am

& as an alternative here is a review of the current version of Mint - 18.2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv6VHN1gp10

You can have Mint with a very large range of different desktops.
Personally I like Cinnamon, but it is very much a personal choice...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhHu-1glWps

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 22, 2017, 7:20 pm

^ Yahoo! Thanks, Bob.

I managed to sit on my reading glasses earlier and have got a terrible pair of supermarket plastics on.

Which version would you recommend for a Sony Viao running Win 7 because it's too low spec for Win 10, please?

:D

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by BobHelm » October 22, 2017, 7:40 pm

Short answer is whichever works Fred.. :D
& to know that you will have to download them, transfer then to a DVD or thumb drive & try them out.

The advantage is (if you use a USB drive) it doesn't cost much apart from time to do that.
You can run the system without installing anything with a more than reasonable expectation that when you do actually take the plunge & install it will work - as long as the live DVD worked..

As it is an older laptop you might want to look at Lubuntu 17.10 instead..
http://lubuntu.me/
Not seen a really decent review of it on youtube yet... here is 1 that is sort of OK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfYtwmPfM0A

As I have said before Sony products can be difficult to get anything to work on them except the Operating System that was preloaded onto it...but the only way to know is to try!!!

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 23, 2017, 11:50 am

^ Thanks, Bob.

I've got the RAM for the Lubuntu 17.10 64-bit version, but it won't let me load anything other than the alternative versions. And my Sony Viao is 2009 vs. 2007 or older (that the site mentions.)

Not wanting to hit the same snag/s as these guys... https://askubuntu.com/questions/966714/ ... overy-mode

...would you go for the 32- or 64-bit alternative OR something else completely different instead?

:D

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by BobHelm » October 23, 2017, 12:40 pm

The example above is typical of the sort of issues that you can run into using the absolute latest release of a product, especially on older equipment.
You might want to look at using an older LTS release, like 16.04. You can be pretty sure that the bugs have been knocked out of that..
http://lubuntu.me/downloads/

The problem with using 32 bit OS is that not many programs are now supporting 32 bit, so while the OS works well enough the number of programs that you can use is ever decreasing.
Not too much of a worry if you are just using the net, but can become a problem when you want to actually play a video on the net - for example..

There are very small Linux systems like Puppy Linux that will run off a USB directly into memory, but I have never used them personally. Probably worth while you looking at it..
http://puppylinux.org/main/Overview%20a ... tarted.htm

To be honest though Fred you need to find something that will run on your machine & then stick with it. A 10 year old laptop is extremely ancient as far as software goes...

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 23, 2017, 9:54 pm

Cheers, Bob.

I'm still wearing my supermarket specials.

I can see ants from the other side of the room but managed to make myself a cuppa Coffee Mate earlier, LOL.

The link you posted "appears" to take me to the same link/page that you originally posted. (http://lubuntu.me/downloads/) which IS the latest version.

In my semi-binoculared state, I'd be very grateful if you could post a link to the tried and tested version/s (64-bit included) that you mentioned, thanks.

Google is a goggler for me until I get my new specs on Thurs.

:lol:

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 23, 2017, 10:34 pm

Ah, the grandeur of age eh, Bob? LOL

I have now just had the sense to scroll down and see (with Magnifier) the 16.04 version/s you mentioned.

"3 hours left"...

...and NOT counting.

Bedtime!

8)

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 24, 2017, 3:24 pm

Hi, Bob.

I backed up everything to USB, clicked on the link and ended up downloading... an 890 MB Image Disk Burner.

I'm not aware of ever having had a disk burner but is the attachment a correct part of protocol, please?

If YES, what should I do about it?

If NO, where next, Columbus? :lol:

Thanks.
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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by BobHelm » October 24, 2017, 8:17 pm

Fred...
You need to download the ISO image of the program & then 'burn' that image file to a 'device'. what the 'device' is depends how big it is. If it is less than about 850 MB than that can be a CD, if it is more then than is usually a DVD,
It is also possible to load a bootable copy to an USB drive. This is, under Windows, rather more complex than burning a CD/DVD but has advantages as well -in that you can actually write back to to the USB & run the system completely from it..

BUT the fact is that you need to download the program that you want & 'burn it' to a bootable device so that you can run a computer from it.
If you do not know how to do that (download & create a bootable device) then. sensibly, that is a completely different thread from this one...

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by fredwilliams » October 24, 2017, 10:19 pm

^ PM just sent :D

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by BobHelm » October 25, 2017, 8:33 am

OK Fred....
If you are going to use cd/dvds or a USB drive..
First you will need to install a free disk burning device. There are plenty of free ones available, PowerISO is as good as most..
http://www.poweriso.com/download.php

Next you need to download the Linux OS..
http://lubuntu.me/downloads/

USB's are a little more complex than disks, but have the advantage that you can easily overwrite them with a new OS when you like...
Here is an 'How to'...
They are installing Windows onto the USB rather than Linux, but the method is identical, you just select the Linux ISO file that you downloaded earlier in the Image File box.. It should be in your Download Folder..
Mouse click on any of the images below to increase their size..
burn 1.png
burn 2.png
burn 3.png
burn 4.png
burn 5.png
burn 6.png
https://www.poweriso.com/tutorials/how- ... -drive.htm

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by glalt » October 26, 2017, 10:32 am

I was using Mint on my under powered laptop and an old HP Netbook. I had updated them both to version 18.2 Cinnamon. Mint is a great distribution but unfortunately it is a bit heavy. I tried one called Zorin on the netbook and found it suited me. I now have Zorin on both underpowered machines. Zorin makes changing from Windows to Linux much easier.

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by BobHelm » October 26, 2017, 11:16 am

Zorin is, indeed, a very good OS for any user moving from Windows XP or Windows 7 who does not want to bother learning a new system, as it really does attempt to mimic Windows - while taking up far less than Windows in resources..
It is (like a great many Distributions) based on Ubuntu.

Download
https://zorinos.com/

A review..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmB6WHGJBcc

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Re: Which FREE version of Linux?

Post by glalt » October 27, 2017, 10:43 am

I was using the free 12.1 version of Zorin. Yesterday I downloaded and installed the latest free 12.2 version on the netbook and laptop. Both installed with no problems. Only minor differences.

ADDED - The 12.2 did clean up some of the minor glitches such as adding new software from the lists. The new version gives more information about what is happening.

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