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Replacing XP with Linux |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 4,710
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Replacing XP with Linux
I know there is a Linux thread for Linux experts but ... there are 17 pages already.
Could someone form there please make a simple recco of which Linux and exactly how to go about installing Linux. I wish to install on an XP driven Netbook. So no CD drive. I could install a SSD. 2MB of memory. I want/need Google Chrome. I want Avast. Happy to use Google on the cloud software - Docs, Sheet, Keep, Gmail, Slides, Calendar ... Seeing the Chrome page https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrom...platform=linux it says For Linux (Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora/openSUSE) So which one of these? Can you recco a malware free site to download? What about drivers? Equivalent of windows update? I understand I could download the software and then install off a USB drive. Once I have got going I will definitely read the long Linux thread. |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 6,180
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I'd recommend Ubuntu or Mint - and you won't need Avast when using Linux.
Just download the ISO file from their official sites. I'm sure someone else on here can recommend the best way to install it or you. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Devon
Posts: 12,880
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Make a bootable USB flash (4GB or more) and boot from it.
If you set persistence you can keep XP for a while. When happy, Install your distro permanently. http://www.pendrivelinux.com/univers...easy-as-1-2-3/ |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 4,710
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Thanks.
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,665
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Quote:
I know there is a Linux thread for Linux experts but ... there are 17 pages already.
Quote:
Could someone form there please make a simple recco of which Linux and exactly how to go about installing Linux.
I wish to install on an XP driven Netbook. So no CD drive. Getting the impression you havent touched Linux at all? you will be presented with a choice of desktop enviroments, so defo best to try them 1st. http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-li...-gnome-or-xfce http://distrowatch.com/index.php?dataspan=13 look for the list on the right, it will give you a list/link to lots of Linux OS. Quote:
Seeing the Chrome page https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrom...platform=linux it says For Linux (Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora/openSUSE) So which one of these? if you want true user friendly its Ubuntu or Mint. you may be looking at the lighter usage xfce or lxde versions for youre hardware. |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Red Rose County
Posts: 751
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You could try Zorin 32 Bit, I tried this for a replacement for XP.
This looks like XP desktop. |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 158
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Another good XP replacement would be LXLE
http://lxle.net/ Easy to use and light on RAM usage.Includes a very comprehensive range of software such as used for internet browsing, office software and playing of various media. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 11,995
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With Google Chrome you've got the choice of installing Chromium from the Repository/Software Centre in your chosen distribution, or the Linux version of Chrome proper from the Chrome site.
Chromium should be fine, and works the same as Chrome, but in some distros it comes without Flash support now, so you could try Chrome proper instead. For most software on Linux, the Software Centre is the first stop, rather than trawling individual websites. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 16,223
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Another vote for Mint, its the easiest for existing Windows users to migrate from. Not saying there is no learning curve but its not that bad, a long weekend and you will be up and running.
Installer is pretty easy, its detected virtually all the hardware on the dozen or so systems I have installed, all the way from netbooks with atom CPU and 1GB or RAM to latest i7 desktops. The image comes as a ISO and can be booted from CD if you want to give it a try, or converted to USB or SD card. If you decide to use it, its very easy to install and will even install a boot loader allowing you to choose between existing windows installation and linux. |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,173
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No need to worry about drivers. The Linux kernel has them built-in already, so your hardware will likely "just work".
For updates the various updating methods Linux distros use have been superior to Windows Update for 20 odd years. Not only will it update your system software but it will update all installed applications too. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 4,710
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Thanks all again. I am sure many will use this thread to move from XP to Linux in the next few months. So not just for me.
The processor is Intel Atom N270 with 2 GB of RAM http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/lapto...specifications On the back of reccos here for Mint I found this Linux Mint 15 How To Install Google Chrome for Beginners http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogYwP3g0h8I As Chrome and the Google ecosystem is my main need I am inclined to go for Mint 15 - now to find it. How about a Media Player? Is that built-in? |
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,665
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Mint comes with everything you will need.
From media players to CD burner etc etc. Plus there's loafs of different media players etc available for free. Through the software ctr.. http://linuxmint.com/ What desktop version are you going for. http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-linux/kde-gnome-or-xfce |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 16,223
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Quote:
Thanks all again. I am sure many will use this thread to move from XP to Linux in the next few months. So not just for me.
The processor is Intel Atom N270 with 2 GB of RAM Quote:
As Chrome and the Google ecosystem is my main need I am inclined to go for Mint 15 - now to find it.
How about a Media Player? Is that built-in? As for media player, I use VLC which can easily be installed via the built in package manager. |
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,173
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You won't need to do much to install Chrome.
Once Mint is installed just open up Firefox and go to: http://google.com/chrome and it will automatically detect what you're running and offer the correct package. Chrome is usually one of the first things i install on Mint. Once downloaded open the terminal and type: Code:
sudo dpkg -i Downloads/google Mint has a missing Chrome dependancy but after installing Chrome type Code:
sudo apt-get install -f Now Chrome's ready to run. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 11,995
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Quote:
You won't need to do much to install Chrome.
Once Mint is installed just open up Firefox and go to: http://google.com/chrome and it will automatically detect what you're running and offer the correct package. Chrome is usually one of the first things i install on Mint. Once downloaded open the terminal and type: Code:
sudo dpkg -i Downloads/google Mint has a missing Chrome dependancy but after installing Chrome type Code:
sudo apt-get install -f Now Chrome's ready to run. No need to complicate things for a newbie. And I'm using Chrome proper in Mint 16, without needing to install any missing dependencies? |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 4,710
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This looks good
"Ubuntu vs. Mint: Which Linux Distro Is Better for Beginners?" http://lifehacker.com/5993297/ubuntu...-for-beginners and seems to confirm that Mint is best for refugees from XP. |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,665
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Quote:
This looks good
"Ubuntu vs. Mint: Which Linux Distro Is Better for Beginners?" http://lifehacker.com/5993297/ubuntu...-for-beginners and seems to confirm that Mint is best for refugees from XP. http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-li...-gnome-or-xfce But as they are all free, and all do the same thing, just in different ways and looks, its down to trial and error. Have you actually got to download a ISO yet? http://www.linuxmint.com/ |
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,173
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Quote:
He doesn't need to do anything in the terminal to install a .deb file. He just needs to double click the file.
No need to complicate things for a newbie. And I'm using Chrome proper in Mint 16, without needing to install any missing dependencies? The Cinnamon edition of Mint 16 definitely has libcurl3 missing because i always have to install it when installing Chrome, but perhaps double-clicking installing Chrome installs the dependancy too. |
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 11,995
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Quote:
I thought it would probably install by double-clicking, but i've always done it the terminal way so didn't want to say without being sure.
The Cinnamon edition of Mint 16 definitely has libcurl3 missing because i always have to install it when installing Chrome, but perhaps double-clicking installing Chrome installs the dependancy too. What does libcur13 do? On Mint 15 (or was it 14?) I just used Chromium, but I noticed on 16 that Flash didn't work. That's why I installed Chrome. I still use Chromium on most distros, including Ubuntu 13.10. |
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,173
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Quote:
You're probably more experienced than me, but I just installed it from the site, without problems.
What does libcur13 do? Try opening a terminal and running: Code:
sudo apt-get install -f -s Quote:
On Mint 15 (or was it 14?) I just used Chromium, but I noticed on 16 that Flash didn't work. That's why I installed Chrome. I still use Chromium on most distros, including Ubuntu 13.10.
Chromium uses the system-installed version of Flash which Adobe stopped making new Linux releases of a couple of years back. Chrome bundles its own version (on Windows and OS X too) which is the newest version.
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 4,234
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Mint 16 had no issues at all with Chrome. It just installed straight away. I'd recommend v.16 anyway as it's the current version and it's pretty aces.
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 11,995
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Quote:
Try opening a terminal and running: Code:
sudo apt-get install -f -s |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 4,710
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Quote:
Yours and others new to Linux will have the headache of choosing which desktop version they will want to use.
http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-li...-gnome-or-xfce But as they are all free, and all do the same thing, just in different ways and looks, its down to trial and error. Have you actually got to download a ISO yet? http://www.linuxmint.com/ ![]() I think I'm going for Cinnamon primarily because ... I love cinnamon on my coffee and ice cream ... Mate could give me a headache ... Though KDE sounds like it is closest to Windows. I imagine in Linux there is aslo a windows-style / multi-tasking operation with several frames open at the same time. OK I'm coming over. Can you all keep an eye out for the Microsoft border guards and provide cover fire ... |
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 4,234
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Quote:
OK I'm coming over. Can you all keep an eye out for the Microsoft border guards and provide cover fire ...
I'm going for Cinnamon primarily because ... I love cinnamon on my coffee and ice cream ... Mate could give me a headache ...
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 4,710
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OK Downloading "Linux Mint 16 “Petra” Cinnamon" ISO from the University of Kent mirror as per
http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2489 1.1 GB and an hour to download. Presumably I boot up the netbook with this USB in it, hit F10 (IIRC) and see what happens. |
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