[TriLUG] Convert to Linux

[Kevin Flanagan]

Lewis,


	There have been many good suggestions, there are at least as many 
approaches. Ah, the beauty of Linux, you can do things the way that work 
for you....  Sometimes it's also the PITA.


	I agree completely with the folks who talk about making a task list.

	I suggest that you make a quick break with what's your primary boot to 
OS, if it's not what you do by default, you won't figure things out as 
quickly.  Task oriented learning always worked best for me anyways.


	As for the details of installation.

	I'd put the extra disk inside your computer, and install Linux on it, 
making it your default.  You can boot to Windows if need be without any 
loss of data.

	Mount, read only, your NTFS or FAT32 disk, that way you can get to the 
data, but don't write new data there.

	Get one of the support tools for windows to mount ext3 file systems, 
that way you can mount your Linux disk from windows to put things there. 
  There are multiple options, google for "ext3 support for windows"



Charge at it, make Linux your home, it'll be good.


And of course, hang here, there's lots of smart folks who are eager to help.





Kevin





Lewis Faulkner wrote:
> Please respond directly to e-mail address below. I have used MS Windows 
> for several years, but am
> now interested in cutting the apron strings and converting to Linux. I 
> am a total novice to Linux, I have
> read "Point and Click Linux", "Moving to Linux", and "Moving to Ubuntu 
> Linux". They were informative.
> 
> I am terrified of jumping into,  for me, "uncharted" waters. My 
> questions revolve  around loosing my
> Windows programs and data. No big deal if Linux works as I hope. This is 
> what I propose: purchase an
> external 60, 80, 120 Gb, USB 2.0 hard drive, install Linux and "boot" 
> from the external drive. Thereby saving
> all my Windows stuff until I finally bite the bullet and convert all the 
> way. This is my current hardware
> configuration: Dell PC tower, Windows XP Professional, Windows 5.1 with 
> service pack 2 (build 2600)
> machine type AT/AT compatible, System BIOS Dell - 7, BIOS date 8/24/04, 
> Processor type x86, Family 15,
> Model 3, Stepping 4, Genuine Intel with 1 processor and physical memory 
> 512 Mb.
> 
> Drive C: fixed hard drive 80 Gb, drive D: DVD - ROM  DVD+/- R/W with 
> MBR  partition  3215  Mb.,
> Drive E: CD+/- R/W 568 Mb
> Drive D: currently will "boot" the system with "Ubuntu/Kubuntu" disk 
> installed.
> 
> Sorry,  for this longish note,  but before I go off on "hairy"  tangent, 
> I wanted to see if this idea is workable.
> Any suggestions  positive  or negative  will be appreciated.
>