Switch to Ubuntu from Windows Vista.

I was just curious as to how I would go about getting rid of windows all together and strictly using Ubuntu. Also, does Ubuntu support firefox, iTunes, Counter-Strike Source, BattleField 2142, and things of that nature? Thanks for any help guys!

 

firefox yes, the rest not with out major tweaking/fussing.

 

Generally speaking, Linux is not all that friendly for gaming. For general computer use like surfing, and music and whatnot, it's OK. You may be able to get more detailed info from the folks over in the Linux forum...
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=50

 

How well does it work when you dual boot and leave both windows vista home premium and linux on there? Thanks for the help guys.

 

If you have never tried using Linux you may wish to give it a try first as it is very different to windows. I have tried to ease myself into it and still find it difficult. Linux also comes in various 'flavours', Knoppix, Ubuntu, Fedora, etc...

In the first instance you could try it out in one of 2 ways:

1. DSL Damn Small Linux

http://damnsmalllinux.org/

This will open up the Linux application within a windows environment.

2. The other way is to use a Linux Boot CD. This download is about 650Mb (DSL is only about 50Mb) and is used to boot straight into the particular Linux variation which you have chosen. Hunt around for the distro links.

Both options are free downloads.

Good Luck

 

It works quite well, I was triple booting XP, Vista and Ubuntu and had no problems at all. The first boot screen that comes up is the Linux one from which you choose 'other operating system' and the you get the MS Vista boot screen which also has the XP as another choice. If you don't like Linux, then it's a simple matter to remove the bootloader.

 

when i put Ubuntu on my computer, i wanted xp as well and i have 2 hard drives. so i one on each.

So what i think you could do is choose your hard drive on the ubuntu instalation which windows vista is on MAKING SURE YOUR DATA IS BACKED UP BECAUSE IT WILL WIPE ALL YOUR DATA

i think thats how it works, it partitions it automatically.

correct me if im wrong but thats pretty much what my m8 linux man told me and hes the ultimate pro, hopefully i have it right there isnt something ive missed.

 

No, it doesn't. It only auto partitions if you tell it to.

 

Ya, they really give you good chances to back out of dangerous operations.

 

It's best to partition first, then you have no trouble

Here's how Windows sees the HD in this machine

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/mikkh/?action=view&current=partitions2.gif
Assuming it's showing in these forums (first time I've tried inserting a photobucket link on this site)

You should be able to see I have 7 operating systems on one drive. All managed by the Xandros bootloader. Seek out a copy of Xandros 4 OCE, it's the ultimate beginners distro IMO, and their bootloader is the best multi platform loader.

Currently on that drive is XP (for gaming) Vista (because I got a free copy - don't like it) and 5 versions of Linux which are Granular (a PClinuxOS variant, but better IMO) Pardus (a very nice distro) Xandros (mainly for it's bootloader) Mepis (because I like Debian, but not Ubuntu) and Vector ( because I like Slackware better)

 

By far the safest way to setup a bootloader when Vista is involved is to use EasyBCD, put grub on the linux /boot partition, and then use EasyBCD to point to it. No muss, no fuss, and no messing with the MBR.

 

meh, its close enough, couldnt remember if it asks you or if it does it automatically, only just started learning linux so im bound to get one small thing wrong

 

Yeah I know what your saying, and I did use to install to the root partition(s) and then use some lovely command line stuff to grab a boot sector image and then put extra entries in XP's boot.ini to load it/them

like this (inside Linux)

Code:

dd if=/dev/hda6 of=/bootsect.lnx bs=512 count=1

(Then copy the generated 'bootsect.lnx' file to the C partition)

and then add to boot.ini (in XP) an extra line like this

Code:

c:\bootsect.lnx="Name_Of_Distro"

I still install to the root partitions - except for Xandros, and it picks up all the other Linux versions (and Windows of course) and gives me a very slick looking boot screen too.

Luckily Xandros uses 'lilo' because Vista seems to treat 'grub' as a possible boot virus and deletes it - or is this a cunning plan from Mr Gates and co?

I have used the GAG bootloader too in the past, but nothing beats Xandros for picking up other Linux versions. Every other distro has a token stab, possibly picking up between 1 and 3 of my Linux's but none find every other Linux, so I stick with the reliable Xandros

I'm thinking of removing the Vista infection anyway, because I don't use it

 

....... and

Xandros is clever enough to install to the MBR *and* to the root partition, so it's a very simple task to reinstate the MBR via the Xandros CD, by just choosing rescue mode when it boots (press space bar for options)

Then I'm free to chop and change distros, and simply run through the Xandros rescue mode again, to update the bootloader to include the new distro

Works for me anyway :major

 

Seems like a lot more work than:

Install grub to the /boot partition, then make an entry with EasyBCD that points to it.

Its really that simple. Then, if I want to add a new distro, or change, I don't have to do anything but install that distro in the same manner with grub, and then change the line in EasyBCD, or add one, if need be. No haggling, no need to use multiple steps to remove grub. In my screenshot, all I need to do is point to the right partition (nix partitions show up), name it, and click Add, then Save.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4883/captureig9.jpg

FWIW, I've yet to see Vista delete grub but I have had MBR and bootsector issues in the past, not just with Vista. Moreso with Vista. If you can use the MBR already set in place, its always safer.

That Vista deletes grub is a rumor.

 

What you saw with your own eyes was not Vista's doing.

I've dual booted Vista with Arch, Ubuntu, Sabayon, and Debian.

Vista never touched grub once.

I've yet to find a MBR or nothing distro, by the way.

I installed Ubuntu's grub to the /boot partition and linked it into the MBR with EasyBCD.

 

Well I'm a distro hopping distroholic, although I do stick to my favourite few like Vector (installed) and Wolvix as a live CD. I've tried nearly all the top 100 at Distrowatch over the last 6 years or so

I was talking about grub installed on the MBR of hda1/ C Vista has removed it at least twice on this test machine.

I never got the option in Ubuntu - to install anywhere else but the MBR, so I quit the install

OK, I'm a man of my word, and I've tried EasyBCD again, and I've come across two snags already. It has picked up all five of my currently installed distros which are, FYI, Granular, Mepis, Vector, Pardus and Xandros, but........

It's loading the grub or lilo menu, and I don't want that - I've picked the OS I want to load, and I don't need/want other choices. With the Xandros boot loader, it just loads the OS immediately

The Vista boot loader (apart from being very boring and dull) obviously wasn't designed for people like me. There is only space for 6 entries, and you have to scroll to see the 7th and beyond.

Minor points, I dare say, and probably sortable, but I think I'll go back to my way

 

Please don't think I am being rude. Its just that i know that Vista doesn't have any facility to fix its own MBR automatically, much less edit out foreign elements.

Either way works, I just prefer the safest method after a recent bout with major data loss.

 

And to each their own. I dont see any reason to run multiple Windows OSes, much less multiple Linux distros. Hence I run one of each, at the most.