New Ubuntu Adventure

Hello Fellow Members

I have been a basic computer user for many years now. I let Windows 98, and then WinXP, walk me through my baby steps. I use my computer chiefly for transferring my old vinyl records to CD, and try to edit some old boring home videos for future family generations. Recently, I have been having a lot of crashes with Windows, and the updates don't really tackle the various audio and video codec issues I have encountered. A friend suggested Ubuntu to me. He said it was a Linux system. It sounds foreign to me. I'm not sure :confused

If I install Ubuntu over my XP (before backing up of course)...will it recognize my driver disks, and settle the Windows codec crashes?

I've been using Windows Movie Maker, and Ulead Ver 10. Please be patient with me. If you have read this far and don't have time to answer me in depth, then please point me to a tutorial that will get me kick-started. Thanks to all for looking in on my question

 

Well Dozie, there's a reason that Windows crashes that you have to find the cause of. Perhaps it's hardware related or perhaps too many codecs installed or something completely different. Perhaps all that you need is a brand new install of Windows, backing everything up first of course..

There is nothing wrong with using Ubuntu, I just started using it again myself in a virtual environment, but that's no reason to have to start learning a new OS. Do it if you want to but not if you have to. Fix the windows. There's lots of good and knowledgeable folk here to help you with that.

 

First and foremost.

BACK EVERYTHING UP!

Linux and Windows uses a completely different format for storage. While windows and Linux can co-exist on the same disk space, it corrupts windows, and slows down BOTH operating systems.

Further, most Linux installs require a Linux format, meaning they will erase the drive they are put on. If you dont back up, you will LOOSE EVERYTHING on that drive.

A second consideration few people think of: Due to the nature of the file system Linux uses, if you decide that you don't like it after, you have to run a FULL format of that drive to return to Windows. Failure to do this will result in constant corruption and and system instability of the Windows operating system, and it has been suggested in some sites but not confirmed that it causes bad spots in your hard drive and eventual failure of the hard drive.

Now, as previously mentioned, you need to check for compatibility first. Use the live disks. A network driver, can be a hassle, but is rarely a problem. Graphics you run a 50/50 chance of. Sound, about the same. Generally, most drivers you can find in windows can be adapted for Linux if someone hasn't already made one. Also use a program like "Belarc Advisor" to identify your components and search the Linux distro for compatibility or the driver you need on the web if it isn't supported on install.

If you want Ubuntu so badly, then download something by the name of : "wubi.exe" and use that. It will install the Ubuntu Linux distro from windows, and be easier when you finally do decide to install it if you do. You still need to check the compatibility with a LIVE disk first.

Now if you install Ubuntu, will it recognize everything...? Chances are No it will not. You will need to get the codecs, and possibly a few programs out of the repositories before it will recognize most windows formatted media. Will it eventually edit it, and convert it to a easier to use in Linux format, yes, that can be done. Is it worth it? Not likely.

I suggest you repair your Windows install. First scan for Malware. If none, Strip out every codec. see if it fixes problem. If not, then reinstall your drivers one at a time. See if that helps. If not strip out programs you installed one at a time. If that fails, it is a long shot but strip out the updates one by one. (occasionally these have issues but not common.)

If that fails, say screw it, back up your important stuff and just do an overlay install on the same drive and delete the other windows folder. If you want a pristine one that requires you to copy your desired files back just do a complete wipe and reinstall then copy your files back.

If the problem repeats, then you are looking at hardware problems. A common recuperate is either a card that is loose; RAM being improperly inserted, going bad, or being the wrong type; the power supply going bad or worst case, your processor or Motherboard.

Something else to check here is the Temp of your components. If you are going much above 70 Degrees C. or about 160 Degrees F. you are pushing close to the danger zone and looking at possible overheating your components. Invest in some better cooling solutions, clean your case, and possibly get some cable ties or sleeves if you have wires scattered all over.

As a personal Rule, for XP I use only one of 2 codec. I use either the K lite codec Pack or the K lite Mega Pack.

For Vista, I use the above two or the Vista Codec pack.

After this I lock my media players from web access, and this prevents them from picking up viruses and bugs on bad files. If it is just a home movie, that you know is safe, if it needs a codec, then let it go get it from a trusted site. Personally if it is not in any of them 3 above I just trash the file and don't bother. I have not gotten a single virus from downloaded movies, music or content of that nature because of my rule.

IF you can do so, I suggest you do the same.

On a side note, you say it crashes alot... You don't happen to use a registry cleaner do you?

If you do, Format your drive, reinstall, and QUIT USING IT! I am an advanced user on Windows based OS's and I refuse to edit the registry unless absolutely required. If you do not know exactly what you are doing, you are going to cause instability, crashes, and blue screen of death. The few milliseconds gained from having a clean registry is not gonna make enough of a difference versus the stability of your OS. I choose stability over minor speed adjustment any day.

 

Dozie,

I have been using ubuntu for about a year now. Good news about ubuntu is that you can download the ISO. off of the internet and create a cd with that file. This cd will open in windows and will allow you to install the entire operating system inside windows. Just like microsoft office would be install. Also if you decide you do not like it you can remove it from your computer just like any other program in windows( add/remove programs in the control panel).

The downside to a linux OS is that you are unable to run a lot of your favorite windows based programs. However, with enough research on the web you might be able to find something comparable. For instance, OpenOffice is the derivative of Microsoft office. As far as doing your movie editing and the codecs, if ubuntu will not play them or recognize them, with the internet ubuntu will search and retrieve the appropriate software and codecs. You shouldn't have much trouble getting ubuntu to run and recognize hardware. The only thing I had problems with was my wireless network card, but after about an hour of searching on the web. It was up and running!

The advantage I get by using Linux is that it uses a lot less memory. I do a lot of electronic programming from my computer. So when I am emulating a program it uses less memory and it allows it to run faster. My computer with Vista on it used about 700MB of memory at a idle state. Now with Ubuntu it uses about 200MB at idle. Linux also give you more control of the PC. If for some reason ubuntu fails to load, you can navigate your way through to terminal and fix the problem.

If you do decide to try ubuntu realize that you are new to it, and continue to have patiences. The OS as most people know it (Windows) is very simple to use, and progressively continues to get easier. Ubuntu on the other hand can be at times very frustrating and tedious. It was very difficult for myself to skew my thought process away from the MS background and how easy Bill Gates have made things for us.


Good luck.

If you need further help feel free to ask.

 

I've been using Linux for many years and Debian for most of it and now Have been using Ubuntu since it's inception. You just have to try it , there's slight acclimation period of probably a month for a complete new person without any prior *Unix experience.

The best way to do this would be first to run a live disc and check hardware operation which most if not all hardware will be supported out of the box nowadays. If you have two hard drives like two 80 gig sata drives. XP/Vista already installed on the master , install Ubuntu on the slave drive and it will take care of the Dual boot configuration for you.

But I must forwarn you Ubuntu is the best and most advanced OS on the planet once you cross that line there's no going back. And I and my community will be more than happy to help you , My user name is the same across the internet so any Ubuntu event or boards or IRC channels please feel free to contact me @ Wiebelhaus.

Cheers!

 

Just to echo the positive support, I have put Ubuntu on four different machines and on numerous older machines I donate for kids. My last install was on a HP DV8000 laptop that had a buggered up windows and not recovery partition and no disks. This person is extremely happy with his machine and I have one more windows app to overcome and the entire household is headed the Ubuntu universe. I had a 1/2 hour issue getting one of the wireless cards to work and everything else has been worked out-of-the-box. I even use it (live cd's) to fix/remove infections on windows machines.