Installing without W2k but keeping some files.

1) - Before install anything force a complete and deep check of your hard-disk ( C: and D: partition ) from Windows, to be sure your hard-disk is good.
2) - Usually you can have fully access to NTFS partition as your d: partition if you don't delete it.

Working from Ubuntu install cd before to push install icon: i suggest you to completely delete the c: partition on the hard disk using the partition tools of cd.

At install time when you asked tell to Ubuntu to "Automatically use free space" and i think after a while you are ready to work with Ubuntu ;-).

I'm pretty sure that you are able to access or import your saved data.

If you are in trouble ask here.

HTH

Thanks elart.

Will wait a while to see if there is some concrete answer about using the files on drive D.

Drive C is only 3 weeks old and still good, but will take your advice and do a deep check.

Bruce

I'm not too sure about the email part. The evolution email program is fairly similar to outlook but I don't know whether or not you will be able to import the messages. However, if you export them from outlook (if that's what you use) I think you would have a good chance but don't quote me. I don't use either. Your address book should be easier. Just export it in a standard format (like CSV) and you should be able to import it. Again, don't quote me.

As for the rest of your files (MSWord Doc, PDF, DOS TXT files, etc) you shouldn't have any problem with these. Anything from closed source, proprietary apps, however, could be problematic. It just depends on the level of support in Ubuntu. Support is good for ms office files so you should be fine (not 2007 as I understand) and PDF and most other text type files are not a problem.

Ubuntu will be able to read from the D drive but NTFS write support is not enabled by default. You can add it but if you moving to Ubuntu best to just copy what you want and make that D drive a Linux drive for backup or extra storage.

Any special reason you are using 6.06? If you are running a server or something that might make sense but 7.04 is the newest version and works just as well as 6.06 for desktop type (and even server) installs.

Hi Jim,

  It's the email part I am concerned about most. I know when I run Ubuntu LiveCD Evolution wants to "import" my mail, but not sure if it need Outlook Express for that or just the file structure. I have the address book already saved as a VCF file and a .wab file just to be safe. Guess I could also put it in my Palm to be safe too. That's another part I'll have to deal with.
  Doc files are MSWord 2000, so guess that's safe too.
  Why 6.06! After 2 failed attempts to download 7.04 at a highspeed cybercafe I got frustrated and set my machine to download 6.06 over night (13hrs). 7.04 is ordered on a free CD and should be here mid-Nov. When I get that, I'll just upgrade fromn the CD.

  Anyone have an answer about the email?
  I have Outlook Express using D:\email as it's storage folder and want to import the mail and folders from there.

Thanks
Bruce

Bruce take a look at this http://www.howtoforge.com/importing_outlook_express_into_thunderbird_evolution

HTH

Hi elart,

I looked, I think will do just fine.
Putting this with what Jim said about the second drive.
I'll unstall Thunderbird, import and have Thunderbird use drive D to save the mails.
Install Ubuntu on C then have Thunderbird get it's own info from D.

YES!!!!!!!!!! Thank you guys. - elart and Jim.
Maybe premature, but will post again after I do it to let you know how it went.

Thanks, have a GREAT day you two.
Bruce Milmine

Hi elart and Jim Hutchinson,

Just to let you know things did not go as well as planned. However I now have Ubuntu up and running on hdb (40Gig) with Windows running on (hda) and a duel bootable system.

So this comment is just a big THANKS!

Bruce Milmine