Ubuntu

Completely New to Linux and Ubuntu (Many Questions)

Asked by LowNBHoldem

Alright, as the title states, I am 100% new to any Linux distribution. However, I have been researching and doing homework for near 2 weeks straight on what Linux is, the benefits, and the steps necessary to install. I am trying to do everything once, without screwing up my computer lol

I currently own an HP Pavilion a1110n <http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00388349&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=470505&lang=en> with an upgraded graphics card (I am at work right now and cannot remember the brand or model name of the card. However, when I get home in a few hours I can provide that info as well)
I am running Windows XP SP2 and using roughly 40% of the 160GB HDD.
I would like to dual boot XP and Ubuntu 7.10 (or can you suggest a better version/distribution for my purposes/knowledge level?)

Here are the steps that I have gone through so far:
I wanted to try and get a feel for Linux before I did any major changes to my computer. Smart, in my opinion lol...
I downloaded Knoppix LiveCD version 5.something and burned the .iso as an image file. However, it did not boot (it froze while reading my computer's information). After reading, I found that other people had the same problem and it was because of the upgraded graphics card. The remedy was supposed to be the 4.02 version. So I took the same steps with Knoppix LiveCD version 4.02. This time, the OS made it past the freeze point of the previous attempts and froze shortly after (still could not boot).
So though my attempts failed, I decided to just jump in full force.
I know that I must partition my HDD, so last night I created the Windows Recovery Discs and also a Recovery Tool CD. I have also created the boot disc for Ubuntu 7.10. Tonight I plan on backing up all of my important files (any suggestions, other than just dragging them to the CD drive and burning?), doing a Windows defrag, and possibly starting the Ubuntu install.

My dilemmas and questions:

1) From what I can read, Ubuntu will or can create a partition to run from during install. Is this correct? If so, does it give you the opportunity to state the size, name, and location for the new partition? What file format will it use? Will it allow me to choose the format? If so, which should I use? What is the ideal size of the partition for Ubuntu? Or is there a need to create the partition first with third party software or the Recovery Tools CD that I created?

2) I would like to create a 3rd partition that both Windows and Ubuntu can read/write to. Is this possible? Is there a file format that will work for this purpose? At what stage should this be done (before or after installing Ubuntu, or does it matter)? If this is possible, am I able to use the software of the Ubuntu boot disk to do this? Will the boot disc allow me to resize and relocate partitions if I need to? If not, which software would you recommend?

3) One reason that I am interested in Linux is that there are not supposed to be background programs running (which would be good for gaming purposes, correct?). However, most games that I play run off of Windows. Will I need a Windows emulator to run these while booted into Ubuntu? Wouldn't this defeat the purpose of trying to free up my computer's RAM and speed? What is a good emulator to use?

4) Ubuntu provides its own bootloader, right? Does this install automatically when I install the Ubuntu OS?

Can you offer any other suggestions or input for me? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am sure I will have more questions further down the road, but I think this is all for now. Thanks again guys.

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A.B. (abadr) said : 		#1

Your questions are all over the place, but that's quite nice since that kind of interest and enthusiasm will get you hooked to Ubuntu in no time :).

Did you try out the Ubuntu Live CD instead of Knoppix? It would give you an idea if Ubuntu will work with your hardware out of the box or will there be a need for tinkering.

> any suggestions, other than just dragging them to the CD drive and burning?

You might have allready took care of this but don't forget the stuff that's outside the "My Documents" folder: email, bookmarks, skype chat history etc.

Once you boot the Ubuntu live CD it will give you the option to install it on your HD and it will create the necessary partitions and almost do everything for you. However there need to be un-partitioned space allready on the disk. You'll need to delete the current windows partion and create one that's smaller and leave the rest of the disk for Ubuntu. Or, use some disk utility that can shrink the current windows partition. I've had success with Partition Magic in the past. Any of these strategies will need a proper backup of everything before proceeding for obvious reasons. Check your backup CDs, don't just trust your burning program. Trust me, I learned that the hard way. Or, Just install another hd and use that for Ubuntu. HDs are pretty cheap nowadays and it would be the easiest way to go.

Linux can use any of several file systems. The choices and a comparison between them is beyond the scope of this answer. Ubuntu by default uses EXT3 which is a very stable file system and you should not change that now.

Ubuntu will actually create 2 partitions in the space it finds. One for the OS and the other is the swap partition, think windows swap file. Linux uses a partition for swap rather than a file for good reason. Generally the swap partition should be twice as big as your RAM. Again the installer will take care of that automatically.

Ubuntu 7.10 can read and write NTFS so it will be able to read and write to your existing windows partition. If you prefer not to let it touch your windows partition then make another NTFS partition from windows and have Ubuntu access that one.

There's a windows emulator called wine that runs some windows programs and some games. There's also a commercial but cheap emulator called Cadega specifically made to run windows games. I don't play games and I want 100 emulation so I use VMware which gives me a real fully compatible windows machine inside a window in Ubuntu. Pretty fantastic but not for games.

Ubuntu will install a boot loader that will give you the option to start in windows or linux.

Welcome aboard. :)
A.B.

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A.B. (abadr) said : 		#2

.. and always install windows first.

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Vojtěch Trefný (vojtech.trefny) said : 		#3

1) The best way for you is to use special option in installer - "Guided - resize the partition and use the freed space" - you will only choose size for Ubuntu and installer will do everything... You can also set/create partions manually - also during installation or via GParted (it's on LiveCD - System→Administration→Partion Editor).
Installation guide with screenshots of installer - http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-Install-Ubuntu-7-04-Windows-User-P-O-V-52973.shtml

Filesystem is by default ext3, but you can choose other (but ext2 is the best choise...).
Ideal size is 5-10GB for system + something for your files (it's up to you...).

2) Yes, it's possible. I recommend you FAT32 or NTFS filesystems (for Windows are native and Ubuntu has no problems with them).
Same as previous question - GParted can do this...

3) Games are problem... There are some native games for Linux, but only few... You can try to run Windows games (and programs) via Wine ..
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wine
http://winehq.org/

4) Yes, it is called grub and it's installed automaticaly.

Some helpful links:
https://help.ubuntu.com/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Beginners/FAQ
http://ubuntuforums.org/

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Allen Chemist (alchemist) said : 		#4

Just to add my opinion to one of the questions above

#2 I recommend Fat32 for the partition for "both" systems. I have personally had less problems in linux with Fat32. Another thing you can do, is install a driver in Windows to allow windows to see the Linux partitions. One such driver is here:
http://www.fs-driver.org/

When your in windows, not only would you be able to see your designated "shared" folder, but all your other folders too.

Good luck and welcome to the community!

-Allen

Revision history for this message
akshay jain (jainer413) said : 		#5

first get norton partition magic downloaded ..

boot it to a cd..

before all this shift your tenants!!(data) from your other rooms{drives eg. c:/ d:/} to a drive required to you while using windows
and make one of your drive completely free..
then make a restoration point in your windows
and also before this learn somewhere
how to recover start up problems i windows xp
 through xp cd''
after all this
-)BOOT WITH NORTON PARTITION MAGIC
-)FORMAT THE PARTITION WHICH YOU HAVE SET FREE BEFORE:{ROOMS,TENANTS,MMM:-)!!
-FIRST DELETE THE PARTION AND MAKE IT AS UN PARTITIONED SPACE ..
-NOW SELECT SOME PART SAY 5GB MAKE A DRIVE OF IT AND FORMAT IT AS A LINUX PARTION THAT IS EXT3 OR EXT2.
NOW RESIERF IT ,,REBOOT WITH UBUNTU CD THIS TIME
--INSTALL IT NOW\
--FOLLOW THE ON SCREEN INSTRUCTION ,,
UBUNTU EVEN THRU ITS GRUB LOADER HILE BOOTING SHOWS THE BOOT OPTIONS FOR 20 SEC!!
 WHATS NOW YOU HAVE ALL MOST DONE..

NOTE :-WHILE HAVING XP ON THE SAME HARD=-DRIVE THERE ARE CHANCES OF FREEZING THE COMPUTER WHILE INSTALLATION
SO TRY ONLY WHEN ''BOSS DAY OUT''
--OR WIPE YOUR DATA THEN TRY N CRY!! LOL
--OR ''BILL GATES IS THE BEST.,LONG LIVE BILLGATES..LONG LIVE MIRCOSOFT!! SHOUT LIKE ME!!

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carling (dextrus2000) said : 		#6

Thought Ubuntu is good, it is not the best distro out today. The Ubuntu team seem to have lost their way, Over the passed couple of months I have been downloading other distributions and have found one that puts Ubuntu well behind. the distribution is Sabayon 4 it has everything and works out of the box, with multi choice desktops from the login page which was auto installed and the choice of software is second to none, including action games,

Ubuntu is well advertised in the Linux world so it becomes the choice when people start to thinking about moving to Linux that is what I choose at the beginning the most popular distribution. in my opinion Sabayon 4 is the top Linux distro the Unbutu community need to be following in Sabayon foot steps and start to introduce action games with their releases that way the gamers can see Linux does play action games as good as windows,

I have just downloaded Jaunty alpha release lets hope this matches Sabayon 4 in quality and style

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