Ubuntu

need help switching to Ubuntu

Asked by AppleBread

First of all..... in the documentation page in https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/switching/dualboot-planning.html it says that i have to run diskmgr.msc to know the layout of the current partitions, but I can't run diskmgr.msc, Windows said it can't found it.

2nd, can I install Ubuntu in other drives other than drive C?

3rd, do I have to reinstall programs that I have in windows?

last, does linux have different file types to run programs(like in Windows you use .exe to run most of the programs and .dmg on Mac OS)?

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Gord Allott (gordallott) said : 		#1

if you have more than one hard-drive, you can indeed install it on a different drive. you can also make your 'C drive' smaller in the ubuntu installer so that you can fit ubuntu on the same drive

ubuntu won't remove the programs that you have in windows

ubuntu has its own programs and does not use the same .exe programs windows does, typically in ubuntu you install programs by going to the "add/remove programs" program and just selecting them from a list, no need for downloading .exe files or whatever. it can however run *some* windows .exe files through a program called wine.

if you find the whole installing thing a bit confusing you can watch a 'screencast' for installing ubuntu here: http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/MoS2007/09_Installing_Ubuntu_Part_1 it will go through the steps you have to take in order to install ubuntu.

or alternativly you can use the windows based installer that comes on the lastest version (its called wubi) to install ubuntu without having to 'partition'

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AppleBread (megamancodenamezerobytes) said : 		#2

what i meant was, do I have to reinstall/buy programs to work on Ubuntu? e.g I have to reinstall/buy photoshop so I could use it on Ubuntu

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#3

No win32 programs usually don't works on Linux. I strongly suggest you to find gpl open source alternative software.
For example: To replace Photoshop you can use Gimp

some details here: https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/switching/applications-equivalents.html

To run win32 native software you have 2 way:
- Try to install Win32 software using Wine
- Emulate a win32 pc on Linux using VirtualBox and install Windows on it

Please take a look at this Switching From Windows guide: https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/switching/index.html

and to this official Ubuntu guide: https://help.ubuntu.com/

Hope this helps

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arekkusu (arekkusu-r) said : 		#4

I you really need photoshop, you should be able to run it (some version at least) on wine:

I suggest you check the official wine application database:

http://appdb.winehq.org/

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radrob (radrob) said : 		#5

Its not diskmgr.msc - try diskmgmt.msc

You sure can install Ubuntu on other drives, apart from your current C drive. Just remember winbloz (Windows) will not be able to read the Ubuntu (Linux) partition once you have installed Ubuntu. However, Ubuntu will be able to read your Windows partitions / drives. This method is called dual booting. Having one computer, but multiple operating systems installed.
Windows applications will not run under a linux installation, unless you have an emulating application such as WINE. This way your windows applications are available to your Unbuntu operating system. Quite a nifty little application. The whole idea of purchasing software applications for your linux operating system is generally unheard of. Hence the expression "Open source" operating system, where Windows is a "closed source" operating system. Basically, one is free and the other has to be purchased.....