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General discussion

If I were to use Linux...

by Lsw0187 Jun 25, 2006 5:00AM PDT

I have recently become very interested in Linux. If I were to install it I would probably start out with the Knoppix CD. I was just wondering does Linux do everything that Windows can do? Also, can you play games designed for windows, on Linux machines?

Discussion is locked

13 Posts
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Yes
by Ixthusdan Jun 25, 2006 11:57AM PDT

You can do anything in linux that you can do in windows. There qare other progrms freely available that you would grow accustomed to using. Also, if you insist upon using programs designed specifically for windows, you could always use an emulation program to run them in linux. Some games have native linux versions. But, programers write software for sales to users; linux is not considered by them to be used enough to justify thier wrting those versions. Emulators work fine, but many linux users stick to companies who write for linux. Id Software is such a company.

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Downloading Knoppix Live..
by Lsw0187 Jun 27, 2006 3:37AM PDT

I am going to download the Knoppix distro. How should I go about dual-booting with windows? I have an idea, but I am not completely sure that it will work and I don't want to run into any problems.

I am planning on reformatting my hard drive anyways, and now is the time to do the dual-boot so should I just do this:

Reboot with WinXP disk, delete the current WinXP partition and format my drive. That will leave me with just 120 gigs of unpartitioned space correct? Then, does the WinXP disk have a partition feature like fdisk for previous windows versions? Would I be able to set up two partitions: one for XP and one for Knoppix? Any comments would be appreciated! Also, if I decide to take linux off of my computer - how would I go about removing all of the components?

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It's easier than it sounds...
by Ixthusdan Jun 27, 2006 4:07AM PDT

Most linux distros come with tools to partition drives and setup for dula booting. If your drive has 1 partition right now, I would use windows to divide it into 2 partitions. Then, when you install linux, whatever is done with the 2nd partition will not give windows any issues. I have used linux tools to shrink an xp partition and install, but there are many posts on the net about windows having a pout fest when this is done. So let windows think it is by itself, and it will behave.

If you opt to partiton and reformat, use the linux tools and be sure that the first partition on the disk is reserved for windows. It must be on the first partition in order to behave. (It is really a very poor os from this perspective.)Linux, of course, can run from any partition on any drive.

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I would do it the other way
by chuckieu Jun 27, 2006 6:38AM PDT

If you are going to repartition and format XP anyway, do it first. I would make a larger partition for XP (resources hog), format and install. Linux used to INSIST
you install Windows first in a dual-boot situation. If that has changed, I haven't seen a mention of it. Be sure you back-up first and have all the necessary Windows drivers, Linux supplies most of it's own. Good luck. chuck

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Second that.
by lilsim89 Jun 27, 2006 7:30AM PDT

You should format your drive, then install Windows, and then install Linux. If you install Linux first, you'll find yourself not being able to boot Linux after you've installed Windows. I strongly reccomend that you walk the tried-and-trued path.

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(NT) (NT) Thanks a lot guys
by Lsw0187 Jun 27, 2006 1:16PM PDT
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Just finished reinstalling XP...
by Lsw0187 Jun 27, 2006 3:42PM PDT

Now I'm formatting my D: drive so I can install Knoppix.
Wish me luck Happy

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How about uninstalling Knoppix?
by Lsw0187 Jun 27, 2006 4:22PM PDT

Can I uninstall Knoppix with my XP CD? Or how would I go about doing that if I decide to take the OS off of my PC?

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(NT) Try this for a change.
by welrdelr Jul 14, 2006 6:35AM PDT

Burn a cd (set) of Suse or fedora for your machine. erase the debian-linux (knoppix is debian) partition and use that. Set the boot record for windows. Add parttion. this will be in layout.set default as windows and second as fedora or suse. Install, reboot. hit a key at prompt and finish the install. agreemnet, user name and pw, sound configuration, and display. at prompt choose restart. The computer will reboot. At each boot interval you will have a choiuce as to using linux or windows.
have fun

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To uninstall...
by lilsim89 Jul 21, 2006 2:15PM PDT

You would first resize Windows to take up all the harddisk space. Then boot the Windows CD Recovery tool
and type 'fixmbr' then you're set.

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knoppix does not need to be installed
by pratapan Jul 27, 2006 3:43AM PDT

Since it is a live CD, you can just insert the CD when you need it and boot from CD. When you exit knoppix, and remove the CD, just reboot into Windows.

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If I were to use Linux...
by septus Jul 14, 2006 11:39AM PDT

Hi Lsw,
I have followed part of the ensuing discussion. If you want to avoid having to change anything on your HD with your present Win OS, you could try Puppy Linux 2.01 "multisession", which does not need any HD. It boots from , reads from, and saves to a writeable DVD.
Cheers
"septus"

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Even better...
by 3rdalbum Aug 5, 2006 4:21PM PDT

Even better, the new beta version of Puppy can save back to your NTFS hard drive. Give it a go!

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