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Question

Windows too big for my laptop. Linux?

Aug 31, 2017 1:20PM PDT

I am a consultant and am on the road with clients. For lightness I bought a cheap ($200) HP laptop that came with only a 32 gig SSD. It's really fast. I use a 64 gig SD card for My Documents, etc. I figured I could install Powerpoint, Word, etc onto the SSD. Well, much to my suprise, Office will only install on the main C: drive. Now I have virtually no storage left on the main drive as Windows itself takes about 18 gig.

I've done some research and am considering deleting Windows and installing one of the ultra lightweight Linux products such as PuppyLinux or Lubuntu and using OpenOffice for my apps. (I really only need Powerpoint).

What do you think? Is this really smart or really stupid?

TIA,

Bob

PS, a related question is why will some programs install on a drive other than C: and others must be on C:?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Linux.
Aug 31, 2017 1:47PM PDT

Try Linux off an USB or DVD, no need to install to see if it fits your needs.
Dafydd.

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Great idea
Sep 1, 2017 6:35AM PDT

This is a great idea. I'm going to do that this weekend.

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Affirmative.
Sep 1, 2017 1:10PM PDT

Lubuntu with LibreOffice should be just fine. There might be compatibility issues between the Offices, so trying to work with a variety of documents would be advisable before committing fully.

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Answer
Ssd
Aug 31, 2017 5:09PM PDT

How is this 32GB ssd partitioned?

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Virtually all of it is available
Sep 1, 2017 6:36AM PDT

There is a small recovery partition but most of the 32 gig is available

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Then your choices are
Sep 1, 2017 6:57AM PDT

Remove unneeded stuff.
Get a bigger disk.
Move to a smaller OS and apps.

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Answer
Many programs install something on C:
Aug 31, 2017 5:31PM PDT

You didn't tell which Office so I can't check it out.

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MS Office 365
Sep 1, 2017 6:37AM PDT

The standard MS Office

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That version started in 2011.
Sep 1, 2017 7:08AM PDT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_365 and has had revisions since then.

https://www.google.com/search?q=office+365+install+to+different+drive finds discussions and let's just say it here. It's technical and many folk will not be able to do what was noted at https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/ie/en-US/3689fc35-0523-4868-8e4d-e6feb93540be/installing-office-365-on-a-different-hard-drive-to-that-of-the-windows-installation?forum=officesetupdeploy

MKLINK and more is why. So it is possible but it's one of the hard ones to get done.