Should I change to Linux?

ANNR

ANNR

Active Member
will here is my computer, it is old but thats what i got :P . I have been reinstalling the WIndows OS for like 1000000000000000000000000 times for the past 1 years due to virus and other craps. I was thinking mabe i will try Linux seeing many people are useing it.

My PC:

Brand/model: Sony, PCV-RX550,
OS: Windows XP Home Edition, SP2
CPU: GenuineIntel, Intel Pentium 4, MMX @ 1490 MHz
Front Side Bus: 400MHz
RAM: 512MB PC-133 SDRAM
Video Card: nVidia GeForce4 MX4000
Hardrive: one 60GB and another 250MB

Questions:
1: Should I change to Linux OS? Why? Question #2&3
2: Whice one is better in performance? Basic Example:like the loading speed for the OS when starting the PC. My corrent OS takes morethan 3 min because of the NIS and Verizon DSL Dialer. with out them it takes 1/2 min.
3: which one is more secure?
4: will all/most of the windows programs/softwares/service/games still work on Linux? if not, plz take look at Question #5
5: Whill these program/softwares/service/games still work on Linux OS?
a: Verizon DSL
b: Norton Ghost/NIS 2005 -> In my Opiton, I don't think NIS thing helps me much seeing how i can still find virus in my PC, but you know I like to have it so it fells a little better thinking my PC is Secure.
c: Spy-bot
d: Hijack this
e: SpySweeper
f: GIant Antispyware
g: Abobe Photoshop/Premiere
h: MSN/Messanger
i: Nero
j: Alcohol 120%
k: Microsoft Office 2003
l: Smart Project/ISO Buster
m: WinRAR
n: Grandia II --> PC game
o: Ragnarok Online --> online PC Game
p: daemon tool/D-Tool --> Vertual Drive used to mount ISO images and others
q: Java
r: Matroska Pack/Real Alternative/DIVX/Xvid/FFshow/--> video codec pack for playing ogg files and more
s: Torrents/Azureus. --? Azureus runs on Jave
t: Emule
u: nVidia Drivers
v: Maxtor software for the Maxtor hardrive
These are all the programs that I corrently use.\

Please help me

EDIT--ANybody got some screen shots of Linux? I want to know how it looks.
 
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I've found this to be a smooth, fast all-around desktop distrubution of Linux:
http://www.mepis.org/

You have the ability to boot off of the CD to try it, no installation of the OS unless you choose to. You can access all of your files on your hard drive from Windows too. It will auto-detect legacy and modern hardware.
 
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Linux is much much more safer than windows..enough said..

First of all, you won't need to run any anti virus/spyware programs...

DSL connections are very easy to set up in linux (i use fedora core) infact its a matter of seconds..lol

There is Gaim which is a muti protocal messgener, which you can connect to the msn network..

Java will work...

"Matroska Pack/Real Alternative/DIVX/Xvid/FFshow/" you won't need although you can still get it, i recommand just get videolan

"Microsoft Office 2003" you don't need, its replaced by open office, which is identical (runs word files, and can save as word files)

Azureus will work(just download the verison for linux)

nVidia Drivers will work

RO and grandia i am not sure, although you can try wineX

this is all i know, hope that helped
 
Linux is safer, but all you have to do, if 1 dont go to pron sites, dont use a p2p sharing program, dont download random things that arn;t from trustworthy websites, dont even visit them. and have basic ainit-virus and you should be fine.

I have nortan and thats it, and my PC is doing fine, I dont use p2p, go to bad websites or anything and my PC has been fine the last half year(I reformated then, but that was just because i had to reinstall anyways because or major hardware changes.)
 
1: Should I change to Linux OS? Why? Question #2&3
Change to Linux if you want to learn a new OS. Don't use it and expect to know how to do everything straight away just because you can use Windows. Also, you'll need to learn how to use command line.

2: Whice one is better in performance? Basic Example:like the loading speed for the OS when starting the PC. My corrent OS takes morethan 3 min because of the NIS and Verizon DSL Dialer. with out them it takes 1/2 min.
Linux takes longer to boot, but can have better performance.

3: which one is more secure?
Linux. Microsoft claims that it gets attacked most because it's more common, but Linux runs the majority of servers so what they say is a load of BS.

4: will all/most of the windows programs/softwares/service/games still work on Linux? if not, plz take look at Question #5
You will be able to find equivalents for most applications, but most comercial games don't work with Linux. Saying that, the ones that do usually run better.

5: Whill these program/softwares/service/games still work on Linux OS?
a: Verizon DSL - Not really needed.
b: Norton Ghost/NIS 2005 - Older versions of Ghost run off DOS. They're a better option IMHO.
c: Spy-bot - Not needed
d: Hijack this - Not needed
e: SpySweeper - Not needed
f: GIant Antispyware - Not needed
g: Abobe Photoshop/Premiere - Use GIMP
h: MSN/Messanger - Use GAIM
i: Nero - Use XRoast of Nautilus
j: Alcohol 120% - See above
k: Microsoft Office 2003 - Use OpenOffice.org
l: Smart Project/ISO Buster - There's probably a Linux alternative, but I don't know of it.
m: WinRAR - Use File Roller
n: Grandia II - Probably doesn't work
o: Ragnarok Online - Probably doesn't work
p: daemon tool/D-Tool - There's probably a Linux alternative, but I don't know of it.
q: Java - Yes
r: Matroska Pack/Real Alternative/DIVX/Xvid/FFshow/ - There's alternatives
s: Torrents/Azureus. - Yes
t: Emule - Yes
u: nVidia Drivers - Yes, but installation isn't as straightforward as with Windows.
v: Maxtor software for the Maxtor hardrive - Probably not needed.
 
I'm about to download RedHat 9. Will i still be able to connect to my home network and look at files and info on the "common" drive that is accessible on every computer on the network?

I have read that some file systems are not readable/accessible through RedHat and i wont be able to use my PC on my home network. Really all i want to do is be able to connect and use the wireless internet from my dad's router...is this still possible with RedHat 9?
 
mmm...i might try Fedora after i try redhat9. it was given to me by a friend and he told me it's probably the most user friendly version of linux. i'm still reading on what to do and all that...very confusing for me lol.
 
4W4K3 said:
mmm...i might try Fedora after i try redhat9. it was given to me by a friend and he told me it's probably the most user friendly version of linux. i'm still reading on what to do and all that...very confusing for me lol.
Click to expand...

Okay. Just FYI, you can order a Ubuntu CD from their website for free. They will send you a set of two CDs; one is an installation CD and the other is a Live CD. That means you can run Linux from the Live CD without installing anything, and if you find that you like it you can run the installation CD and have Linux permenantly on your PC.
 
Georgous said:
Okay. Just FYI, you can order a Ubuntu CD from their website for free. They will send you a set of two CDs; one is an installation CD and the other is a Live CD. That means you can run Linux from the Live CD without installing anything, and if you find that you like it you can run the installation CD and have Linux permenantly on your PC.
Click to expand...

i've already downloaded LiveCD and burned it...no need to order:)

i'm currently burning RedHat9 onto CD's (its huge lol..took a bit to download) and will hopefully figure out how to partition my drive right:)
 
Thanks everyone. I think I will use both since Linux can't run my Games. I will Use the windows when playinggame and Linux for everything ealse. Can I have both of them on the same hardrive?
 
i am trying to partition my windows drive...but i see no option to do so:( i remember when i hooked up a second HDD to my GF's machine it formatted it and now shes goe dual...but i guess i cant make a seperate partition once XP is already installed:( didnt want to wipe it clean...
 
it took me weeks to figure out how to get my broadcom wireless card to work and i failed at it. i tried ndiswrapper. couldn't get it :(
 
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