Two-part question regarding a potential XP/Ubuntu dual-boot setup: a)Do I still worry about viruses if I'm not accessing the internet from the XP half? b) From reading online it seems that I'll be able to access files from the XP half while in Ubuntu, but will the opposite be true? [more inside]
posted by mannequito on Nov 27, 2009 - 6 answers

Help me build my perfect netbook! [more inside]
posted by lemonfridge on Nov 26, 2009 - 15 answers

Which Python GUI framework is right for someone new to GUI programming? But who may also aspire to open source community (linux) development/involvement? Cross platform, wonderful documentation/tutorials, and cruft-free new technology are also welcome. [more inside]
posted by cowbellemoo on Nov 25, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm curious as to what are the current "best practices" when it comes to centralized administration of a network of Unix (primarily Linux, but not necessarily so) machines? Essentially, what is the equivalent of Active Directory for a network with one or more Unix hosts? The immediate answer I come up with would be something like OpenLDAP plus PAM but what I'm looking for is the suite of tools (GUI and CLI apps) for managing the directory, deploying software, centralizing sign-on and security, managing printers, etc. In a perfect world, I would like to centralize administration of Windows, Unix, and OS X machines via a single directory service, though I imagine such a solution would be expensive and/or cumbersome if it even existed. Or is this something Samba 4 will do?
posted by Imhotep is Invisible on Sep 9, 2009 - 5 answers

Where can I find estimates of server operating system market shares? To be concrete, I'd like to know what percentage of web servers, either by absolute numbers or popularity, use Linux, Windows, etc.
posted by espertus on Sep 6, 2009 - 3 answers

I have two computers, one Windows, one Linux. How can I make it so they synchronize automatically with each other, as in, I update the file on one computer, and the updated file gets put onto the other? Networking? Using an external hard drive? What software might be useful? Bonus points for free software
posted by gilsonal on Aug 22, 2009 - 13 answers

Which one of the multitude of Linux distros should someone who's never used Linux before give a go? [more inside]
posted by n3rt on Aug 18, 2009 - 34 answers

I'm trying to find a procedure to create a zip file in Windows and preserve Unix file permissions from the original files... [more inside]
posted by oblio_one on Aug 7, 2009 - 10 answers

Advice for a server newb who needs help getting started with a simple media/backup/torrent server? [more inside]
posted by wastelands on May 29, 2009 - 12 answers

What filesystem should I use on my new USB 2.0 external hard drive? It'll mostly stay attached to an Ubuntu box and be used to store large video files for streaming to playback devices on my network, but I'd also like to be able to take it to a friend's house and plug it into whatever computer they happen to have. [more inside]
posted by contraption on May 2, 2009 - 12 answers

Want to build a backup/storage/print server for a home network that the users will never have to be aware of [more inside]
posted by ConstantineXVI on Apr 21, 2009 - 14 answers

What would cause certain folders to show up when a DVD is mounted under Windows (XP, FWIW), but not to show up under Linux (Ubuntu Intrepid)? [more inside]
posted by claudius on Mar 5, 2009 - 7 answers

A Windows server needs to tell a Linux Web server to change the contents of a Web page. I don't know how the first can communicate this to the second, or how the second can then make the change. [more inside]
posted by davcoo on Feb 26, 2009 - 7 answers

Looking for a printer that will work with Windows (Vista), OS X and Linux. [more inside]
posted by northernsoul on Feb 18, 2009 - 9 answers

I am finally making the jump to linux from Windows 7! To the 1337 linux askmefites: Is having the option of Windows as a secondary/emergency OS even important, or would I be better off keeping my machine strictly linux? [more inside]
posted by bradly on Feb 4, 2009 - 22 answers

Windows 7: Is there any way to mount ext3/ext2 partitions in Windows 7? I would use Ext2 IFS but it's not compatible with the beta.
posted by Aanidaani on Jan 16, 2009 - 7 answers

For the purposes of using Amarok on my laptop, which can not be told that my music folder is located in a shared folder on my media center (as far as I can see), I need to permanently mount the shared music network folder in Ubuntu. They don't make it very easy it seems. Have to use a bunch of comand line editing to get it done? Come on Ubuntu!
posted by Jackie_Treehorn on Jan 9, 2009 - 4 answers

I recently found a fantastic program for managing research literature on OSX and I'm looking for a similar program for Windows and Linux. [more inside]
posted by Aanidaani on Dec 26, 2008 - 10 answers

How can I set up the virtual server environment I want, using as much open source and as little proprietary software as possible? [more inside]
posted by flabdablet on Dec 20, 2008 - 11 answers

Cross-platform video conferencing: Linux/OSX/Windows. Is it possible? [more inside]
posted by pharm on Dec 16, 2008 - 11 answers

I'm thinking of getting rid of Windows XP and switching to a Linux distro....and I have some questions. [more inside]
posted by pilibeen on Nov 10, 2008 - 23 answers

Windows XP, XP64, Vista, and Linux machines refuse to play nicely together - Why can't I get them to ping each other? I am trying to hook up a mixed network for file/print sharing, network gaming and the like, but I seem to be having basic IP issues and I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure out the problem! [more inside]
posted by Nixie Pixel on Nov 5, 2008 - 14 answers

Why aren't there universal 32->64 bit driver translator/emulators? [more inside]
posted by Mokusatsu on Aug 23, 2008 - 9 answers

What's the best way to setup a 500gb external hard drive to backup windows and linux? [more inside]
posted by kraigory on Aug 4, 2008 - 8 answers

My fantastically unstable IBM T42 (which is on it's 3rd, soon to be 4th, life) died a little while ago, no longer booting into Ubuntu. However, it loves to boot into Windows. How do I nuke both? [more inside]
posted by tmcw on Jul 11, 2008 - 8 answers

Syncing between laptops: How can I easily and automatically sync files and documents between two laptops using Bluetooth? Ideally I want to load up one machine in the vicinity of the other and have all my recent data (documents/data/RSS feeds etc.) syncronised with NO hassle. Any good apps out there? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jul 9, 2008 - 8 answers

Can an LVM partition be mounted by Windows XP or Vista? [more inside]
posted by lukemeister on Jun 28, 2008 - 5 answers

What Linux Should I Use?-Also need advice/help setting up drivers/random linux stuff? for my computerI'm a pretty knowledgeable guy about computers. I also want to be able to have vista on my computer, and hopefully keep my laptops extra functionalities such as fingerprint reader. [more inside]
posted by Javed_Ahamed on May 1, 2008 - 27 answers

I think I'm finally switching to Ubuntu on my main machine. I have two 160GB external drives, currently both with NTFS, currently mirrored (by software, not a RAID). With what and how should I format/use these guys? [more inside]
posted by tmcw on Mar 14, 2008 - 8 answers

What are some tips/resources for someone very familiar with web development on mostly Mac/Linux who now needs to do web development on Windows? [more inside]
posted by Deathalicious on Mar 11, 2008 - 12 answers

My son is having terrible problems playing WOW. He gets framerates of about 1-2fps, which is ridiculous. Help me diagnose the problem. [more inside]
posted by vilcxjo_BLANKA on Mar 11, 2008 - 27 answers

What is the best way to create an expandable storage array with eight 500GB SATA drives? [more inside]
posted by cgomez on Mar 8, 2008 - 11 answers

We are moving our sites from a WAMP to a LAMP and one of the XML parser classes has gone all haywire. Eeep. [more inside]
posted by foxydot on Feb 26, 2008 - 9 answers

Seeking advice on eliminating my existing Windows PC in favor of a virtual machine running on Linux. [more inside]
posted by rkent on Feb 21, 2008 - 21 answers

Issue with Samba (on Ubuntu) file sharing and ownership of files. How do I set it so the ordinary user will not take ownership when saving over a file? (more details inside) [more inside]
posted by ijoyner on Feb 13, 2008 - 1 answer

What's the best way of distributing a DVD over the Internet? I'm thinking probably bittorrent for transmission, but what format? ISO? A set of VOBs, etc.? [more inside]
posted by amcewen on Feb 11, 2008 - 20 answers

Is there a portable way to programmatically traverse a file tree in C or C++?. [more inside]
posted by king walnut on Feb 8, 2008 - 8 answers

What's the best way to convert a site run on a Windows server, written in ASP/C#, to Drupal/Joomla? [more inside]
posted by mrhaydel on Feb 8, 2008 - 7 answers

I work in a digitally backward environment (locked down XP builds), and am constantly frustrated by it. However, if I can make the business case, they will, I believe let me run my Mac on the network (and let my boss run his Linux machine). Can anyone help me make that case? [more inside]
posted by imperium on Jan 14, 2008 - 29 answers

How do you use a single authentication system for different kind of servers, systems, and workstations? [more inside]
posted by remi on Jan 11, 2008 - 6 answers

I just got a new laptop with decent specs and I want to take this chance at starting fresh. I want a machine that runs smoothly and doesn't have a lot of extraneous crap installed on it. I need advice about getting this set up the way I want it. [more inside]
posted by Caper's Ghost on Nov 26, 2007 - 19 answers

Looking for dead simple software to scan via my HP Scanjet 2200c's front button. [more inside]
posted by Orb2069 on Nov 3, 2007 - 4 answers

I need a way to remotely control the volume of a Windows machine. [more inside]
posted by floam on Oct 27, 2007 - 3 answers

Best *nix distro for SSH, RDC, router and print server. Or i could use windows if that would satisfy the conditions. [more inside]
posted by DJWeezy on Oct 11, 2007 - 17 answers

Will linux xp desktop (the new linux program that looks like windows xp and lets one intall some windows software) let me install Microsoft Office 2007? What about an organizer program called Bottin? [more inside]
posted by Eiwalker on Oct 10, 2007 - 8 answers

Is it possible to create a virtual Windows machine on a Debian box without X, then access the virtual machine remotely? Basically, I want to have a headless Debian server running virtual machines. I'm sure it's possible, and I've done similar things inside of X, but how would I go about doing it without X? Qemu? VMWare? Virtualbox?
posted by cdmwebs on Oct 8, 2007 - 11 answers

I work at a small company with an Exchange server. We need OK spam protection. In an effort to move them to a more FOSS workcycle, I'm advocating SpamAssassin. Basically, I need it to work in our Windows Environment. [more inside]
posted by TrueVox on Sep 20, 2007 - 7 answers

Do you know of a (Windows or Linux) program to print a comic/booklet from JPG files? [more inside]
posted by splice on Aug 27, 2007 - 12 answers

"Error loading OS" after installing new (slave) HD. [more inside]
posted by dondiego87 on Jul 24, 2007 - 3 answers

What's the quickest, easiest way to turn a directory of sequentially numbered JPG files into a video file? Linux or Windows. [more inside]
posted by Jimbob on Jul 14, 2007 - 12 answers