Where is the best information on converting my laptop from Windows to Linux for a non-techie person?
October 8, 2010 2:17 PM Subscribe
Where is the best information on converting my laptop from Windows to Linux for a non-techie person? I'm adept at using computers (Mac and Windows) but have never used Linux. I'm looking for very basic instructions. The goal is to convert my older Sony Vaio to Linux, although it will not be my primary computer.
Yup. Just download the Ubuntu image on to a USB stick or CD/DVD. Follow the instructions. It does everything for you including partitioning your hard drive (if you want to dual boot).
Please make sure you have backups of everything!
posted by auto-correct at 2:53 PM on October 8, 2010
Please make sure you have backups of everything!
posted by auto-correct at 2:53 PM on October 8, 2010
Best answer: Good idea!
The first thing you need to do is to verify that you can run your chosen Linux distribution on your Vaio. I strongly recommend Kubuntu, a version of Ubuntu, because it is somewhat more similar and easy to understand for a person coming from the Windows world.
Here's a list I found at Linux-laptop
If you are using Ubuntu, their list doesn't officially include Vaios. If it was me, I'd still try it because I can't stand Redhat based systems. Here's some info from someone who is using Ubuntu on his Vaio.
After you choose a distribution, you'll need to install it, and then refer to one of the switcher-guides hopefully someone else will recommend in this thread.
posted by Invoke at 2:58 PM on October 8, 2010
The first thing you need to do is to verify that you can run your chosen Linux distribution on your Vaio. I strongly recommend Kubuntu, a version of Ubuntu, because it is somewhat more similar and easy to understand for a person coming from the Windows world.
Here's a list I found at Linux-laptop
If you are using Ubuntu, their list doesn't officially include Vaios. If it was me, I'd still try it because I can't stand Redhat based systems. Here's some info from someone who is using Ubuntu on his Vaio.
After you choose a distribution, you'll need to install it, and then refer to one of the switcher-guides hopefully someone else will recommend in this thread.
posted by Invoke at 2:58 PM on October 8, 2010
When you say "convert", do you expect to maintain or import data from the existing Windows installation, or do you not care about the existing stuff and are willing to just irretrievably overwrite it? The latter is simpler.
Ubuntu's a fine and good choice. The new release, 10.10 (aka Maverick) is scheduled for release this Sunday. I'd strongly suggest sticking to the existing release, 10.04 (aka Lucid.) It's had its tires kicked on a wide variety of hardware by now; there have been hiccoughs with brand new Ubuntu releases in the past. (Also, I don't see anything compelling in 10.10 and don't plan to update my 10.04 boxes.)
posted by Zed at 2:59 PM on October 8, 2010
Ubuntu's a fine and good choice. The new release, 10.10 (aka Maverick) is scheduled for release this Sunday. I'd strongly suggest sticking to the existing release, 10.04 (aka Lucid.) It's had its tires kicked on a wide variety of hardware by now; there have been hiccoughs with brand new Ubuntu releases in the past. (Also, I don't see anything compelling in 10.10 and don't plan to update my 10.04 boxes.)
posted by Zed at 2:59 PM on October 8, 2010
If you want to try it out, with wubi, you can install Ubuntu "as a Windows application" but it is a fully-functional dual boot system. It's very neat.
posted by jozxyqk at 3:00 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jozxyqk at 3:00 PM on October 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Use Unetbootin to create an Ubuntu boot USB stick
Insert stick and boot
Install Ubuntu using simple prompts
Enjoy Linux
Seriously, Ubuntu and Linux these days are as easy to use as Windows.
posted by dougrayrankin at 4:21 PM on October 8, 2010
Insert stick and boot
Install Ubuntu using simple prompts
Enjoy Linux
Seriously, Ubuntu and Linux these days are as easy to use as Windows.
posted by dougrayrankin at 4:21 PM on October 8, 2010
I'm a recent convert to Linux, and I highly recommend Linux Mint, a derivative of Ubuntu that is much, much easier to absorb. Everything just works, right out of the box.
If your laptop is old and slow like mine, you might want to go with their LXDE version, which makes my ancient laptop fly again.
http://www.linuxmint.com/
posted by wordwhiz at 4:59 PM on October 8, 2010
If your laptop is old and slow like mine, you might want to go with their LXDE version, which makes my ancient laptop fly again.
http://www.linuxmint.com/
posted by wordwhiz at 4:59 PM on October 8, 2010
Try ubuntu from a live disk or live usb stick before installing. It'll be really slow and clunky, but it should let you know whether you like it or not.
For the usb stick see dougrayrankin's comments above, to create a live cd see these instructions.
Running a live disk first should also give you a pretty good idea of whether your hardware will work with ubuntu. That said, if there are specific driver problems (particularly the case with older graphics and wireless cards), they can often be fixed post installation.
posted by Ahab at 1:03 AM on October 9, 2010
For the usb stick see dougrayrankin's comments above, to create a live cd see these instructions.
Running a live disk first should also give you a pretty good idea of whether your hardware will work with ubuntu. That said, if there are specific driver problems (particularly the case with older graphics and wireless cards), they can often be fixed post installation.
posted by Ahab at 1:03 AM on October 9, 2010
You may have a local linux user group that would love to help with this.
Also, I'd do google searches on "your model number linux", "your model number ubuntu".
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:40 AM on October 9, 2010
Also, I'd do google searches on "your model number linux", "your model number ubuntu".
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:40 AM on October 9, 2010
Response by poster: thanks everyone. i'm going to try Xubuntu because my old laptop doesn't meet the specs for Ubuntu (thanks for the tip Invoke!).
posted by lvanshima at 11:43 AM on October 11, 2010
posted by lvanshima at 11:43 AM on October 11, 2010
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posted by Dec One at 2:49 PM on October 8, 2010