Which OS to install for computer illiterate friend

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#1294072 30-Apr-2015 09:59

timmmay: I installed Ubuntu 15.04, it took about 5 minutes of my time, and I have all the data copied over. It seems to be running ok. Youtube on firefox is only playing 360p, but for general use it's fine. It's not snappy exactly, but it's fine.

Is it worth trying Lubuntu/Xubuntu now I've done that? Is there a way to change without killing the home partition?

I maybe reading this wrong, but, 5 minutes to install Ubuntu ????

timmmay

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#1294074 30-Apr-2015 10:03

MikeB4: I maybe reading this wrong, but, 5 minutes to install Ubuntu ????

My time, not computer time. I booted from a memory stick, checked it was working ok. I hit "install ubuntu", answered a few questions, then walked away, when I came back it was ready. It may have taken an hour of computer time (it didn't), but I was making dinner.

MikeB4

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#1294078 30-Apr-2015 10:07

timmmay:
MikeB4: I maybe reading this wrong, but, 5 minutes to install Ubuntu ????

My time, not computer time. I booted from a memory stick, checked it was working ok. I hit "install ubuntu", answered a few questions, then walked away, when I came back it was ready. It may have taken an hour of computer time (it didn't), but I was making dinner.

That makes mores sense, I thought for a short time that Mark Shuttleworth had developed rocket speed installs :P

kiwikiwi

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#1294086 30-Apr-2015 10:14

timmmay: The fresh Windows XP install can't even connect to Windows Update, so it's totally unpatched, which I don't consider an option. It include IE6!!!

Latest Ubuntu, fresh installed, data copied on. I assume it will auto update, if not I'll set that up. Much lower risk than XP IMHO.

I would like tips on apps to install for him - eg a decent mp3 player/video player. The mp3 files open up in video player by default, which is fine just ugly.

It will prompt the user to install updates by default, doesn't do it by auto but you can make it do that if you like.

Also I don't understand what why there's a negativity when there's a clear answer. His choice was only W10 TP or a Linux distro like Ubuntu. The only reason why I stayed away from W10 is cause it's a technical preview and nothing more it really SHOULD not be used as a daily OS and it's going to have more issues then a linux system.

I get that it's Windows and it's what most people use but I don't think he wants to spend more money on another Windows license.

Another thing too and this is isn't bashing Windows either. Every OS including Windows is subjected to virus and other nasty exploits. Imagine installing Windows XP with it's 0 support and apparently not even able to connect to connect to Windows update it's going to be 100% unprotected regardless. You really do not want to have a Windows XP install, and program developers are going to drop it and stop making it work for XP. You're going to have to shift one way or another.

You can also follow me on twitter here @kiwifortw I do twitch streams every now and then at twitch.tv/kiwiforthewin :)

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kiwikiwi

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#1294087 30-Apr-2015 10:15

MikeB4:
timmmay:
MikeB4: I maybe reading this wrong, but, 5 minutes to install Ubuntu ????

My time, not computer time. I booted from a memory stick, checked it was working ok. I hit "install ubuntu", answered a few questions, then walked away, when I came back it was ready. It may have taken an hour of computer time (it didn't), but I was making dinner.

That makes mores sense, I thought for a short time that Mark Shuttleworth had developed rocket speed installs :P

Yeah OS installs are crazy fast over memory cards/USB sticks. Installing OS from the same HDD through a recovery partition is insanely quick.

You can also follow me on twitter here @kiwifortw I do twitch streams every now and then at twitch.tv/kiwiforthewin :)

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surfisup1000

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#1294106 30-Apr-2015 10:36

timmmay:
ubergeeknz: On 2Gb RAM, I'd go Windows 8/8.1, it will perform far better than Windows 7.

Options are Ubuntu or W10 - anything free.

ubuntu? Really? I'd consider myself reasonably OK at using the desktop but ubuntu got me rather confused.

I could not even double click a program on the desktop to run it.

In fact, just trying to put shortcuts on the desktop is a nightmare.

toyonut

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#1294196 30-Apr-2015 11:55

If you do decide to do it again, go with Linux Mint XFCE or Cinnamon. They provide a simple "Windows XP like" Bottom taskbar with a simple menu in the left corner interface and have support for all codecs etc out of the box. I would probably go with the XFCE version as it will be a bit faster out of the box. It is able based on Ubuntu LTS so it will be supported for 5 years.
If they are happy with Ubunu, leave well enough alone. Add any icons they need to the bar on the left. Hopefully you went with the 14.04 LTS release, otherwise you are going to be installing it again in a year.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

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timmmay

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#1294238 30-Apr-2015 12:25

I still have the laptop, and reinstalling another *buntu OS isn't difficult or time consuming. Linux Mint does seem more appropriate for a computer illiterate person.

Two questions:
- Can I install it without having to wipe the drive? Only because I've copied my friends photos to the internal hard drive, presumably to a home partition (though I set to auto and didn't check it). I can copy the data back again easily enough.
- Is the best edition 17.1 - downloadable here?

roobarb

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#1294246 30-Apr-2015 12:33

timmmay: Free is essential, it'll be chucked out before too long.

Do nothing is an option then. If it is working and doing the jobs now and going to be replaced in the near future, then I suggest don't change it.

No surprises, no learning curve, just an incentive to move to the replacement machine.

timmmay

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#1294249 30-Apr-2015 12:36

roobarb:
timmmay: Free is essential, it'll be chucked out before too long.

Do nothing is an option then. If it is working and doing the jobs now and going to be replaced in the near future, then I suggest don't change it.

No surprises, no learning curve, just an incentive to move to the replacement machine.

XP is unreliable on this hardware, and vulnerable to many kinds of hacks because it can't access windows update. Plus I already deleted it.

roobarb

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#1294250 30-Apr-2015 12:40

timmmay: Plus I already deleted it.

Ah, I crashed your car and put it in the crusher, now I have to get you a free car until you decide to buy a new car.

timmmay

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#1294256 30-Apr-2015 12:46

roobarb: Ah, I crashed your car and put it in the crusher, now I have to get you a free car until you decide to buy a new car.

I have installation media. I just consider XP obsolete and not worth using.

toyonut

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#1294279 30-Apr-2015 13:05

timmmay: I still have the laptop, and reinstalling another *buntu OS isn't difficult or time consuming. Linux Mint does seem more appropriate for a computer illiterate person.

Two questions:
- Can I install it without having to wipe the drive? Only because I've copied my friends photos to the internal hard drive, presumably to a home partition (though I set to auto and didn't check it). I can copy the data back again easily enough.
- Is the best edition 17.1 - downloadable here?

I don't know of a way to do it while keeping the home folder. I think if you had put /home on its own partition, you could have just pointed the new install to that, but not if it is just part of the root folder structure. The edition you have in the link is what I would be looking at if you are keen to try another install.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

timmmay

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#1294296 30-Apr-2015 13:46

paulmilbank:
timmmay: I still have the laptop, and reinstalling another *buntu OS isn't difficult or time consuming. Linux Mint does seem more appropriate for a computer illiterate person.

Two questions:
- Can I install it without having to wipe the drive? Only because I've copied my friends photos to the internal hard drive, presumably to a home partition (though I set to auto and didn't check it). I can copy the data back again easily enough.
- Is the best edition 17.1 - downloadable here?

I don't know of a way to do it while keeping the home folder. I think if you had put /home on its own partition, you could have just pointed the new install to that, but not if it is just part of the root folder structure. The edition you have in the link is what I would be looking at if you are keen to try another install.

I'll try the live version first, then I'll install and copy stuff over again if needed, thanks.

timmmay

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#1294444 30-Apr-2015 17:17

Mint seems much snapper than Ubuntu, at least when running of USB. I'll spend the 10 mins to change distros, starting from scratch again :)

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