Will I be able to work with my Windows files, while using Ubuntu Linux?

Question

I'm going to install Ubuntu Linux (as an application) on my laptop, which already has Windows (and I'm going to keep them both). I have a lot of files and applications inside Windows, so I want to know: will I be able to work with them (whether it's a file or an application) while using Ubuntu Linux?

Answer 1

Definitely, though I wouldn't personally recommend you install it as an application - on my laptop, I have C: which I shrunk down to 50GB, then D: for storage which is 120GB - and that left a whole ton of space unformatted. Right click 'My Documents' and relocate it (find in your properties, location, and overtype C: with D: - then accept and Windows will move your stuff to D: - great if Windows packs up).



Now if you install Ubuntu (or probably better - Mint, which takes less setting up) you can dualboot. From Ubuntu, you can browse your storage partition - and USB's that you plug in.



You can open files and applications - Windows applications will try to run under Wine - but often don't work because of the nasty way they're intsalled. Some can be installed under Wine, but it's often overrated. Right now, the only thing I use that needs Wine is Picasa.



Relax - if you really need to run Windows apps, then a quick reboot is all that you need. You can speed up Windows more by disabling networking and as many services as you can too - and then you won't need to run security software (keep it lean and mean).



As for launching Apps - I can browse from Linux, /media/XP/Program Files/7-zip and it won't launch with WINE (not that I need it) but ccleaner runs perfectly (totally useless in WINE loz) - so it's a bit of pot luck.



In Ubuntu, if I need to run something from Windows (I do love Yahoo Messenger...) then I use Virtualbox (and NOT the OSE version which won't work with USB). It's okay - but if I need to do heavy work (I used to prefer Photoshop) then I'd just reboot.



Remember, there's no need to 'switch' - you can just keep them both. After about 18 months of doing that, I very rarely use XP for anything.



Office 3.1 now opens, edits, and resaves .docx files and other similar new style office docs without any problem - though it's generally best to keep an ODT file in my opinion (actually, I always save as ODT and also export as PDF to send to other people - PDF's are cool).

Answer 2

Linux apps can read and use many windows app formats. The Office 2007 docx and docm formats are not supported, but the old .doc can be read and saved.



If the application can share data with other windows application, there is a good chance it can share with a linux application. If the data format is a trade secret, then unless that software has a linux version, you may be out of luck.



here is a list of open source applications for windows. all of them are also available for linux. Note what windows apps they substitute.

Answer 3

most file formats are fine but most







/applications aren't

you did ask about applications but there is no point really as you have both operating systems

some of the applications will work by using a program called wine but most you will find have a reliable alternative

printing can be a problem depending on the printer - I'm guessing now: if you had given more info . . . .



almost everything will work: ipods phones bluetooth wifi! Everything except some printers and lots of windows software esp games



email for specifics

Answer 4

it depends on what you mean here, do you mean you want to use windows files in linux? and use linux files in windows.



you can dual boot windows and Linux (which is a out of date) because you have to close down windows to boot up into Linux, or visa verse plus the fact windows will not read Linux format, though Linux will read windows format,



if you want to run windows and Linux at the same time the setup your laptop as a virtual machine that way you can run windows and Linux at the same time just like jumping from one application to an other application in windows,



To do this you need to download virutalbox for windows, from the weblink below, also download the user manual and read it making sure you under stand it before installing Linux in Virtual Box, it is easy to do, and better than setup up a dual boot system,



before doing anything with the system always back up your data files just in case something goes wrong it is always better to be safe than sorry after the fact



using Virtual Box you can run several operating systems at the same time. and it won't mess up your system and it is easy to remove operating systems from virtual box without messing your system



I have found that if windows is the host operating system it does tend to crash Linux you are better off having Linux as the host operating system and windows as the guest system.

download virtual box from here

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Answer 5

No, they will not run by just double clicking on it. There are methods to run Windows applications such as WINE. Google whatever game you want to play + WINE. There are other alternatives too.

Answer 6

yeah you can..

The Windows partition where you installed Wubi is available as /host within Ubuntu (places > computer > file system > host) All the other partitions will be available under places > removable media