Windows or Linux? Which is better?

Question

I am so frustrated. Every time I get Windows all set up the way I want it something happens to screw it all up. My issue with Windows is this is just not a one-time thing. Every time I get Windows just the way I want it seems like some kind of update comes along and ruins it. I got backup software such as Norton Ghost and Maxtor Maxblaster to restore my computer, and I have restored to my left and to my right. Seems to me like the best solution is to scrap Windows and go with a good Linux installation. The only problem is no Linux distribution makes drivers for my Dell laptop, and of course Dell does not make drivers for Linux unless the Linux distribution is packaged with their computers. So, who is the real culprit? Microsoft? Dell? Linux? Such a damn pain. Everything was fine till Adobe did its update of my Adobe software at the same time Windows wanted to install updates.

Answer 1

Here are some options for installing or trying out Linux



Option One (Full installation)



I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 9 Main Edition which is built upon Ubuntu 10.04 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 9 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=52



The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 9 (Isadora)

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-9-isadora



Linux Mint 9 User Guide Download pdf.

http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_isadora.php



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 9 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation



Linux Mint 9 can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive



Also worth considering :



Fedora Remix (Fedora with elements of Linux Mint)

http://fcoremix.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/lucky-13/

http://iso.linux.hr/community-fedora-remix/

http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora/13/html/User_Guide/



Again Fedora Remix can be run direct from the LiveDVD without touching your Hard Drive



Option Two (Install Linux inside Windows)



Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot with Windows without partitioning

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/wubi



You keep Windows as it is, Wubi only adds an extra option to boot into Ubuntu. Wubi does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.



Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.



Boot in to windows insert the Ubuntu 10.04 LiveCD and you will offered the option of installing inside windows which is where the Wubi installer comes in, you will be asked how many gigabytes you wish to allocate to Ubuntu (I recommend 8gb) then you set a password for your installation then click install and thats it.



Once Ubuntu is fully installed upon starting your PC you will be given a choice of which operating system you want to use Windows or Ubuntu



Ubuntu 10.04 Download

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download



Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) User Guide

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Lucid



Linux Mint 9 which is built upon Ubuntu 10.04 has a similar feature called mint4win and the directions given above for Wubi can be followed

http://duncsweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Capture1.png



As with Linux Mint 9 and Fedora Remix, Ubuntu 10.04 can also be run straight from the LiveCD without touching your Hard drive



Option Three (LiveCD)



Here the possibilities are endless as you can try out as many different Linux distros. as you like until you find the one thats right for you DISTROWATCH.COM gives full listings (second lists the major distributions)

http://distrowatch.com/



Major Linux Distributions

http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major





LUg.

Answer 2

I agree that Linux is so much better than Windows, I find it hard to believe that Linux is not the most common os. About the only think windows is good for, at present, is for gaming if you are into games, or for specialty applications like Logos and Wordsearch Bible study software. Outside those 2 specific situations- windows is a burden. I highly recommend Linux Mint.

Answer 3

If your the type of person that likes to tinker with their toys, if you have a curious mind that wants to explorer new "toys", and if you have the patience and problem solving mindset (technical knowledge is not necessary but helpful), then one of the many Linux distributions may be right for you.



Technically speaking, Linux is a superior operating system to Windows in every way, BUT Microsoft has been VERY good at cultivating the commercial software industry in favour of Windows, so that every major third party developer makes all their software run on Windows first, then other operating systems second. Because of this if you run any commercial software you are better off always using Windows. If not, then most Linux distributions are free (both in cost and freedom) to obtain and use ( use the following site to find out the best distribution for your needs: http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php?firsttime=true ).

Answer 4

Dell has a Ubuntu CD for their computers. You can download it from their web site. Linux is very well supplied to find all your hardware and the drivers it needs, without you having to look for them. Windows will run perfectly, as long as you leave it alone in it's natural state. Once you start throwing all kinds of third party software and files at it, it starts all kinds of weird and irritating things. You definitely are not well informed about Linux. There are many people who answer questions about Linux that will gladly help you set it up and answer most of your Linux Questions.



My suggestion to all Windows Users is to dual boot with Linux and have the best of both systems. They actually compliment each other. Dual boot if you are a gamer. New to Linux, use Mint Linux (Ubuntu based, has some of the programs already installed, that Ubuntu itself does not install) It is fairly easy to use.

Answer 5

I know what you mean and don't know what to tell you, at the same time. Why people have such a hard time with Windows, I'll never know. I might suggest that your backups from Ghost and MaxBlaster have or cause corruption.



Before I totally give up here's what I'd do. Forget about restoring your backups for a while and reinstall Windows. The very next thing, as soon as Windows is reinstalled, do a full disc check (for file system errors & bad sectors). Once that's done install an antivirus, and connect to the internet, and start downloading Windows updates, all of them. You probably know there's going to be a lot but don't move on until Windows is updated. Windows will quit updating eventually. Next go to Dell and get your audio, chipset, communications, network and video drivers. Then start reinstalling software and their updates. Also, if don't use the "search" feature in Windows, you might turn Indexing completely off. This will reduce the load on the whole PC. See how it runs without reinstalling your backups, for a while anyway.



Why your PC is being jacked up by updates is beyond me, but I can say my at the core of my PC is all Nvidia hardware, motherboard, video card and Nvidia certified RAM behind a Core2 Quad. The only updates I get from Nvidia are LAN, chipset, audio and video. The rest of the drivers I find Windows can pickup on. Every time Windows notifies me of an update whether it be for Windows or some piece of software (Adobe) I install it right away, but I don't get too many updates. [[Once fully updated, of courses]]



Here's my Windows survival method. I reinstall Windows yearly, every January for the last 3 or 4 years (I believe this to help cut down on corruption). Besides, it's a surefire way to make damn sure everything is in order by keeping Windows "fresh" if you will. It'll last a year providing good performance for the duration. I do the full disk check and download updates just like as described above. However, I run the disk check every couple months so Windows can locate corrupt files and sectors and get them fixed. Actually, I've been meaning to run it myself. I DON'T use "system cleaners" or "registry" cleaners and junk file removers (not even Norton) because I simply don't accumulate "junk" because I reinstall Windows yearly and I believe they cause problems. Under normal or even heavy usage (like mine), Windows shouldn't accumulate more than what your PC can handle in one year. My PC runs 24/7 with the exception of restarts for updates. I have minimal problems with my machine and I run the widely criticized Vista, which I happen to like.



As for Linux vs. Windows? Linux definitely has it's advantages, but it's not as user-friendly as most would like (it's getting there). It requires a whole different degree of skill to obtain the same easy tasks Windows provides. My experience with Linux in several different distros is highly enjoyable, but something is alway screwed up. For instance, the last distro I tried was Ubuntu 10.04. It was awesome but I wanted to use the sleep feature. So I put it to sleep, came back and the PC came on but never could get the video to come back. Frustrated, I gave up on it. Windows works fine for me. Linux is bad *** on old machines though. Can't beat it!



There's my two cents.



@Mono12: Interesting..... IF big brother wants what is on your computer, they'll get it. Windows, Linux or Mac.

Answer 6

DUDE your dell computer WILL work with linux. Linux drivers are not shown on the manufacturer's site. If you want to start with linux try linux mint. its based on ubuntu. everything that works on ubuntu works on it. but it comes preloaded with codecs / flash/ java and alot of bug fixes from ubuntu. linux mint gets a new release after a month from ubuntu. they work out everything before releasing. unlike ubuntu. Drivers for you DELL ARE there. they are not on DEll's site or any site. Most drivers that your linux will use are opensource drivers that work on most devices. example for audio you will use alsa and pulseaudio, for wifi you may use teh built in drivers in teh kernel. WHEN you install linux you will not going waround looking for drivers like crazy. ITS mostly built into teh system. Remeber to go to menu > hard ware drivers which your computer is connected via ethernet and install all graphics and wifi drivers if you see any there. then reboot. if wifi doesnt work then you may need few tricks to make it work. on my laptop I had to blacklist certain modules in teh kernel to make it work as they were interfering.

www.linuxmint.com << for newbies / easier than ubuntu/ same software available as ubuntu. get the main edition



DO you why millions switched to linux and never looked at windows again. AFTER you use linux you will know what FREEDOM truly is. YOU are in control of you OWN computer. Not a giant cooperation.

thank you.

Answer 7

have a look here



http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/mandriva-2010.html



http://www2.mandriva.com/linux/features/



its the version i use on my main pc and my dell latitude laptop,



all drivers are included in this version of linux,



dell does not make drivers for linux because they do not have to,

linux drivers work off the chipset - so one particular driver fits all in that particular range of hardware,



for instance the pwc webcam driver supports around 30 different makes of webcam, including logitech, samsung, visionite, creative labs, etc

Answer 8

As a side bar: get rid of all the Adobe rubbish.

Look @ all these exploits:

http://blogs.pcmag.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?blog_id=36&tag=adobe&limit=20