MS Windows-7 screwed me, Linux/Ubuntu discussion

[markz]

I used XUbuntu, I really liked it on my old laptop, "windows" based (mouse over icon). Awesome and my first ever Linux based system.
Will do it again for sure.

 

[neptronix]

linux mint ( ubuntu fork ) is great, is very useable, and looks nice, but..
Adobe flash would constantly freeze my browser though, videos wouldn't play, couldn't find a VNC client that worked properly with my windows server, and it took a shit ton of RAM..

So i am back to my 100% unpatched copy of windows 7 with the updates turned off.

At my work, we had a couple computers with OEM versions of windows 7 with the updates turned on. They were never any more secure than my unpatched copy.. and a few of them just randomly decided to update to windows 10.

I'd love to say goodbye to Microsoft permanently; i've been trying to do it for many years without success.. for now, i think an unpatched Windows 7 is still the best OS.. i'm gonna skip over 8 and 10 because they look like crap and are privacy nightmares designed without the power user in mind.

 

[spinningmagnets]

Wife's laptop just "updated" to Windows-8 last night (from the factory-installed Win-7)...WITHOUT PERMISSION!...took quite a while to get it to function again because I had to figure out how to navigate it. Wife was pissed. Never come in-between a grandmother and her Facebook grandkid postings.

IF...I never use Adobe Flash on the Linux/Ubuntu/Mint laptop...what would the repercussions be? (I plan to keep Windows on the older laptop)

 

[mark5]

If Flash is not installed on your PC, you won't be able to watch Flash videos at websites. And you won't be able to hear radio stations that stream their audio in Flash.

But you'll still be able to watch videos on websites, like youtube, that have HTML5 video available.

 

[markz]

Wife's laptop just "updated" to Windows-8 last night (from the factory-installed Win-7)...WITHOUT PERMISSION!.

What a nightmare. I wonder if I buy OEM windows 7, install it, and it does that, I would be S.O.L.

Maybe I should install it over the phone, with no internet connected. Then click on no "automatic updates"

I did not realize a retail windows 7 is very expensive.

Yeah buying a system with windows 7 already installed is the way to go and making sure auto update is OFF.
I would consider that update to Windows 8, theft of windows 7. Charges laid, and perp's sent to jail.

There are many many many variations of Ubuntu. I tried Ubuntu I forget what name it was given for a release, with its side panel "windows" and it wasnt my style.

--------------------------------------------
http://askubuntu.com/questions/473466/can-i-run-both-ubuntu-and-windows
I just read how you can have Windows and use Ubuntu inside Windows using Ubuntu as a Virtual Machine. I just wonder while using Ubuntu as a VM you wont get no viruses?

Can dual boot too, upon start-up you pick windows or ubuntu.

 

[jkbrigman]

linux mint ( ubuntu fork ) is great, is very useable, and looks nice, but..
Adobe flash would constantly freeze my browser though, videos wouldn't play, couldn't find a VNC client that worked properly with my windows server, and it took a shit ton of RAM..

So i am back to my 100% unpatched copy of windows 7 with the updates turned off.

At my work, we had a couple computers with OEM versions of windows 7 with the updates turned on. They were never any more secure than my unpatched copy.. and a few of them just randomly decided to update to windows 10.

I'd love to say goodbye to Microsoft permanently; i've been trying to do it for many years without success.. for now, i think an unpatched Windows 7 is still the best OS.. i'm gonna skip over 8 and 10 because they look like crap and are privacy nightmares designed without the power user in mind.

Ditto to this, I've seen the crazy updates to later versions happen. I run Enterprise ("N") and it doesn't spontaneously combust into 8 or 10. .NET and Silverlight have been the biggest turds to ever come out of Redmond.

I had this fantasy that Win7 would be the last Microsoft O/S I ever use (personally). I don't know if that is possible (I'm an IT/tech professional) but it's worth a shot. I would consider a job change to make it happen.

 

[mark5]

Ditto to this, I've seen the crazy updates to later versions happen. I run Enterprise ("N") and it doesn't spontaneously combust into 8 or 10.

( i.e., for anyone not wanting the free Windows 10 upgrade, the Enterprise versions of Windows are good ones to have since they won't get the free Windows 10 upgrades (was reported here, for instance). )

People saying their Windows spontaneously upgraded to 10--I'm waiting to see if that really does happen--because small office M.D.s, lawyers, etc., wherever privacy is absolutely required, who bought their PCs at Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, etc.--will hit the ceiling.

 

[markz]

Where can home users buy Windows 7 Enterprise?


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

Windows 7 Enterprise
This edition targeted the enterprise segment of the market and was sold through volume licensing to companies which have a Software Assurance contract with Microsoft.[1] Additional features include support for Multilingual User Interface (MUI) packages, BitLocker Drive Encryption, and UNIX application support.[1] Not available through retail or OEM channels, this edition is distributed through Microsoft Software Assurance (SA).[1] As a result it includes several SA-only benefits, including a license allowing the operating of diskless nodes (diskless PCs) and activation via VLK.[14]

What about Windows 7 Ultimate?
http://download.cnet.com/Windows-7-Ultimate/3000-18513_4-75187816.html

 

[r3volved]

For a new Linux user I would recommend Ubuntu or a similar Ubuntu based distribution. It's very user friendly for Windows users, as it functions much in the same way with install packages and nice similar style of interface. It's also highly supported by the community so it's rock solid.

The problem with a lot of Linux flavors (for Windows users) is that you can't just download an exe and double click to install, often there are command line operations and you have to be aware of other packages and libraries that your new file uses. Many versions are pretty much just programmer niche. Ubuntu's install services offer a nice flexibility of install options for different install types. The Ubuntu 'appstore' sorta thing makes finding and installing programs pretty much one click.

Ubuntu is also a typical Linux so you can do all the normal tweaked stuff that any Linux does if you want to go balls deep into the OS. You can modify your whole OS installation, gui, startup, etc., cause you get all the bare c-code with the install.

Right now my only home machine is an Ubuntu based netbook. I barely ever use a computer at home anymore but it does everything I need.

 

[mark5]

Elaborating on what r3volved wrote, Ubuntu has 4 or 5 main distributions ("flavors"). The differences are mostly in the graphical desktop environments (more showy & more memory-consuming vs. plainer & less memory-consuming GUI features) the particular distribution uses and the preinstalled applications (e.g. office suite) it comes with. The distributions and their desktop environments are:
Ubuntu (Unity DE)
Kubuntu (KDE)
Ubuntu GNOME (GNOME DE)
Xubuntu (Xfce DE)
Lubuntu (LXDE)

Xubuntu and Lubuntu would work well on older, less powerful PCs. Ubuntu made my 2005 single-core Pentium-M 1.73 2GB RAM Win XP notebook's video and audio playback stutter and the CPU fan would run too often. Lubuntu is the most plain-looking but it looks more or less the same as Windows XP.

This review compares and has screenshots of the different Ubuntu distributions: Ubuntu 14.10 vs Kubuntu 14.10 vs Xubuntu 14.10 vs Lubuntu 14.10 vs Ubuntu GNOME 14.10: A Comparison.

Any of them should be about as easy to install as Windows. Especially if the PC's whole disk can be dedicated to the install (i.e. no MS Windows will be installed on the disk). The default choices the installer presents are usually fine.

 

[markz]

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Versions-Ultimate-Premium-Operating/dp/B0113KFPOG/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1443225847&sr=8-8&keywords=windows+7+ultimate&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A4985204011%2Cp_89%3AMicrosoft


:wink:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oStGrIeIRg
:wink:

Not sure how safe it would be, via torrent.

OR

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-7-free-trial/e5413539-a8a4-403f-b5c1-13227da9b60f?auth=1

Interesting.

http://www.pagestart.com/

http://www.pagestart.com/win7digitalriver020615.html

http://www.pagestart.com/win7071014.html

 

[EVTodd]

I'm a huge fan of Ubuntu. Been using it for years. It's so nice to get rid of the virus called Windows. The big thing is, do you have software you HAVE to use in Windows? If not then I say go for it. I have a laser engraver/cutter that has software that runs under Windows. I have a cheap box running XP that's not connected to the internet to avoid viruses just for that one machine, other than that I have zero reason to use Microsoft's scam software.

Oh, and just try a live cd first to see if everything runs ok on your system. It won't be as fast but you'll know if you have any hardware problems before doing a full install.

 

[spinningmagnets]

Thanks everyone for all the input, I have read (and will continue to read) every post at least twice. Scanning the internet, it sounding like Ubuntu has the most followers (and as a result, the most tech support when a question is asked)... My back-up laptop is a fairly new Dell business refurb, SSD with plenty of memory, dual-core processor. All I do is:

AOL email
Gmail email
Facebook
scan internet for ebike info (prefer Chrome, but open to what works in Ubuntu)
type articles (open office?)
screen-cap pics that are cumbersome to download.
format screencapped pics to insert into an article
run a brother black & white laser-printer
pull internet connectivity from a common home router system

The best feature on my old workhorse Toshiba is that its easy to once a month to do a "system restore" to wipe malware (after looking at sketchy Chinese websites and reddit links)

 

[mark5]

spinningmagnets: if you want, PM me your mailing address and I'll send you an Ubuntu disc or two. You can boot from the cd, try it, and see if you like it without installing it. Only thing left to know is whether your processor is 64-bit. If unsure whether it is, the PC make and model will do.

You won't have to do system restores with Linux (and if you use the free version of the Sandboxie program on Windows to sandbox your browser, you don't have to do it there either).

 

[spinningmagnets]

Here is an Ubuntu chatroom for asking questions, and benefitting from the Q&A from others...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/

 

[markz]

http://ubuntuforums.org/

 

[bachmaninoff]

Windows has screwed me over a few times. The most annoying thing is when you have to re-install for whatever reason, and then you don't have access to internet for over a month, and it says you have to activate. I don't like software (that I've paid for) dictating such terms. Of course all that's hidden in the EULA mumbo jumbo that we all click past when we install stuff.

But hey, Linux/Ubuntu is great!

I use KX Studio, which is geared towards audio and graphics production, but most Ubuntu-based distros seem pretty straight-forward. Two things you need to know before you make the leap - will all your peripheral hardware work in Linux, and will the available software for Linux meet your needs...? Download a distro 'Live CD' (that you can try without erasing your current Windows installation) and check it out!

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop
http://www.kubuntu.org/getkubuntu/
http://xubuntu.org/getxubuntu/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/GetLubuntu
http://kxstudio.linuxaudio.org/Downloads

 

[markz]

and it says you have to activate

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Versions-Ultimate-Premium-Operating/dp/B0113KFPOG/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1443225847&sr=8-8&keywords=windows+7+ultimate&refinements=p_n_feature_browse-bin%3A4985204011%2Cp_89%3AMicrosoft


:wink:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oStGrIeIRg
:wink:

Not sure how safe it would be, via torrent.

OR

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-7-free-trial/e5413539-a8a4-403f-b5c1-13227da9b60f?auth=1

Interesting.

http://www.pagestart.com/

http://www.pagestart.com/win7digitalriver020615.html

http://www.pagestart.com/win7071014.html

 

[iamsofunny]

I have Windows 7 and Ubuntu 14.04 on 1 computer. I have Ubuntu, Backtrack and Mint on another computer.

You know you can install an infinite number of operating systems on 1 computer. You don't need to buy another laptop.

When you change the boot order to CD first, then put in the Ubuntu disk into your windows computer and reboot, you can choose "install Ubuntu alongside Windows".

That way, you can still see all your window files and use them from Ubuntu.

Mint is based on Ubuntu 10.04 so it is old and missing drivers.

Just get Ubuntu 14.04. I have it on 2 computers and many severs.

You can get viruses on Linux too. I sometimes get viruses in my Firefox cache, but Adblock Plus was the culprit so I switched to Adblock Youtube instead.

 

[EVTodd]

I have Windows 7 and Ubuntu 14.04 on 1 computer. I have Ubuntu, Backtrack and Mint on another computer.

You know you can install an infinite number of operating systems on 1 computer. You don't need to buy another laptop.

When you change the boot order to CD first, then put in the Ubuntu disk into your windows computer and reboot, you can choose "install Ubuntu alongside Windows".

That way, you can still see all your window files and use them from Ubuntu.

Mint is based on Ubuntu 10.04 so it is old and missing drivers.

Just get Ubuntu 14.04. I have it on 2 computers and many severs.

You can get viruses on Linux too. I sometimes get viruses in my Firefox cache, but Adblock Plus was the culprit so I switched to Adblock Youtube instead.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_malware

 

[spinningmagnets]

I needed a back-up laptop anyways, and I have one now. Since I now have two, I'll put ubuntu on one and get familiar with it before I run two OS's on one system.

I was even suggested to me by a friend to run Ubuntu off of a USB thumb drive, but...maybe later?

 

[markz]

I've been pondering upgrading for some time.
I feel SpinningMagnets pain.
I've been very lucky, no crashes like mentioned by 1st post.
At most my headaches are Vista's constant "Not Responding" of programs. Multiple windows open with multiple tabs. Internet, no video, no graphics editing, just viewing. Like now, I got 2 windows, with 8 tabs open on each. Comparing newegg.ca computer products, and pricing. Primarily looking for an OEM Windows 7 64 bit to install on a new Motherboard using AMD cpu and 1866 DDR3 ram. Hopefully this will solve the problem of programs "Not Responding" which I just wait and it corrects itself in minutes. But I still need to "End Task" on some programs. Which happens frequently, I'd say 25% of the time, depending on whats going on in the background, like online gaming (World of Tanks).

So far, I've priced out a new motherbaord, CPU and ram for $265. This gets me FM2+ 3.7GHz 4 core (dont really NEED it), with 4 slots of DDR3 1866 and 2133 compatible ram, 64GB ram. And 4GB ddr3 1866 ram. Factor in W7 64 bit for an extra $150, total is $400.

I just read that DDR4 is nothing spectacular, I was holding out for cheaper prices, DDR4 seems to be maxxed out, I read that they cant go further in same architecture. They have to go different route. I think when ram gets cheaper, I can spend more to get ddr3 16GB ram. Will be set for a decade or more. Office will be another $100. So $500 in upgrades to existing PC.

Or like Spinningmagnet said, buy a refurbished used unit, for me the price came to roughly $400, W7 64 bit, 4-8GB DDR3 1333Mhz ram, ~3GHz 2 core cpu. This is desktop, not laptop which you cant do much about in upgrading. I dislike smaller form factor desktop units, space is really no concern in this marketplace for home user. Plus buying used, who knows how messed up the registries and other things are. ***I just had a thought, you can get programs that can get the product # of your different MS software. Get that #, cant you just reinstall fresh OEM on same computer even if you dont have the original disc???????????** I might be able to do something with my Vista, this is very interesting to me now******************

Anyway I just wanted to find which Ubuntu I used, and research another route to take. Which from my ramblings might interest Spinningmagnets. Its called Emulation.

Rock out with Linux based, Ubuntu which is a learning curve for sure, but installing programs with Xubuntu is easy. Emulate W7 for all your MS software needs.

The question I need to know is (which might interest the OP) if I were to go that route, Using Xubuntu and emulating W7, how do I go about using MS Office Suite (2013 or 2016)?????????????????
**no I dont want to use open source suites, working on a long document, reformatting frequently F's it all up!**

There seems many many many problems with Microsoft, Linux clears many factors up. What it doesnt do however, is clear up the fact EVERY MAJOR BUSINESS uses ms office.






https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuFlavors

 

[mark5]

... Plus buying used, who knows how messed up the registries and other things are. ***I just had a thought, you can get programs that can get the product # of your different MS software. Get that #, cant you just reinstall fresh OEM on same computer even if you dont have the original disc???????????** I might be able to do something with my Vista, this is very interesting to me now******************

If you mean, for example, can you reinstall and use a Dell OEM Microsoft Office from the original Dell PC that it came on to a different Dell PC, maybe it would work if you had the license key. But you're not supposed to do that. OEM MS Office is only supposed to be used on the PC it was first bought for. That's why it cost less than the retail product.

If you buy a refurbished PC from a company like Dell, the Windows installed on it will be fresh.

Anyway I just wanted to find which Ubuntu I used, and research another route to take. Which from my ramblings might interest Spinningmagnets. Its called Emulation.

Rock out with Linux based, Ubuntu which is a learning curve for sure, but installing programs with Xubuntu is easy. Emulate W7 for all your MS software needs.

The question I need to know is (which might interest the OP) if I were to go that route, Using Xubuntu and emulating W7, how do I go about using MS Office Suite (2013 or 2016)?????????????????

You could install VirtualBox on Linux and then run some version of Windows and MS Office as a virtual machine in it. You either install your own copy of Windows and MS Office or MS has ready-made VM images, containing just Windows and Internet Explorer, here:
https://dev.windows.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/linux/
These work for only 90 days. After that you have to download a new one.

Other than running Windows in a VM there's Wine and Codeweavers' Crossover but they probably won't work as well as you'd want them to.

 

[spinningmagnets]

Its too early for a full review, but...I've finally tried to use my "backup" laptop. A couple weeks ago I finally had gotten around to having a friend wipe the Windows off and load the Ubuntu disc.

Put in password for my home wifi, used embedded browser to load Chrome (just a personal preference), and...I am now typing this on ubuntu...the speed, silence, and robustness of the SSD inspires confidence if I should drop the laptop from my lap to the floor (which, even now, I would never do on purpose).

If I had known it would be this easy, I'd have done it a year ago. I've done this on a full day off (so I can deal with any problems that arise) and on a weekday when computer support is available, so now...I have to figure out what to do with the rest of my day!

edit: two things I've done on my old workhorse Toshiba laptop that I will do to this one: epoxy a huge finned heat-sink to the power supply, and eventually buy a double-thick battery with three times the run-time (uses higher capacity cells, with double the cell-count of 18650's). also add a couple small velcro squares to the lid, so I can attach the cordless mouse and earphones.

 

[markz]

Thats great you are liking Ubuntu, which flavor did you install?

You installed a home-made battery? That is the way to go! Those 3.5Ah 18650's would totally rock.