Ready to wipe MS Win 8.1 and load a Linux version, but

[Matlock]

Ok good stuff and I really appreciate everyone's thoughts.

I think it's worth a shot to skip the free win10 upgrade on my newer win 8.1 and concentrate on my older Dell studio w/Vista. Thank you rvpopeye for the visual of your stuff. That way I'll have a platform that I can play with and not be concerned about wrecking all my files on the Asus. And, as mentioned, I'll maintain a separate system to help with research If I get all sideways with the Dell.

I've spent the last three hours reading up on Ubuntu vs Linux Mint. The Mints older version 17.1 is more compatible with older Win systems like my Vista Laptop and should work but I am leaning toward the Ubuntu link Brad posted. I will give it a go tomorrow when I get to walmart and pickup another flash drive.

 

[frater secessus]

If you have a DVD drive, you can try one of the "live" distributions without wiping your windows.

Also works from USB if the machine will boot from USB.    Much, much faster loading than optical media. 

The usual tool for writing the .iso to USB is unetbootin.

 

[Trebor English]

I have used Linux for a long time. Some Windows software works with wine, some only runs in Windows. If you have/need specific software you may be stuck.
What I did was use a usb drive and went to all the machines I used and copied all the files I wanted to keep. Then I installed Linux on one machine.  I keep files on an external drive that I plug into any machine.
It is like cleaning out the garage throwing out stuff that has been unused for years. I still have 29 pictures from Arizona in January. That will eventually reduce. I can get more gigabytes. They are so cheap. I can get a storage unit and keep more stuff. Files, stuff, it's the same.  It is all precious but mostly garbage.

 

[frater secessus]

If you have/need specific software you may be stuck.

If it won't run in WINE a good fallback is either dual-boot or running Windows in a virtual machine.   I keep XP that came on a used PC in a virtual and run it every once in a while.  I think it's been 6mons or so since I fired it up.

The last dedicated Windows box I had was in 2000.  I use Microsoft stuff at work as usual.

I keep files on an external drive that I plug into any machine

Note to onlookers:  this is easiest to do when the usb drive is formatted to FAT32, which many are straight out of the box.  

I can get more gigabytes. They are so cheap. I can get a storage unit and keep more stuff. Files, stuff, it's the same.

Check out the fdupes linux package.  It finds duplicate files by size, MD5 hash, etc, and lets you pick which one to keep.   It's a small step but can help get the cleanout started.

 

[wayne49]

If it won't run in WINE a good fallback is either dual-boot or running Windows in a virtual machine.   I keep XP that came on a used PC in a virtual and run it every once in a while.  I think it's been 6mons or so since I fired it up.

The last dedicated Windows box I had was in 2000.  I use Microsoft stuff at work as usual.

Same here. I use an OEM XP, I purchased way back, in a VM to do my annual taxes.

Set up a Debian VM running qemu to emulate a Raspberry Pi before I worked on the actual physical RPI.

Another VM running xubuntu 16.04 to get hands on the latest LTR before upgrading the host from 14.04.

Useful tool.

 

[Goshawk]

1) if you want Linux go with MINT as it has all the drivers to recognize everything in your old laptop. 2) win 8.1 was replaced by win 10 for free for a reason. Microsoft recognized win 8.1 sucked. 3) win 10 is damn bullet proof after it updates, and if you have a legitimate activated license. Am using lots of complicated software for legacy Windows and it all works. If you need to reinstall and re-activate make sure you have all the old codes, and may still require a phone call to Microsoft to fix the old software.


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[frater secessus]

Mint has really come on strong the last couple of years; it's now the darling of the "normal user" scenario. Ubuntu has also gotten squirrelier (technically and corporately) recently which may explain part of the defection.

 

[DannyB1954]

I installed a SSD in my computer. It was very fast until it crashed without any warning. I went back to mechanical drives.
I like Linux Mint. It comes with all the drivers for video etc.

 

[Goshawk]

I installed a SSD in my computer. It was very fast until it crashed without any warning. I went back to mechanical drives.
I like Linux Mint. It comes with all the drivers for video etc.

All SSD have a three year factory warranty. Hope you got an exchange for it and sold it to get your money back.


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[akrvbob]

How strange our different experiences, I've been very happy with Win 8.1 and see no reason to upgrade to 10. It'll be on my next computer and I'll be glad to have it, but not till then. Bob

 

[rvpopeye]

I had 8.1 and it was working fine , I did upgrade to W10 at the last day and now wish I hadn't (it didn't like one of my drivers and I have to wait for it to be created) but I'll live with it anyway. I still have W7 on my production laptop and am keeping it that way !
I like Ubuntu Studio 16.04 that I put on my Vista though. In some ways linux is easier ........like for one ex. all software and OS updates are in the same place and just a couple of clicks away.

 

[Happy Camper]

I had 8.1 and it was working fine , I did upgrade to W10 at the last day and now wish I hadn't (it didn't like one of my drivers and I have to wait for it to be created) but I'll live with it anyway. I still have W7 on my production laptop and am keeping it that way !
I like Ubuntu Studio 16.04  that I put on my Vista though. In some ways linux is easier ........like for one ex. all software and OS updates are in the same place and just a couple of clicks away.

Right click on the setup.exe of the problem driver. Go to properties and to the compatibility tab. Run the setup in compatibility mode. That should work.

 

[Goshawk]

A functional backup is to change to an SSD and keep the original. Swap in the original HD when you want to sell.


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[ccbreder]

All well and good. Every thing is better with WINE. That said. For the most of us that just want to use our laptops or other computers. I find that the machine works best with the OS that came with it. Computers, especially lap tops are so inexpensive that once the old gal fails, buy a new one with the latest OS. I earn $$ once in a while using MS Office, so I have Microsoft machines. This one is w 7. something Pro. pro because it will be supported for a few more years. I got this special order as w 10 was just released and I didn't want to be the test guy. Now when I get a new machine, it will be w10. Soon before we know it OS will be rentals, like MS does with latest office products. Then you pay your yearly fee and every thing will always be up to date. Like it or not.

 

[Charly]

Been solely on linux for about 8 years. in all that time i have had less issues than I did in 1 month of Windows.

Currently on Linux Mint.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

Been solely on linux for about 8 years. in all that time i have had less issues than I did in 1 month of Windows.

Currently on Linux Mint.

Windows is grotesque "bloat-ware" that is no longer needed for desktop use.

Been using WATTOS for many years. Love the 12 second boot-ups (on an 6 year old machine) and being able to grab any program you could need for free...legally.
No viruses, no hassle, easy load, nothing you don't need...

 

[SoulRaven]

Been solely on linux for about 8 years. in all that time i have had less issues than I did in 1 month of Windows.

Currently on Linux Mint.

Good for you Which Mint? 
I run only Linux Mint Cinnamon Sarah 18.x nearly 2 years, not a hiccup. 
Started ~5 yrs ago on Linux. It's lovely & never program or virus $ spent.
I have to keep a Win7 laptop only for ham radio & desktop pub programs. It's dusty.

 

[Charly]

Mint 18.3, current most up to date.

I dont have bluetooth working on the current laptop (a Lenovo Edge 15), other than that Linux has worked near perfectly for all these years.

I am a ham too, but dont currently use HF. do you do WinLink or something that requires windoze?

 

[mpruet]

So, here's my question, should I uninstall/delete/wipe my hard-drive and install a free copy of Linux ___  or?               And, as a semi-literate pc user how difficult is this process and should I just hand over my laptops (one Vista, one Asus Win8.1) to either a local repair dude to do a OS change or just squish everything with a 15lb sledge and use my droid phone?

I've worked with Linux, Mac OS and windows 7,8,9, and 10.  I still have linux installed on my system running under VMWare.  In my working years, I did most of my development work in Redhat - so I am experienced all three.  As you are probably aware, the current MAC OS is basically a desktop built on top of a unix kernal.

However - you should be guided more by the applications that you frequently use and not the OS.  You should pick the OS  based on whether it can support the apps that you need.  

Any form of Linux/Unix requires a bit more OS/Networking administration than a Windows system.  There is much more stuff that must be done at the command line level.  If you are comfortable doing that AND Linux supports the apps that you want to use, then OK - go for it.

 

[SoulRaven]

Mint 18.3, current most up to date.

I dont have bluetooth working on the current laptop (a Lenovo Edge 15), other than that Linux has worked near perfectly for all these years.

I am a ham too, but dont currently use HF. do you do WinLink or something that requires windoze?

Keeping a win PC run Win7Pro only for Yaesu programming ham channels & relay stns on 2 Yaesu's, FT857D mobile and VX8DR handy talky. 
I dislike windows intensely.
Yes, awesome Mint 18.3, I also bought a $240 HP notebook, and now running Linux Mint only on it, after brute forcing Linux OS onto it, took 3 days to get past & delete HP OS. Can't stand dual boot, that's just me though.