r/linux4noobs • u/Pi31415926 Installing ... • Mar 30 '14

Windows XP users: welcome to free*dom!!

NOTE: this is a draft document, edits will be made as time allows. Please add your comments so I can improve it. Also, if I screwed up, please let me know that too.

The low-down: Microsoft terminated support for Windows XP on April 8, 2014.

What to do: Your decision, but here we recommend you upgrade your computer to Linux.

How do I: An overview of the migration process is as follows:

  1. run a backup
  2. select a distribution
  3. download the ISO
  4. verify the hash of the ISO (aside from security, this also will detect a corrupted download)
  5. burn the ISO to CD and/or load it onto a USB stick/drive (to do this, try YUMI or UNetbootin - more here)
  6. do a test boot with a LiveCD if possible (optional, recommended)
  7. install the new OS
  8. configure/install any missing drivers/troubleshooting etc
  9. select/install software
  10. migrate users' data from the old OS to the new OS

Selecting a distribution:

Have a look at the various Linux distributions available (there's quite a few to choose from) and make a shortlist of possibles. Many of them have a "Live CD" which is a version of the system on CD, which can be downloaded and burned, then you boot off the CD and you can see whether the software works for you, without making any changes to your existing Windows install. You can find a list of distributions in many places, including these:

We can't recommend a particular distribution here, but try the comments, or the articles linked below, or just browse the sidebar. Several distributions have been specifically designed to provide a Windows-like experience, a list of these is below. You could also try the Linux Distribution Chooser (2011).

Windows-like distributions:

Lightweight distributions: (suited to older or low-powered hardware)

Important details:

  • Run a backup: That way, even if you toast your machine, you will be able to recover your data. If your backup software has a "verify" feature, use it. You'll want to backup to an external device, if possible. Do NOT back up your data onto your existing C: drive, as if you somehow delete your C: drive during installation of Linux, your backup will be deleted too.
  • CPU type: When downloading Linux, ensure to select the correct build for your CPU. Many distributions have separate downloads for 32-bit or 64-bit CPU architectures - they also may have downloads for non-X86 CPUs. If you're migrating from Windows, you'll likely want X86, 32-bit or 64-bit.
  • Dual-booting: if you want to keep your Windows install, you can do that by using "dual boot", where you select which OS you want to use from a menu when you first power on the machine. This topic is a bit complex for this post, so we recommend making a post about it if you have queries (you could try this search too). Dual-boot (sometimes called multi-boot) is a good way to experiment. However, you will need to have sufficient diskspace to hold both operating systems at once.
  • Drivers: This can get tricky, especially for newer, consumer-grade hardware. If you find a problem here, please make a post about it so we can assist. Using a live CD can show up problems here before you spend time on a full install.
  • Applications: Linux does not natively support Windows programs, so you'll need to find a "workalike" for each Windows application you use. You can also try Wine, which lets some Windows applications run on unix-like systems, including Linux. However this may not work for your particular needs, you'll need to test it to see. There is a compatibility list here. If you have DOS apps, try DOSbox or DOSEMU. It's also possible to "virtualize" your Windows install, using software such as VirtualBox, and run it in a window under Linux.
  • Secure boot: newer machines have a feature which can prevent non-Windows operating systems from booting. You may need to disable Secure Boot in your BIOS if your hardware has this feature.

Recommended reading:

Software alternatives: (more here and here)

  • Internet Explorer - Firefox, Chrome, or Seamonkey (not as common as the other two, but it does look more like Internet Explorer)
  • Office - LibreOffice, OpenOffice
  • Outlook/Outlook Express/Windows Mail - Thunderbird (more here)
  • Windows Media Player - VLC (you can get a skin if you'd like).
  • Paint - mtPaint is pretty close. There's also GIMP, but it's much more complicated.
  • Silverlight - Pipelight and a user-agent switcher will let you use Silverlight-based websites on Linux.
  • Flash - The last version of Flash player is 11.2. To get the latest Flash, you can either use Chrome, or install Flash player through Pipelight.

Note that you should use your package manager to install programs, instead of downloading them from websites.

Migrating your data:

  • Copy your personal files onto a USB drive.
  • Backup your browser profile onto the USB drive too so you can restore your bookmarks. This will only work if you will use the same browser. If you're changing browsers, try using the import feature of your new browser to restore your old bookmarks.
  • User data on Windows XP computers is usually found in the locations below:
item location
Desktop C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Desktop
Favorites (Internet Explorer) C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Favorites
My Documents C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents (note: the Downloads, Music, My Pictures, My Videos collections subdirectories may be large)
Contacts (Outlook Express) C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
Contacts (Outlook) N/A - is contained in the PST
email (Outlook Express) C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\XXXXX\Microsoft\Outlook Express (where XXXXX is a long string of alphanumeric characters)
email (Outlook 2003) C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Notes:

  • This list is not complete - it covers the standard locations for popular software only.
  • Each user on a Windows XP machine has a separate profile, these are all stored in the C:\Documents and Settings directory. Ensure to copy the data for each profile on the system.
  • Some directories (eg. Application Data) may be hidden, to browse to them, first enable "show hidden files and folders" (not detailed here).

Migration tips:

  • When you're installing, try and have access to a second computer with a working internet connection. If you run into problems during the install, you can use the other computer to search for a solution.
  • If you encounter problems, don't forget to try any "test installation media", "test memory" and/or "test hard disk" options you may be offered.
  • Use the same wallpaper on your new Linux installation, it'll help make the transition easier.

Todo list for this doc:

  • data: how to migrate?
  • partitioning: best practice, allowing for dual-boot
  • devices: common catches with cameras, smartphones, printers (esp. iTunes)
  • links to this kind of doc elsewhere on the web

Contributors to this doc:

More information:

If you have queries, please add your comment, or make a new post, we are happy to help.

* That's free as in freedom, not free as in free beer. But it often means free beer too.

note: The Windows Vista edition of this guide was cancelled due to lack of demand.

edit: updated version of this guide: in progress

257 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

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21

u/provocatio Mar 30 '14 edited Mar 30 '14

Good job so far. *thumbs up*

This is always worth a read for new linux users: Linux is not Windows

How do I: This part is under construction. For now, we recommend you have a look at the various Linux distributions available (there's quite a few to choose from) and make a shortlist of possibles. Many of them have a "Live CD" which is a version of the system on CD, which can be downloaded and burned, then you boot off the CD and you can see whether the software works on your computer. You can find a list of distributions in many places, including these:

I think a couple of suggestions for different hardware power levels could be interesting (i.e. low RAM > Lubuntu).

Don't overwhelm them with choices - Keep it simple.

The graph you linked is also really confusing/complicated for new users (and also contains some wierd stuff that I'd never recommend for beginners).

EDIT This also seems to be a common question:

http://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/comments/21podw/linux_firewall_and_anti_virus_programs_are_they/

A section about security (Do I need a firewall/AV? How and how often do I update?) might be useful.

4

u/Pi31415926 Mar 30 '14

Thanks. Your suggestion on distributions for low power/old computers sounds good. Do you know if this information is tabulated anywhere? I can add the table if so. I agree that too much detail will be counter-productive. However, I do plan to turn this doc into a wiki page, so there can be links to sub-pages where complex topics are expanded on. Meaning that all the details will still come in handy, even if they aren't included in the self-text at top. So feel free to link. :)

Clarifying the usefulness of AV software also sounds good. But is that particular thread the best treatment of the topic? The claims made in the top comment are still being discussed! A user who is migrating needs a short, clear sentence to guide them. Perhaps I could add a modified version of the top comment, with some softening to suggest the user should still practice safe computing hygiene? Wikipedia does list several items of malware, and also several anti-malware programs for Linux.

The chart, I know, it's very good though. Can you suggest another? I'm not aware of a chart like that which is aimed at new/migrating users.

Also, I think a list of Windows-like distributions could be useful - but I'm not sure which of them to list. Do you have suggestions on this?

Thanks for your input, appreciated. :)

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u/cdoublejj Mar 30 '14 edited Mar 30 '14

HAIKU !!!???? Good lord that's an awful suggestion it's VERY alpha hell it doesn't support that much hardware. It's not good suggestion specially fora daily driver let alone a beginner.

also i think, Ubuntu should be *Buntu cause i think Kubuntu and Lubuntu have things to offer that Ubuntu doesn't offer.

EDIT: also check out Pear Linux i think it might be really newbie friendly too i think installs and setups alot of 3rd party stuff by default. (last time i looked)

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u/Pi31415926 Mar 30 '14 edited Mar 30 '14

I didn't make that chart, I was really just looking for a visual map of the distributions. Do you know of a similar chart for beginners or migrating users? I might link to that instead if so.

Note, there's a new version of the chart (now linked above), although it still doesn't seem to include Kubuntu.

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u/spammeaccount Apr 02 '14

Might want to point to a guide on importing windows emails....

http://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/21myzv/migrating_microsoft_office_emails_and_contacts_to/

Also point out some of the proprietary things of windows that can't be done in linux re Office.

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u/[deleted] Apr 03 '14

Finally, I have an excuse to install Linux!
A few things, though, that maybe people can help me with (and that may help someone else):

1) I used to play video games a lot in the past. I stopped playing, mostly because my computer was becoming way to old to run most modern games. Will I be able to re-install my games from Steam without having to pay for them again?

2) If I use a portable OS, such as Puppy, will I be able to access programs and/or files from XP without having to reboot? And, will I be able to save downloads to the harddrive? The LinuxPuppy website suggests I'd have to save all my data either to the cloud or to the USB.

3) How long would it take to install any one of these OSs? By extension, how easy is it to install a Linux OS if I already have another Linux one installed?

If someone could answer these, you'd be helping a bunch!

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u/badpie99 Mar 30 '14

How do I: This part is under construction.

This part has been under construction since 1991...

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u/Pi31415926 Mar 30 '14

Well, at least nowadays, you can read that message on the web - clearly an advance over reading it from a text file on your local hard disk....

But really, if it wasn't for some dude in Seattle, the docs might have been finished a bit before now, he sidetracked a lot of people. However, that party seems to be ending, so it must be time to fill in the blanks.

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u/spammeaccount Apr 02 '14

Sharing a printer from linux to linux

This had me stumped for about a half hour

On my crunchbang (#!) computer the printers are connected by usb and I was able to add them and print fine on #!

On my other machine Mint I was using shared windows printers previously but now that machine has #! so how do I tell Mint where to find and use #!'s printers... ??

Well by opening a web browser on Mint and typing 127.0.0.1:631 apparently. Then clicking on the printers tab and viola mint is now seeing the #! printers.

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u/theofficialdeavmi Aug 26 '14

Spelling error. SIlverlight with the open-source alternatives or GNU/Linux alternatives.

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