Trading Vista for Kubuntu

[Brat3x]

I'm totally new to Linux and forums.... And am unsure where to put these question and a million more to follow. :P

I have a Dell Inspiron 1525. I want to totally get rid of Vista and replace it with Kubuntu. And and all help I can get would be greatly appreciated. Can it be done with no problems, much? Is there someplace that will give a give dummy like me all the help, step by step, I will need for this process. Want to get started on it by tomorrow. I may just jump in with both feet and see what kind of damage I can do

I also spoke with dell about the wireless drivers and was told that until they create one, wireless won't work at all so I will need the umbilical cord. Is this true?

Much Thanks ahead of time.

Brat 3 x's Over

[Snowhog]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

First, welcome to Linux and the Kubuntu Forums. Second, may I recommend that you seriously consider setting up a dual-boot system with Vista? Why? As you are, in your own words "totally new to Linux", dumping Vista completely is the equivalent of jumping out of an airplane on your very first parachute jump, and having no reserve chute.

Setting up Vista and Linux in a dual-boot configuration is very easy. If you will take just a few minutes and review The definitive dual-booting guide: Linux, Vista and XP step-by-step I think you will be well served.

Running a dual-boot system allows you to try Linux while still having access to Vista. This gives you the distinct opportunity to learn how Linux (Kubuntu) will (or will not) work on your hardware.

[dibl]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

If you own a Win XP instalation CD, this is a decent way to have a Windows capability on a 100% Linux computer:

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3095339.0

[Bongo5HH]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please be patient. You've become familiar with the "Windows way" of doing everything and you're going to be learning a lot of new ways of doing things. Once you get a bit familiar you're going to be able to design "your way" of doing many of the things you do regularly.

Try to keep hopeful by knowing that you've just got to learn a new way of seeing things and then it will make sense.

Linux is incredibly powerful, and that will leave you confused from time to time. But take heart. Because it's so powerful, and because it's "open" there is almost always a solution to whatever problem you're experiencing. I have come to value the people on this forum greatly, and I bet you will too.


Kubuntu is a very pretty OS and it is also fairly mature. It's probably not the "best" distro, or the "easiest to use" but it is very good, and very easy. Except for a quick jaunt into gOS this week I stick with Kubuntu mainly because of this forum.

www.kde-look.org will become a fun place to hang out looking for new ways to customize your desktop just for you.

I suggest getting familiar with some apps like Firefox - webbrowser and Tunderbird - email client in Windows first. Then when you start to live in Linux more you'll have some pretty important software that is already completely familiar to you.

Again WELCOME!!! Please try to laugh at the "windoze" jokes. The people here are not elitists who snub "noobs" so come and enjoy!

Kev

[Brat3x]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

I'm sorry for my impatience and thank you for your words...

I already have Firefox and Thunderbird, The only things I will use.

Technically all I need is my browser for my research, My email to talk with a couple friends or information relay and a working wireless and I am set to learn as I go. That's it. I'm not hard to please. If I should decide I need a different piece of software/package(?) then off on the hunt I go. Oh and on occasion add a game or 2 when I really need to relax and organize in my brain, the thousands of pages I have read.

There are a couple things that I was shown the other night on someones PC that I really liked and will hunt that down when I'm set up and am ready to start my crash course for the 5th time.

I'll use the umbilical cord if and only if I have to.

Brat 3 x's over

P.S. For the XP guy. Just got my key off the other unit, now to figure out how to get a disc, if I decide to go that way. TY

[Bongo5HH]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

Before *buntu would cover my built in wireless card I bought a D-Link WNA-2330 notebook adapter card and it has worked fairly.. just plug and play.

So if you can't get your wifi to work with Kubuntu that is always a fairly cheap option for you.

If you tell us what the actual wifi chipset is we might be able to help you get it working... the Dell guy may have just been wrong.

Kev

[Brat3x]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

I'm willing to replace any hardware I should need to, should that be the case. Anything to get Microsoft out of my life.

As for Chipset would that simply be the type of card I have?
Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini-Card?

Is this it?

Intel 965 GM?

Also, I can't get the disc to take more then 30 gig of the drive, want it to take the whole 100 gig. well 9? anywho, you know what I mean.(I hope) In other words I can't get it to format. Will I have to do this the long way.

[Snowhog]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

Are you trying to reformat your existing HD, or simply trying to install Kubuntu using the LiveCD? If you are really ready to "jump into the deep end of the pool" and you don't care to save Windoze on the HD, then just reformat the entire HD. The easiest way to do that, and to then prepare the partitioning in preparation for the Kubuntu installation, then download and burn the LiveCD of GParted.

[Brat3x]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

I've already got the dual boot thing going on. I'm ready to dump windoze. I have all the discs that came with this laptop should I change my mind but I highly doubt I will. I've been fighting with microsoft for 10 yrs or better and I am DONE!

I've already downloaded and burned and installed. But it won't let me do a the 100% that way. So ya I guess it will be the hard way(or is that the easy way). Never did it that way but I guess I am fixin' to learn.

Thank You

My concern is the wireless but that is minor and can be worked around. Just won't be able to go out and sit with me horses and play on the computer. Oh Well. always a sacrifice someplace

[Snowhog]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

If you are already dual-booting, then you don't need to reformat the HD. All you need to do is to format the two Windoze partitions (the smaller is the Windoze Recovery partition). This is going to give you the extra space you want. You can then use the GParted LiveCD to move your root ( / ) partition and home ( /home ) partitions. You will want to read about moving and copying partitions in the GParted documentation. I've done this myself.

But, if you have not gone very far in customization, then just starting from scratch may be faster.

[Brat3x]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

Thank You everyone.

I think it would be wise for me to get a fresh start in the morning. I have a headache that won't quit and don't feel it would be wise to attempt it right now. If you know of any sites that talk about this and go into depth, I would love to skim through them and get my head around what I have to do. I'm sure I have a good idea but me and my research. I think it's a curse. lol. And if anyone one figures out about the wireless deal I'd appreciated it.

Think it is time for a beer and relaxing the rest the evening.

[cptr13]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

I have a Inspirion 1525 and this weekend have been trying out various distros after about a month on Ubuntu. So far, K/Ubuntu is the only distro that works 100% out of the box. The wireless works, everything works...it's a wonderful thing...though it will spoil you when it comes to linux.

As for the transition...I have been fooling with linux a little over a year now and am only beginning to feel like I know my way around. Your inspiron should allow you to make the transition easier. Screw the dual boot..just wipe it and reinstall. Learn how to back up your critical stuff though as I can't count how many times I've resolved an issue that I couldnt figure out by simply reinstalling from scratch.

Linux is a headache, you have to spend a long time researching solutions to most problems. But its soo much fun If you want to break free from MS...you have a good machine for K/Ubuntu...if you already use thunderbird and firefox it will make your transition that much easier.

[Qqmike]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

"So far, K/Ubuntu is the only distro that works 100% out of the box."

cptr13, have you tried Mint?

[cptr13]

Re: Trading Vista for Kubuntu

I tried mint, mandriva and opensuse. I have not tried fedora 9 yet. I'm not saying these distros aren't compatable, but Ubuntu 8.04 seems to work 100% out of the box with the inspiron 1525 and the others all have at least one issue that has to be worked through. Opensuse and mint wouldn't recognize the wireless out of the box but the broadcom ndiswrapper solution should resolve that on those distros. There's some sort of funky sound driver clash on mandriva that cause an ear shattering alarm sound when the mandriva disc loads. I didn't even wait through the boot process to resolve that one. I spent most of this weekend fussing with different distros and just threw Ubuntu back on this morning. I guess if it ain't broke....