Linux Help

[Geoff]

I fancy of giving this Linux a go but i don't want to install it on the HD just run it from a CD i have noticed that there different versions eg Umbutu and i'm not sure which one to use. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

[Ratae]

Aug 16, 2014 7:19:59 GMT Geoff said:

I fancy of giving this Linux a go but i don't want to install it on the HD just run it from a CD i have noticed that there different versions eg Umbutu and i'm not sure which one to use. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Geoff, Ubuntu is ok, I used to use it myself (v10.4) but switched to Linux Mint. Mint is based on Ubuntu so it's similar. I like it a lot.

You need a 'live' disc. I got mine from ... www.linuxmint.com/download.php

You will notice that this distro comes with a choice of four different desktops (User Interfaces) I use the 'Mate' desktop, simply because I find it easy to follow and not too dissimilar to 'Windows'

Pick the correct 'bit rate' version and don't pick the 'No codecs' version.

Burn the iso to a disc (I use Cdburner XP) and when you run the disc, you will get the option to install it on your hdd or 'run from disc'

[Geoff]

Downloaded i will burn it when i can find some blank CDs

[mr]

Two things Geoff, before you burn the ISO, check the MD5 sum on the download page matches your downloaded file. This is critical to ensure you have a clean uncorrupted copy.
If there's a problem, try downloading from the torrent instead, much less likely to be errors.

The other thing is, you need a blank DVD rather than a CD because of the size of it!

[Ratae]

Aug 16, 2014 10:14:33 GMT mr said:

Two things Geoff, before you burn the ISO, check the MD5 sum on the download page matches your downloaded file. This is critical to ensure you have a clean uncorrupted copy.
If there's a problem, try downloading from the torrent instead, much less likely to be errors.

The other thing is, you need a blank DVD rather than a CD because of the size of it!

Yep, forgot that. I burned mine on a dvd. However, I put Mint 14 on my netbook, and then Mint 16 on the old lappy that was rescued from a skip.

I see no reason to upgrade to v17.....happy with what I'm using!

[postman]

I tried ubuntu 12.4 on an older machine and found it to be very stable with exception to a few small changes that were needed here and there but the ubuntu sites have all the answers and more. downloaded ubuntu 14.4 but not installed it yet.

[mr]

Aug 16, 2014 10:50:34 GMT Ratae said:

I see no reason to upgrade to v17.....happy with what I'm using!

Both of those distros have reached 'end of life' now so no updates and you won't be able to load extra software because the repos are closed too. See this post from Mint Forums,

Still using Linux Mint 14, 15, or 16? forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=173378. Notice the date, 17 July 14.

[Ratae]

Aug 16, 2014 14:00:14 GMT mr said:

Aug 16, 2014 10:50:34 GMT Ratae said:

I see no reason to upgrade to v17.....happy with what I'm using!

Both of those distros have reached 'end of life' now so no updates and you won't be able to load extra software because the repos are closed too. See this post from Mint Forums,

Still using Linux Mint 14, 15, or 16? forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=173378. Notice the date, 17 July 14.

Yep Mr, I was aware of that. However, I only use this little netbook for browsing t'internet, so I'm not fussed about updates or new progammes.

T'other machine is one that I just mess with to try stuff out. Don't need an LTS distro for present usage.

From the tutorial.

If things are working fine and you're happy with your current system, then you don't need to upgrade.

A new version of Linux Mint is released every 6 months. It usually comes with new features and improvements but there's nothing wrong with sticking with the release you already have. In fact, you could skip many releases and stick with the version that works for you.

Each release receives bug fixes and security updates for about 18 months (or 3 years in the case of "Long Term Support" releases such as Linux Mint 5 or Linux Mint 9). The development team is also focused on the latest release. If bug fixes and security updates are important to you, you should regularly upgrade to the latest releases, otherwise there's nothing wrong with keeping things as they are.

[Geoff]

Cheers fella's will have a look later

[Geoff]

Right i have burned the disc just have to sort the boot order out cos i'm on W 8.1

[Craig72]

OK, so I've DL & burned a Mint disk, and I can get on the interweb, but when I try to log in to somewhere that needs my email address, the @ doesn't work.

Any ideas please?

Craig.

[Geoff]

Aug 20, 2014 7:42:32 GMT Geoff said:

Right i have burned the disc just have to sort the boot order out cos i'm on W 8.1

OK i have run from the CD but i am faced with a login and password box and can't see an option to create a username and password , will have a look later i'm being dragged out by Carole to go shopping .

[Ratae]

Aug 20, 2014 10:18:12 GMT Craig72 said:

OK, so I've DL & burned a Mint disk, and I can get on the interweb, but when I try to log in to somewhere that needs my email address, the @ doesn't work.

Any ideas please?

Craig.

Craig, somewhere in the settings, there is an option to use either the UK or USA keyboard, make sure that it's the UK keyboard that you've set.

[Ratae]

Ok Craigy, in 'Menu'...open 'System' then 'Control Centre' then under 'Hardware' click on 'keyboard'

Go to the 'Layouts' tab. If there it shows US ....click the 'Add' button and scroll to the UK setting and add that.

[Geoff]

Aug 20, 2014 10:26:00 GMT Geoff said:

Aug 20, 2014 7:42:32 GMT Geoff said:

Right i have burned the disc just have to sort the boot order out cos i'm on W 8.1

OK i have run from the CD but i am faced with a login and password box and can't see an option to create a username and password , will have a look later i'm being dragged out by Carole to go shopping .

OK I'm online with linux now