Linux questions..

[Archangel112]

My friend is thinking of switching to Linux but first he would like to know the following:
1. When he backs up his files onto an External Hard Drive, will he be able to get them back once Linux is installed?
2. Is it easy to switch?
3. How long does the installation take?

Thanks in advance

 

[^Mike^]

yeah if it's on a external hard drive all you gota do is plug it in and then linux will detect it and you will have your files.
It is very easy to switch, not a problem at all.
installation takes anywhere from 20min-1 hour depending on the speed of your computer and the linux distro you use.

 

[muz]

Tell him to try a linux live cd first , great way for him to try out linux,
http://www.slax.org/ - slax linux good one and a small download
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ -damm small linux , bout a 56 mb download

you can also install both of theese on hard drive .

*My usb flash drive can be read by linux yet cos there is no ms office i cannot open word documents etc, but you can get open office for some versions so probably for the second question but again it depends on what distrobution of linux they want to use .

 

[Archangel112]

Thanks alot Mike !

 

[muz]

by the way you can use a live cd without installing any files on the hdd

 

[^Mike^]

yeah i would use ubuntu because it's a live cd/install cd meaning if you use the live cd and you end up likeing it then you can install it

 

[muz]

same with slax linux

 

[DJ-CHRIS1]

Ubuntu is also the most user friendly distribution out their IMO

 

[mammikoura]

ubuntu is very good, highly recommended. Though I prefer kubuntu. They are basicly the same, but kubuntu has kde instead of gnome.

 

[tasmarshall]

Ubuntu is good, but it doesn't have as large a range of programs included as some of the bigger distros like SUSE or Fedora Core, however if you dont actually need five different word porcessors then you are fine!