Linux - Advice

[Frank Skilbeck]

Hard drive has failed on my wifes laptop, new SSD one on order. I managed to recover her photos etc by running Linux mint from a USB drive, first time I have used Linux and I was pleasantly surprised. So thinking of putting Linux on the laptop when the new disc arrives, I know there's a few Linux users on here, so thought I would ask a couple of questions

 

1) What's the best Linux version to use for a novice user?

2) Do you need any additional anti-virus security when running Linux or is it built in like Win 10?

 

Thanks

[Brian Dorricott 1]

Frank I am by no means a Linux expert but I found Linux Mint easy to use and have run it as a browser on all sorts of sites and had no problems without any anti virus at all . Easy to install and will emulate windows if you really need a Windows program to run , all in all pleasant experience and doesn't make Bill Gates any richer !

[Peter Christy]

Hi Frank, long time Linux user here!

 

Linux Mint has a very good reputation. It is based on Ubuntu Linux (quite a few Linux distributions are!). Personally, I've never had much luck with the various Ubuntu derivatives - probably due to me often using fairly "cutting edge" hardware - but many people swear by them!

 

Certainly Mint has a reputation for being very "user friendly" - ideal for someone who doesn't like computers. A bit like my wife's Hyundai i10 - a perfect car for someone who hates cars! ?

 

I would suggest looking at Mageia Linux too: https://www.mageia.org/en-gb/

 

I've installed Mageia on both my wife's computer and my sister-in-laws. Neither are computer savvy, but neither have had any issues. When SIL was running Windows, I was getting pleas for help every other week! Since I switched her to Mageia, I think I've only had to go over there once, and that was when she got a new printer/scanner and needed help locating the right driver (it was actually semi automatic - she just needed to tell it to search for new hardware!).

 

Mageia is a more traditional Linux system, without many of the features that the various 'buntus use to isolate the user from the system. This isolation *can* cause issues at times, usually when hardware is more recent than the software allows for, and the 'buntus can get in the way of fixing it.

 

Either Mint or Mageia will work well, and are easy to keep up to date (and MUCH quicker than windows to do so!).

 

My personal favourite is Slackware - one of the oldest distributions out there, but also one of the most respected and advanced. It has a reputation (undeserved, IMHO) for being only suitable for geeks. It does not lead you by the hand, but because of that is almost ultimately flexible.

 

If you use Mageia or Mint, you learn Mageia or Mint. If you use Slackware, you learn Linux! But it ain't for the feint of heart - at first, anyway!

 

My advice for a Linux novice would be Mint or Mageia, with my personal vote going to Mageia.

 

--

Pete

[MaxG]

I have used Mint on a very old laptop I have and find that it is very good for what I have used it for. Web browsing and stuff like that. It made the machine very useable after Windows had mad it unuseable

You need to learn the new vocabulary/jargon associated with it and some slightly different ways of working but it is not difficult. There are a lot of programs out there to do all the usual things, such as Libre Office instead of the Microsoft stuff. Also Libre CAD should you wish to use this. However some other stuff is not available on the platform such as the Multiplex stuff that you use, well it wasn't when I last looked, and other specialist stuff like that. I presume that Open Tx would be available but I don't use it so I have not looked.

 

Why not just run it from your USB drive for a while and also have the Windows which does run the Multiplex stuff on the new hard drive. You could edit the boot up to give you a choice of boot from USB or hard drive and then you have the best of both.

 

I have never used an anti - virus and I don't know what the current view is on this. Google will tell you though.

 

Not sure if a firewall is built in either but I would have thought it would be if it was needed.

 

The user forums can be helpful but are a bit geeky and can give help in a totally non understandable way at times, this is when you need to know the jargon.

 

HTH

Maxg

[Stephen Jones]

I have been using Linux almost from it`s beginning. In fact i even installed a version of Linux m68k on my Amiga 1200, god knows how many years ago.

Linux Mint is my go to operating system and all my computers dual boot as most paid for software is only produced for Windoze or Macs, Open Tx works on Linux.

You do not need anti virus software on you Linux computer, but you can still get virus and pass it on to other systems un knowingly.

A lot of anti virus software is Linux based and can fix many windozes problems.

 

Steve.

Edited March 18, 2021 by Stephen Jones
typo

[Alex Ferguson 2]

You could ask Phil McCavity (on this forum) as he was installing Linux Mint. I gave him a lot of steps to make it even more usable. Send me an email if you want the documented steps/ideas.

 

Me? I've only used it exclusively for a decade. My partner? Only used it for 2 years after her Windows was hit by a virus written by Microsoft that they called an Update and totally destroyed everything. Google "Windows October 2018" where about a million were hit.

 

You could ask the other dozen(?), 2 dozen(?) that I've converted to Linux Mint. Basically no problems.

 

As for viruses, no they aren't written for Linux and it is near impossible to get them to work.

 

User forum, this one is very useful -
https://forums.linuxmint.com/
You don't need to know the jargon - usually.

 

LibreOffice - about 4 (easy) steps to install a proper (English) dictionary.

 

As for apps, a lot are exactly the same as those (free ones) that run on Windows.

 

If looking for software, look for .deb version. This is for Mint, about the same as .exe is in Windows.

 

Password - you don't have to set it up needing a password before starting if you prefer not to. Also you can remove easily the password requirement after Screensave.

[Plummet]

Long term Linux user here.  

My wife and I both use LUbuntu. This is a lightweight version of Ubuntu Linux.

 

As has been said earlier, if you have very new hardware there can be compatibility problems, but in my experience using cheaper older hardware I have had few problems.

 

The Linux Developers are very good about updating software that is found to be buggy or insecure.  It is up to the user to ensure that they do the necessary upgrades.

 

If you do have problems, take care.  There is a lot of helpful documentation out on the web, but a lot of it can be quite old, and thus out of date.  Linux has improved - changed - with time.

 

If you do decide to go the Lubuntu route then I would be happy to help.  Just PM me if necessary.

 

Plummet  

 

p.s.  Alex Ferguson above says that ".deb" is equivalent to ".exe" in Windows.  You might find this misleading.  In Windows an ".exe" is an executable file.  It is what you run when you want to use the software.  In Linux a ".deb" is one of the varieties of package files.  Different Linux distributions use different package formats.  The ".deb" format comes initially from the Debian distribution.  Many other distributions have been derive and inherit from Debian.  Whereas the ".exe" file contains just the executable code, the ".deb" file contains the executable as well as wore information about what that software needs to run, and also instructions on how a Package Manager should install it.  Downloading and installing just any ".deb" file could cause problems - for instance other software that it requires to run may not be installed.   The package manager is your friend.  If you stick to only using the packages that it makes available to you you will not go far wrong.  There are an enormous number of packages usually available - and all for free.

 

Have Fun  

Edited March 18, 2021 by Plummet
Extra information added.

[Martin_K]

Frank, some terminology.

 

Linux is the kernel, the piece of software that interfaces with your computer hardware. To make a complete operating system additional utilities and applications are required. This package is known as a 'distribution'. The advice you are being given relates to which distribution various people like. People moving from MS Windows may like something that 'feels' like Windows, others myself included, positively do not want that.

 

This 'look and feel' is the result of which Desktop Environment, if any, you select for the installation. For example, I use a very 'lightweight' setup so as to get speedy operation on old, low specification hardware.

 

Herein lies the problem. There is no standard way for a Linux Distribution to be configured, everyone can do their own thing, if they want to.

 

One further note. You already use Linux (the kernel). The majority of 'appliances', e.g set top boxes, comms hardware, run Linux. When you access on-line resources the 'back end' (servers etc.) will mostly be running the Linux kernel. Last time I checked, all the world's supercomputers did too.

 

A commonly used anti-virus program is ClamAV. Here again how you configure it is subject to great variation, depending on use.

Edited March 18, 2021 by Martin_K

[Frank Skilbeck]

Thanks all, I may stick with Linux Mint and give it a go, as I noted it's my wifes laptop which is mainly used for browsing and downloading photos etc. My laptop is the one I use for my work, so runs Win 10 as it uses a lop of programmes which are developed for Win 10, and the one I run Multiplex Launcher on. I was pleasantly surprised how easy Mint was to use and it came with Firefox which is my wifes preferred browser. 

 

Glad to know Linux doesn't need a 3rd party antivirus software.

[Alex Ferguson 2]

I'd suggest fitting an SSD in the laptop and installing Linux Mint. I've done a lot that way. However, as with everything, nothing is simple. The BIOS, usually switch to Legacy and Secure Boot OFF. Even getting into the BIOS depends, hold F2 and switch on.. or F9... or F10... or ESC. I must have come across just about all options by now including the Asus TP200, boot in Windows, and power down holding the OFF/ON button for 5 - 10 seconds the starting again holding F2 down - for a while.

 

The removed disk can be run via a suitable cable with a USB plug. This means nothing is lost and at the worst, it can be reinstalled. Installation of a disk can range from one screw to 20 on the bottom, another 5 under the keyboard and then crowbarring one corner open. It all depends on the make and model of laptop.

 

.deb "sort of" the .exe equivalent. However with what the laptop is to be used for it sounds unlikely you would need to know.

 

In Mint the default browser is Firefox and Google as a search engine needs to be added. About 3? 4? steps to do that. The default search is Yahoo. DuckDuckGo is better. You can add Chromium as an extra browser.

 

I always recommend "ublock origin" as an Add-on. It stops advertisements annoying you when browsing.

 

An easy simple photo editor is gThumb from the Software Manager / repository. Simple cropping and focus and contrast editing.

[Frank Skilbeck]

Yes, it's a HP Pavilion and the whole case (at least 20 screws) has to be taken off, plus a ribbon cable removed to get to the HDD, I ran Linux off a USB stick and got all the photos etc onto an external disc, new SSD ordered, just waiting for it.

 

I did a SSD upgrade to my Sony Vaio last year, but I was able to clone the HDD to the SSD and then swap them out, fortunately the HDD on the Sony was really easy to get to, just a couple of screws. As I'd put a larger SSD in I had to re-partion the drive to get the PC to access the extra space. Sony is now 10 years old and still going strong the HP under 6 years and the Toshiba HDD failed. Sony still running Win 10 but with the SSD starts up really quickly now, before it was switch on and go for a brew ?