Question Installing open source operating system

[PaulDesmond]

Hi. I am fed up with microsoft bullying using windows 10 [See post Does anyone here use windows 10?]

I tried installing lynux on a computer about 5 years ago. It came to the point were it needed to go on the internet to get updates. That was a brick wall for me. I have a talk talk router and maybe it needs some lynux drivers. PLEASE HELP. I can't take any more of this.

 

[COLGeek]

Linux is very easy to install and maintain, especially today.

I suggest you start with a distro like Linux Mint.

Home - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.

linuxmint.com

 

[PaulDesmond]

I seem to get Cinnamon Edition, MATE Edition, Xfce Edition versions.

 

[COLGeek]

What are the specs for the targeted system? You can try them all for for preference, I have used Cinnamon quite a bit and it should feel familiar to most Windows users.

 

[USAFRet]

What specific issues did you see with the install?
Current Linux installs are pretty easy.

Your router needs no linux drivers.

 

[PaulDesmond]

I havent yet. I am going for a download and I have a choice of 3.
I have downloaded linuxmint-21.1-cinnamon-64bit.iso.torrent. To I rename it linuxmint-21.1-cinnamon-64bit.iso and burn it to DVD using NCH iso burning software?

 

[USAFRet]

I havent yet. I am going for a download and I have a choice of 3.

Linux Mint - Cinnamon is just fine to get your feet wet.

 

[PaulDesmond]

I will do this all next week when I have more time and will probably need your help. How do I burn this to a DVD? I have NCH and nero but this is a .iso.torrent. Does this need totrrent burnning software?

 

[USAFRet]

I will do this all next week when I have more time and will probably need your help. How do I burn this to a DVD? I have NCH and nero but this is a .iso.torrent. Does this need totrrent burnning software?

At the end of the torrent, you should end up with an ISO file.

Assuming Linux Mint Cinnamon a file named thus:
"linuxmint-21.1-cinnamon-64bit.iso"

Rufus can burn that to a DVD or USB.

Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Rufus: Create bootable USB drives the easy way

rufus.ie

 

[COLGeek]

You can burn to a DVD or write to a thumb drive (with an app like RUFUS). Either will work.

 

[LinuxDevice]

I just want to add to the enthusiasm: Installations are easier now than they used to be. Especially if it is a case of booting to a live DVD distribution (which runs in RAM but takes a long time to boot from a DVD), and then it lets you try it out prior to clicking the button to install. It should basically "just work", including networking, but you might need to add a driver later for hardware acceleration quality to video. If so, then you'll need to also list which video card you have.

 

[PaulDesmond]

Thnks for that. I never heard of Rufus but you know about all this. I will burn to USB and try next week. Thanks for your help.

 

[USAFRet]

Thnks for that. I never heard of Rufus but you know about all this. I will burn to USB and try next week. Thanks for your help.

And the LiveUSB or DVD lets you get your feet wet before jumping in to the deep end.

Do be aware of the software differences beyond the Windows vs Linux OS.

 

[PaulDesmond]

Not sure about
Do be aware of the software differences beyond the Windows vs Linux OS.

All I want to do is write my comedy scripts for theater and possibly the BBC. I need to be able to open word documents and excell documents with an open source equvilant. brows websites and send and receive emails. for now. If there is any obviouse difrences that might affect me then let me know. I still will have a windows 10 laptop incase.

I know that linux servers are faster and more reliable than windows servers. I have my own lynux website and I write code in PHP.

 

[USAFRet]

Not sure about
Do be aware of the software differences beyond the Windows vs Linux OS.

All I want to do is write my comedy scripts for theater and possibly the BBC. I need to be able to open word documents and excell documents with an open source equvilant. brows websites and send and receive emails. for now. If there is any obviouse difrences that might affect me then let me know. I still will have a windows 10 laptop incase.

I know that linux servers are faster and more reliable than windows servers. I have my own lynux website and I write code in PHP.

Word and Excel.

Your current applications of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel will not work in Linux.

There is a mostly compatible alternative, LibreOffice.
I say 'mostly', because it is NOT 100%. Very close, but not quite.
Writer and Calc are the Libre alternatives for Word and Excel.

Web browsers, email? No problem.

 

[PaulDesmond]

I have downloaded rufus 3.21.1949 but when I run it with a USB in my laptop D: I get this.
http://desmond-otoole.co.uk/Rufus.jpg Start is greyed out and I can't select a file.

I have used open office before and that acepted MS word

 

[USAFRet]

I have downloaded rufus 3.21.1949 but when I run it with a USB in my laptop D: I get this.
http://desmond-otoole.co.uk/Rufus.jpg

I have used open office before and that acepted MS word

You have to select the relevant ISO file.

Under "Boot selection" navigate to where your ISO is saved.

 

[PaulDesmond]

Rufus is only for creating a bootable drive. I need to get the ISO image onto the USB. Express burner is only to a DVD.

 

[USAFRet]

I changed it to FreeDOS and that allowed me to format. There is no search for file in the image I showed you. I only have Drive properties and Format options.

In Select, what options does it give you?

 

[PaulDesmond]

I only get a choice of Select or download with Boot selection saying Disk or ISO image (please select)
No select a file.

http://desmond-otoole.co.uk/Rufus2.jpg

 

[USAFRet]

I only get a choice of Select or download with Boot selection saying Disk or ISO image (please select)
No select a file.

http://desmond-otoole.co.uk/Rufus2.jpg

In mine, clicking Select open a FIle Explorer window, letting me navigate to where the ISO file is.

Exact same Rufus version as you have.

 

[PaulDesmond]

Mine is not a select button to select a file. Mine is a drop down box with [Select | Download]

Your's would not be a drop down list. It would be a button that opens up another window to select a file and there would be a long text box to show the selected file. That's how it works in windows.

 

[USAFRet]

Mine is not a select button to select a file. Mine is a drop down box with [Select | Download]

Your's would not be a drop down list. It would be a button that opens up another window to select a file and there would be a long text box to show the selected file. That's how it works in windows.

I am in Windows...Win 11.

Clicking the 'Select' button simply opens File Explorer, allowing me to navigate to where the ISO may live.

 

[PaulDesmond]

That is very strange. You have a button, I have a drop down list box. I am using windows 10 / 64 but that shouldent make any diffrence.

I will have to leave this untill tomorrow. My laptop dosn't have a DVD drive.

 

[USAFRet]

That is very strange. You have a button, I have a drop down list box. I am using windows 10 / 64 but that shouldent make any diffrence.

Restart Rufus and see what happens.