Considering trying a Linux distribution..

[diablopath]

So, just out of curiosity, I'm considering doing a full install with a linux distribution.

The two I've tried thus far have been Ubuntu and Fedora.
The former I just played around on for a bit, didn't really test anything...Fedora I tried using youtube and shit but it wouldnt let me, and I couldn't get an install to work to allow that.

I only did live boots, though, nothing else.
The Ubuntu Liveboot was astronomically faster, but I'm not sure that'd make a difference with a hard drive install.

So, any other recommendations?
Is there a way to test my hardware *before* going entirely Linux? Again, I didn't really test anything in Ubuntu (and I lost the disc), but I couldn't get any mp3's to work in Fedora (just didn't have the correct decoders or whatever, didn't really try and find any).

[crazyD]

I've always used Ubuntu and variations, specifically Kubuntu and Xubuntu. Hardy Heron got rid of most of my problems with previous releases (bad dual monitor and wireless support).

[Bone]

Ubuntu Live discs are made for just that purpose, aren't they? Pretty sure one option is just to boot to the CD to test whether it finds all the right drivers and whatnot. If that works, reboot and choose install.

There is also a version of Ubuntu that comes with all the media players and codecs installed: SuperUbuntu (http://hacktolive.org/wiki/Super_Ubuntu).

Personally though, I'm liking CentOS a lot. It's Red Hat Enterprise Linux, but rebranded without the Red Hat license so it's entirely free. Works great on servers but also surprisingly installs easily on desktop and laptops.

[diablopath]

Ubuntu Live discs are made for just that purpose, aren't they? Pretty sure one option is just to boot to the CD to test whether it finds all the right drivers and whatnot. If that works, reboot and choose install.

There is also a version of Ubuntu that comes with all the media players and codecs installed: SuperUbuntu (http://hacktolive.org/wiki/Super_Ubuntu).

Personally though, I'm liking CentOS a lot. It's Red Hat Enterprise Linux, but rebranded without the Red Hat license so it's entirely free. Works great on servers but also surprisingly installs easily on desktop and laptops.
Yeah, probably. Only I cannot find those Ubuntu discs... I believe I trashed them.

[Bone]

I have to ask- do you have no more blank discs? :)

[diablopath]

Yeah, I downloaded an Ubuntu boot disc and I'm livebooting right now on my laptop.
I really like it so far: the numerous workspaces thing really has my fancy caught.

If I can get flash to work, and figure out a few more things, I'll be sold, and will do a full install on the laptop. I guess I need to get some DVDs to backup Vista, first, though >.>.

[Bone]

Looks like SuperUbuntu comes with Flash- I may wipe out my old Ubuntu install and try Super.

[muddi900]

Flash and other plugins need a HDD to install. You can't do that with a live CD. Try using WUBI. It installs ubuntu as windows application. You can boot any time you want and uninstall it according to your wish.

[diablopath]

Flash and other plugins need a HDD to install. You can't do that with a live CD. Try using WUBI. It installs ubuntu as windows application. You can boot any time you want and uninstall it according to your wish.

I did a LiveBoot with Super Ubuntu and flash and stuff worked.
Again, I'm not 100% sure I'm ready to change. For some reason Vista won't let me create restore discs on my laptop, so until I solve that problem, I won't be switching over to Linux on it.

Although it seems everything works. Audio and video both work from liveboot. Firefox seems fairly slow, but I'm assuming that's because it's coming from the DVD and not from the HDD.

[total]

I did a LiveBoot with Super Ubuntu and flash and stuff worked.
Again, I'm not 100% sure I'm ready to change. For some reason Vista won't let me create restore discs on my laptop, so until I solve that problem, I won't be switching over to Linux on it.

Although it seems everything works. Audio and video both work from liveboot. Firefox seems fairly slow, but I'm assuming that's because it's coming from the DVD and not from the HDD.

If your wireless works you should be fine. Getting flash to install on Ubuntu is just as easy as getting it installed on Windows. You go to the website, select Ubuntu and download a .deb. Treat a .deb as you would an .exe in Windows. Double click it and select install and boom goes the dynamite. I've never actually used SuperUbuntu but it looks pretty neat. Pretty much full of the stuff I install after an Ubuntu install. A few things I've never used.

Also you can easily install Ubuntu keeping Windows intact if you wanted. You could either use Wubi as previously mentioned or you could dual boot. Ubuntu makes dual booting very easy to do. I believe it is actually the default choice if Ubuntu finds a Windows partition on your system. If you can install Windows you have the technical know how to get Ubuntu to dual boot.

[muddi900]

open terminal
type "sudo apt-get install flash"
enter password
voila!

[total]

open terminal
type "sudo apt-get install flash"
enter password
voila!

It's "sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree" these days.