Still on Windows XP? Here’s Some Bad Advice

No idea where you got that from. I sometimes run all day from my Linux in the virtual partition or my Linux from the stick. There is really nothing I cannot do.

I have 6 VMware partitions on an eSata connected 240GB SSD. Those are 5 Linux and one 8.1. I run them from the Windows 7 host. On my 3 Linux sticks I was only able to install VMware Player on 1 stick. On the other two it would not install (although on of them is an image of the first stick). I have no idea why that did not work on the two other sticks. I (think) I used the exact same procedure which is this:

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

Now download VMware Player from:

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_player/6_0|PLAYER-600-A|product_downloads

cd /home/mint/Downloads
gksudo bash ./VMware-Player-6.0.0-1295980.x86_64.bundle

If you have better commands, please let me know. I would like to get it on my 120GB stick because there I have a second 115GB partition on which I could even move the Windows 8 virtual partition. That folder needs about 42GBs. I also have Zorin and some other Mint distros. I guess I am a Mint guy.

PS: This post was sent from my 120GB Mint Mate stick.

I am regularly converting my XP users from IE 8 to Chrome, mostly due to page load or responsiveness problems. I recently serviced an XP machine for a new client which still had IE 6. The owner is on AOL dial-up (!) and, as far as I could tell, the system had not been updated since new (2003?). She had just fallen victim to the Cryptorbit virus. You can just never tell.

HerrKaLeun said:

I think any advice that isn't "W7" or "W8.1" is bad advice for people needing the PC to work.

People that are capable of using Linux probably (or hopefully) don't take advice from such a website. People that use Macs don't really do serious work, and just spend a lot of money....

Macs have long had the reputation of simply being the best tool for the job when it comes to picture and video editting. Sure, if you want Macs to act just like Windows you are barking up the wrong tree, but Macs do have their place and to deny that would be ignorance.

The same can be said for Linux, which is an awesome operating system to be running servers and whatnot, but leaves a lot to be desired in user friendliness and not breaking all the time.

whs said:

I have been running all day with Linux Mint Mate from my USB Flash drive. If I wanted to stay on XP, that's what I would use for all internet work. You can create it with 3 clicks and easily set it up with the help of my tutorial.

...

I think this is a win/win for the XP users. All it costs is $7 plus change for a 16GB USB flash drive (16GB recommended).

I think I am going to make a tutorial for those guys.

Make sure to include a section on choosing the correct USB stick. :)

The last time I tried this, the end result was worse than running the OS from my Live CD (Ubuntu 10).
The USB stick would get to the splash screen almost instantly, but from that point on it would get "run down" and overtaken by the Live CD.

OvenMaster said:

"Microsoft really wants you on Windows 8, obviously. A Microsoft spokesperson took pains to remind me that Windows 8 is more secure, faster, and uses less energy than Windows 7."

Um, that's a fail: Testosterone Pit - Home - LEAKED: German Government Warns Key Entities Not To Use Windows 8 ? Links The NSA

They probably meant something like, "The collected data is encrypted and sent invisibly to the appropriate collection point."

Make sure to include a section on choosing the correct USB stick

This is probably a good idea. It is difficult though to judge from the info at Newegg or Amazon because they rarely give you any performance information. I got this one for $49.99 on sale. I also got two 16GB sticks for $7.99 and they work well too.

Ideally you would want this one but that is a lot of money. I am waiting for the day that Newegg is putting it on sale. They also come in 240GB and 480GB, but there you are talking real money. It is probably better to go with a SSD in that case.

whs said:

I have been running all day with Linux Mint Mate from my USB Flash drive. If I wanted to stay on XP, that's what I would use for all internet work. You can create it with 3 clicks and easily set it up with the help of my tutorial.

There are a few advantages with that approach over e.g. a virtual system:

1. It is very fast, especially for the internet.

2. It uses your whole system and you need not share the RAM between the host and virtual systems. That makes it especially suitable for older modest PCs.

3. It is safe. Few pieces of malware exist for Linux Mint. But I still make images of my stick - just in case.

4. You can access all files of the XP system, So if you need to refer to something, that's easy to do.

I think this is a win/win for the XP users. All it costs is $7 plus change for a 16GB USB flash drive (16GB recommended).

I think I am going to make a tutorial for those guys.

Hi there
@WHS

My Linuxes usually always use the KDE desktop -- I don't like GNOME at all and with LXDE there's too much hunting around for stuff that "should work straight out of the box". I haven't yet have any problems installing VMware on any of them -- however I'm trying Linux Mint (KDE desktop) today and will see if VMWARE installs on it. XFCE is nice and lightweight but again if you want a decently featured system then again a lot of hunting around too. Most modern hardware is perfectly up to running things like KDE efficiently even from a USB stick - but with Linux -- YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE.

Unetbootin works fine for making USB bootable isos from most distros I've been playing with although click the Bottom section to refer to your downloaded iso -- don't use the defaults at the top. Screenshot shown.

Quite liked the videos but for Tutorials I still think it's easier - especially for "First time" or "Noobie" Linux users to have a "Static" presentation such as a Powerpoint session or even a PDF / HTML / Word doc with pictures.

The problem with Videos and You Tube is that you are forced to go over at the Tutors rate -- with a document (whether on the screen or a printed doc) you can go at your own pace, make notes and easily re-review stuff you might have missed / not understood first time round.

A combination of BOTH would be ideal - so I'd review the Video first then use the "hard copy" docs to perform the tasks.

@HerrKaLeun

Macs / Apple machines have LONG been used almost exclusively in the Professional Press / Publishing / Advertising businesses - don't get me wrong - I'm not an apple user but they certainly are used in some professional industries almost exclusively. Broadcasting is another one -- next time you see a presenter on say SKY NEWS (or is it ARD / ZDF where you are) with a laptop you'll probably see the "Fruit Company's" Logo on it.

Hardware wise these days there's not much in it -- have to admit though Looks wise Apple have it by a universe -- although whether the high price is worth paying for - that's another matter.

Apple machines - even running iOS can run Windows VM's (VMware fusion / parallels) but it's not true (Legally) the other way around although I believe there is a "Hackingtosh" site that tries to get OSX VM's to work on standard PC's.


(sent from W8.1 VM running from Debian Wheezy 7.4 Host running on external SSD from quite an oldish clunky HP laptop which does boot from USB device - not using the internal HDD at all !!).

Cheers
jimbo