I am a behind with keeping up with posts (email notifications are lagging)
The string between the two tins must be wet or not tight enough.
Looks like Linux Mint 16 "Petra" - MATE (64-bit) - Linux Mint is the way to go.
I have never dabbled (or fiddled) in BIOS.
Do I have to make changes in BIOS to start/boot Mint-Mate (from a thumb drive) ?
If you want to boot from something other than the drive Windows 7 is on you have to use in most cases the F8 key and select what you want to boot from and on one of my computers I have to go into bios and change boot order.
It varies from bios to bios. Try the F8 key first.
I am really sorry Jack. I have no clue what happened there. This never happened to me and I muck with it quite a bit. Maybe the 16 version will be kinder to you. I wait for a success report, LOL.
I just had a disappointing experience too. I wanted to run the stick or the SSD in VMwarePlayer with Plop. Got quite far - the thing started to boot but then nothing.
This is really only a fun project that serves nothing. The only advantage it could be that I would be able to video the boot process from my host system. I will try again another day. Maybe I overlooked something.
I'm into Mint Mate 16 now on my other computer. Just look through things.
What are some good programs to download into it.
I did check for updates already and set the time and date also screen resolution for my 40 in. screen.
Well that's good. The programs you install with the Software Manager - under System in the left pane of the Menu. Just type the name into the software manager search. Btw - the software manager takes a moment to come up - that's normal. These are the programs I recommend:
Bleachbit - that's like CCleaner. But do not run the (as root) version. And do not check the boxes where you get a warning.
Shutter - a very nice screen snipping program. There is a tutorial in my set
RecordMyDesktop - (one word) is an excellent screen recorder - there is also a tutorial
Gparted - that is the disk management program
Chromium - as second browser. I also have Opera
Addl Themes - that will give you much better options for the looks. See my tutorial for details. The command in Terminal is apt install mate-themes - very easy.
Avidemux - I use that for video editing. But maybe you are not into that.
So I would have to access BIOS every time I use the Mint-Mate thumb drive ?Layback Bear said:
But leave Win7 as the default rather than changing the settings permanently to the thumb drive ?
Currently experimenting with one Toshiba Laptop, but ultimately it will be any number of PCs and laptops
I am very new to this BIOS "stuff". Any suggestions on some reading ?
You can set the BIOS to boot all the time first from USB. As long as no USB bootable device is plugged in, it will still default to the disk.
whs :)
So a data thumb drive would not sabotage a Windows C: boot if BIOS is set to boot a USB bootable device first ?You can set the BIOS to boot all the time first from USB. As long as no USB bootable device is plugged in, it will still default to the disk.
Sometimes I forget to remove external data drives before shutting the PC down.
I don't like to pull drives after shut down I have one external drive that gets cantankerous if I do.
There is really no danger at all booting from a flash drive. And when you are done you properly shutdown the Mint system from the start menu.
When the flash drive is not plugged in, it will boot normally - if you permanently set it to boot from USB. And your wacky flash drive is good for the bin.
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