Jumping From Windows 7 To Linux: Home User

I have a Dell Latitude E5440. It currently is Running Windows 7 pro. I want to change this machine into a customized Linux Workstation. In order to that right I need to get all my device drivers copied from Dells Website I want to then figure out if these drivers would work for linux.
I then want to create a virtual windows desktop to run all and not limited to:

Microsoft visual Studio
Ableton live (DAW)
Auto Desk Inventor
Mentor Graphics PAD
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Premier
Red Giant Special Effects suites (various)
Quark Express
ICOM Radio Programming software
Microsoft Office
Just to name a few programs I want to run on my windows virtual desktop.
I wont ever take the virtual desktop online. I also want to have a highly secured system where permissions have to be signed for anything. Meaning that my windows desktop is virtually helpless in screwing with the rest of my system.

SO I will need a good open source O.S. and many links for the device drivers I need and how to change them to work.

Please explain things clearly with precise directions and links. I haven't flashed my bios yet and installed DBAN. I will when I feel I have all my ducks in a Row and I am ready to create a monster laptop. please email me directly
evander.callie at gmail dot com

Hey there,

I recently switched from windows to linux, but am still having some problems adapting. What bothers me the most is that I cant use my headset properly. When I plug it in without having installed the driver software necessary to run the surround sound, it only sends part of my sound to my headset, the rest gets played by my laptop's speakers. I have tried installing the driver software while working with wine windows program loader, but each time I get the 'sorry, this software is not compatible with your OS'. Does anyone have an idea how I could solve this so I can use my headset properly again? I am running the xUbuntu version.

Thanks in advance!

C Needa

Hey guys, im a long time Mac user but I want to have a Linux computer in my office for web based stuff and fixing hard drives.... I'm going to buy a used computer from eBay to install my Linux software as I believe that Linux is a lot faster than Mac or windows and doesnt need the latest hardware to compete.

In order to be at least as fast as a windows computer but no more than $100. What range of computer should I be looking at? What specs should I look for? And once I get it should I run Ubuntu or mint for web based things and hard drive repair? As you no doubt know, the Linux lingo is a bit difficult sometimes so please bear with me. I'm doing the best I can.

Weird question I know, but I'm sure you know what I mean.

Sorry in advance, I first posted the question in the Software Forum, considering there were no replies I thought maybe it was a newb error.

So here goes..

HI everyone,

I am trying to find a way to ditch MS OS's, however, at the present time I Need MS Office, without using a VM, is there a piece of software that you would recommend I install that would enable me to keep my Linux OS (MInt-Mate), and install Office 2010+ (I know WIne works well with older Office versions).

Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated.

ps. Trial and error is fine, for that reason alone I have a laptop-labrat I Use.

Thanks again.

-Randy

I am an older, competent, windows user who would love to migrate to Linux. Unfortunately there is no easy path. Linux seems to be a program written by geeks who want it to be different, forcing a windows user wanting to move over to completely learn a new way to use the internet. Even moving to Apple is easier. To learn Linux is like forcing us to learn Chinese from scratch. That will not happen.

Unless a pathway, or a bridge, which is "somewhat" like windows is provided so we can assimilate into this new OS called Linux, I, we, will never really accept Linux to replace Windows. Even though we want to get away from Windows, there is no way to do it, because Linux is just too different to easily learn. I can play with Linux, but that is all I can do - play with it, not use it on a daily basis.
SAD.

And here we are, going to be forced to accept Windows 10 as the next OS, and I have nothing to say about it, for MS will soon kill Win7 like they killed XP, and force me to go to Win10, when I don't want to. I would love to use Linux, but the learning curve is just toooooo steep.
SAD

It would be nice to have a version which would make moving from Windows to Linux easy. The reality is, though, Linux is an OS for the younger geeks, or experienced programmer, not an OS for the avg user. Why can't that change? I realize this is an age old question, which has been around for years, but I'm realizing it is now becoming a reality I need to face.

Hi,

Could anyone please explain as understandable as possible how could I on my Windows 8 open either single file or install (and use) entire software which is supposted to work on Linux and/or Ubuntu? I have absolutelly NO experience with Linux and have never used it. Honestly, I don't know if there is any difference between Linux and Ubuntu. I want to be inside my Windows 8 while using Linux files/sofware. The only solution I could think of are actually two but neither of them is useful for me:

1. Vmware (i don't know how to use it)
2. Rent remote computer (vps/rdp) with linux OS installed (this would let me be in Windows 8 while being able to use Linux file/software [on remote computer] but sooner or later I would want to have Windows installed there too)

Tried program Linux Reader but didn't work on my Windows 8. Although I would need solution for installation/usage of software (that can be used only on linux/ubuntu), regardless of details***, the current problem is basically related to single files only: I have two files, both in IMG extension. Don't know how to open them because Deamon Tools doesn't handle IMG. The problem is that filesystem in one of them is "Linux" and filesystem in another is "142". The error I am getting when I try to open them is:

"File with harddrive/disc snapshot is corrupted."

But this is most likely because they are supposted to be used in linux environment, hence such question.

*** when i said "details" I was referring to basically anything: type of software, size, purpose, whether or not it needs network connection, whether or not it contains logging in (username password, etc) requirement, etc.

The following solution for current situation (quoted error above) works only partially:

http://www.sysprobs.com/simple-tip-h...thout-software

I am able to open/run/mount IMG if I do what is described on this link (im basically opening iso in this case - see the website) but when opening the virtual drive, the following error message proves that the file can be used in linux/ubuntu only:

"Windows cannot access that drive. Drive could be corrupted. Make sure the drive is in condition that can be recognized by Windows. If drive isn't formatted then format it before usage."

Would need detailed instructions, for total beginner, who has never used linux/ubuntu, what to do in such case: how to use in win8 files/software that are supposted to be used in linux/ubuntu. Also answer on how to open IMG would be highly appreciated.

Kindest regards and thank you a million in advance.

Hi, please excuse any misunderstanding about the title.

I'm an experienced computer user, but not with Linux. As a matter of fact, even with Windows, I only do so much at the command prompt.

I am looking for a very fast (boot and etc.) Linux system, that has nothing more than a command prompt. No X-Windows. However, I would like to configure X-Windows immediately after an installation.

I noticed the LFS project. Very cool, but way too complex for me. It is exactly what I'm looking for, except, I would like the basic system to already be proven, maybe even with security updates.

The biggest most important thing is (ONLY WHAT I WANT). I don't want dozens of browsers, a hundred text editors, or any other cool or stupid open source or commercial software. I simply am looking for what Dos 6.22 was in Linux.

There are many distros. Can you guys help me pick one out that is light, secure and ready to be configured to run X windows or X-Free or Xorg, I'm not sure what the best is right now.

PS: I'm a linux noob, but I have had several decent installations of Ubuntu, and some experience with the command line, including compiling software, but still a beginner.

I get kernel panics and computer shut down when trying to install and run Linux Mint 17 Mate and Linux Mint 17.1 on an older HP laptop. The laptop is a Pavilion dv 5140 with 2.0GHz AMD Turion chip, 2.0 Gigs ram and 120GB hard drive. Linux is the only software installed on the computer. Yet, I think my problem is probably related to the hardware? Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this situation? Thank you.

Hi. Sorry to be so stupid, but I just managed to load and install this Linux (which I really like a lot) on my previously windows <--(bad) system.
But now I need to upgrade some software (like Adobe flash), and I have no clue how to do this. I understand I should go to my original linux distrubutor, and select software thru them (my "Linux distro").
But actually, it's been awhile since I did the install, and I dont exactly remember where I even got this distribution. (I know, I'm dumb--sorry).
Is there a way I can look at my linux system files and see who my distribution is thru, and where is their website. Or would it be easier if I just went thru the whole download and install of linux again <--(not really looking forward to that).
Or even, am I wrong about going thru the distro to do installs/upgrades?
Anything you can tell me will be greatly appreciated.

Long Live Linux !! David K

I'm looking at getting a laptop to install linux for use with audio recording software ardour. But I'm looking at chromebooks with their ssd drives and it seems like a better idea than a laptop. Am I missing the point? Is there some reason, either the processor, ram or anything else that would make a laptop a better choice than a chromebook? The chromebook is $200 and the laptop is about $700. Will the chromebook run everything a laptop will run?