about to instal linux mint 10

Discussion in 'Software' started by steve_p1981, Nov 19, 2010.

  1. steve_p1981

    steve_p1981 Byte Poster

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    Im about to make my laptop a dual boot with linux mint 10 on the new partition and i was wondering if there was any thing interesting or dangerous i should look out for in this OS as i've never used it before.
     
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  2. HangoverSpecialist

    HangoverSpecialist Bit Poster

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    I have used Linux Mint in the past as I was getting bored with the bog-standard Ubuntu - and since Mint is a derivative of Ubuntu, the transition was not too hard.

    That in mind, in more recent versions I have sided back with Ubuntu. As far as I am aware Ubuntu comes with something called WUBI, which I believe stands for Windows Ubuntu Installer. This installs the OS as an Add/Remove type program and allows dual-booting. It can easily be removed if you are not happy with it. I am fairly confident that Linux Mint offers the same sort of thing, Mint4Win I recollect.

    If you are not going down that route, and are actually booting in to the Live CD/DVD of Linux Mint, then just make sure you aware of the partition manager, as you could potentially delete your Primary OS/Data files. I think the default option they use in the Live CD/DVD is to install alongside your current OS, and allow you to dual-boot that way - much easier for first time use.

    Mint does include a lot more than Ubuntu, and has developed their own tools, MintUpload, MintBackup are the two that stand out to me. MintUpload is a GUI Front-end for uploading, but I guess you could install an FTP client - still nice to follow suit though. MintBackup is useful if you are going to be upgrading every new release cycle, allowing you to back up your /home, programs and settings. If you would prefer a clean install, opposed to installing any Level 1 or 2 updates then this is a great tool - I may be comlpetely wrong with those descriptions, so just heave over to http://www.linuxmint.com/ and you should be able to find out more information on the features.

    It is also worth noting, that booting in to the Live CD/DVD first to make sure your hardware is working OOB, as Laptop Hardware was a definitive problem for me in earlier versions of the Distro. Typically Wireless being a major issue, but there are plenty of helpful people on here, IRC, and the Support Forums to help you.

    HS.
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2010
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  3. steve_p1981

    steve_p1981 Byte Poster

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    ok cheers for the info, i have already partitioned my hard drive to be ready for the installation of mint so hopefully i can just tell it what i drive i want it on and bypass it but still select that i want it as a dual boot. And me being the clever little sausage that i am, accidentally burned it to my last DVD as a data file instead of a disc image so i have to wait till i get more DVDs now.
    I will post my progress as soon as i can. I don't actually know what OOB is but i've checked that the laptop boots from the CD drive before the hard drive and i have checked the file with md5sum and all seems to be ok.
     
    Certifications: A+ 220-701 and 220-702
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  4. Bluerinse
    Honorary Member

    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    Out of box... meaning that everything will work as you expect, without having to pull your hair out :)
     
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  5. dmarsh
    Honorary Member 500 Likes Award

    dmarsh Petabyte Poster

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    If you dual boot you can use grub or chain the windows bootloader config (BCD) to chain into grub.

    Otherwise you can use Wubi as stated that also does this but runs off a virtual hard disk that can live on an NTFS partition.

    Third option is just use the Live CD, but you will be limited in terms of changes/upgrades as you are running off a CD and not a full install.

    Ubuntu is pretty easy in general and stuff should work fine providing you install windows first for a dual boot setup.

    I did use GParted the other day to move and resize a Win7 NTFS primary boot partition and ended up having to do a clean install, tried recover/restore/repair, tried to repair BCD, tried to fix MBR, none worked, so either I missed a repair option or there are still potential issues if you really want to mess with things.
     
  6. steve_p1981

    steve_p1981 Byte Poster

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    well this is what i have done so far: partition my primary ntfs drive to allow me 24GB of free space on a new drive (F:) and opened the advance settings of the system and ticked the box that says to allow me to pick a boot option for 30 secs. I didn't know i'd have to re install windows to cater for dual booting, i thought this automatically happened when you installed a new OS as the system wouldn't know what one to go for.
     
    Certifications: A+ 220-701 and 220-702
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