Free Operating Systems??

[that_guy]

Is there any good Free OS out there?? I'm currently running win7 but its always glitchy and horrible.

Thanks,
Tony

[supernova1965]

I really like Sabayon Linux but any linux will be great as long as you don't want to play a lot of current games for windows you should have anything you could possibly need but you will need to learn some new tricks to get the most out of them:thumbsup:

[that_guy]

how do you download an iso file? I always had trouble downloading it...

[mswhin63]

iso files are quite large so expect a large download from your ISP. I have an IINET account and their ftp site has all manner of Linux iso file available and does not count on the download. Try your ISP see if they have something.

You will need a DVD burner software with ISO burn feature.

[snowyskiesau]

If you're new to Linux then try downloading something like Ubuntu Live.
This will allow you to boot into Linux from the DVD/CD without doing an install to your hard disk.
Once you decide you want Linux (and who doesn't? :)), you can perform a full install to hard disk.

As far as the actual Linux distributions to use, it depends on what you need. Ubuntu is a good choice as it includes everything you might need/want in a workstation - plus a lot of stuff you'll never use.
I used Centos as I have more need for a server OS than a work station.

As previously mentioned, check your ISP for free downloads of Linux - even Bigpond have them available.

[TheDecepticon]

I'm surprised that Win 7 is not playing well for you. I have it on 2 machines now and it is ultra stable and very easy to use. I'm not a Windoze lover, but I wouldn't go back to Linux now, it has lost most of its steam and never will become main stream at all, I believe.
Others may howl me down, but thats ok. Why don't you try Apple, it's just a Unix based system like Linux anyway.:question:

[that_guy]

can you download microsoft office? or is there a linux software that's compatible??

[that_guy]

really! Is there a website to download Linux free for bigpond??

[snowyskiesau]

AFAIK The only place you can get Microsoft Office is on DVD/CD from a Microsoft reseller.
It doesn't run on Linux.
You can download OpenOffice which is free and provides the same features as MS Office (wp/spreadheet/database etc). There is compatibility in that OpenOffice can write files in MS Office format.
This compatability is not 100% as converting a complex document between Word and OpenOffice can result in some format corruption.
I've yet to create an OpenOffice document that can't be read correctly (i.e. formatted) by Word.

[snowyskiesau]

If your ISP is Bigpond then try here (http://files.bigpond.com/).
Downloading from this Bigpond server does not count towards your monthly quota.
You can get OpenOffice here as well.

[that_guy]

which file is it?? they is soooo many!! and is there a way to download iso files with out a disk??

[Terry B]

From here
http://files.bigpond.com/library/index.php

[that_guy]

does daemon tools work to extract iso files??

[snowyskiesau]

I'd suggest doing a search on the page in the Bigpond link and look for Ubuntu. There will be a lot of downloads listed, try Ubuntu v10.04 RC Desktop i386 ISO.
It's the latest, stable version and can be used as a Live CD/DVD (no hard disk install required). It's about 750MB.

You'll need a windows program to burn the ISO image to a DVD but as a Linux only user, I can't help there ;)

I'm not suggesting that Ubuntu is the best distribution but this one will allow you to try out Linux without making any changes to your existing setup

[that_guy]

does bigpond download include broad band? all i see is cable and adsl!
EDIT: I download the 2gb Ubuntu Ultimate, is this good?

[snowyskiesau]

Cable and ADSL are broadband :D
Which do you have?

[that_guy]

i don't know.... I am a complete internet noob! :eek:

[mithrandir]

Do you mean you don't have a CD/DVD writer?

Daemon Tools lets you mount ISOs as if they were physical disks, but you can't just them drag-and-drop the contents onto a blank CD. That will not copy all the boot data.

Google for "windows free ISO burner" - omit the quotes. I've used a few of them, but normally write CDs/DVDs from Linux.

Some of the Linux CDs have instructions on how to make up a bootable USB stick from the ISO.

[that_guy]

i dont have any disk CD or DVD so, i have no choice but to put it on the hard drive

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi

Ubuntu Linux is good. It has Open office which is better than MS office and can work with office files. As for the operating system. Ubuntu is about to issue a new upgrade 10.4. I will be downloading the iso (650MB)and making a disk.

Linux does take a bit of getting used to as most of the programs are distributed as source code and you need to build them yourself but you will learn a lot about real computing in the process, especially command line operation. However there is a great inventory of programs in their repository that can be easily installed that mimic just about any program that has been written for any operating system. They have a great forum/help system. If you have a query ask the question on the forum. It is usually answered within 10 minutes.

When I first wanted to try Linux I sent a message to their web page saying I only had dial up. They sent me some disks gratis (version 6.04 it was then) from France..

If you have trouble getting it PM me and I will make you a disk and post it. I have 9.10 on disk now but 10.04 is scheduled for release this month.

Barry

[snowyskiesau]

I'm assuming that someone else pays your internet bill :)

Actually, it doesn't matter which you have, the only difference will be speed of down load.
Make sure you have enough disk space to save the downloaded file, go to the page given and select download for the ISO of interest.
It should give you some idea of how long it will take. This will vary from minutes to (possibly) hours. If it says days, then give up!

[that_guy]

ive download the ubuntu ultimate which is 2gb, it says it will take 2 hours... Reasonable time so yeah. I have 60 Gb left on the hard drive which i think is sufficient
EDIT: now it says 3 hours... still okay i guess

[snowyskiesau]

If you don't have a DVD writer then downloading the ISO image is going to be a waste of time, you won't be able to do anything with it.
I notice Barry has offered to send you a DVD, sounds like a great offer to me:thumbsup:

[that_guy]

PM sent!! I really don't know what im doing!! :help::help::help:

[that_guy]

alright i stopped downloading the ubuntu ultimate, (too long) and started to download the suggested file. If this doesn't work with daemon tools than i'll ask for the DVD... Thanks all for the Help!!

[snowyskiesau]

mithrandir (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/member.php?u=6319) has already stated that the daemon tools will not help you do anything with the ISO image.
You need to be able to put the image ontoa DVD/CD and then boot from it.

Do you have a DVD/CD writer?

If so, then (as prevously suggested) google for a free windows DVD writer software.
I'm told by my Windows using friends that CDBurnerXP is pretty good.

If you don't have a DVD/CD writer - stop now and ask Barry for a DVD to be sent to you.

[that_guy]

:doh: Ive subscibed to the thread after that post and ive only been reading some of the post via notification. Sorry for not seeing this sooner! :doh:

Thanks,
Tony

[snowyskiesau]

No worries,

Anything I can do to drag someone from the darkside is worth it :lol:

[supernova1965]

The best free DVD/CD burning software I have found is StarBurn it even burns BlueRay discs and it does ISO burning even mounting ISO images as physical drives:thumbsup:

[troypiggo]

Sorry. This may not go down well, but if I hear questions like "I've always had trouble downloading ISO files", "How do I extract ISO files", "I'm a complete noob", "Where do I find xyz", I would not be recommending Linux for a number of reasons:

* If you're having trouble with Windows 7, you're going to have the same or more with Linux. I don't know what your troubles are, ie drivers, crashes, software compatibilities. But you'll definitely be having some issues.

* Based on the way you asked your question, not sure if you're aware that you won't be able to run most of the software you're familiar with on Linux. Yes, you can use Wine or some other Windows emulator, and yes they've improved a lot, but it's just one more layer of complexity for a self-admitted noob.

* If you're into astro, there just isn't the same amount of astro-software available.

Don't get me wrong, I run linux servers at home and at work. Use them on a daily basis. I'm not a MS-fanboi, but nor am I a Linux-fanboi. Just think it's horses for courses and not sure if Linux is the right answer for the OP. I reckon he should persevere with Win7 and try to get that working.

[Omaroo]

Sorry, but I agree with Troy. You'll be in a world of pain with Linux if you think you're having problems running Win 7.

You never mentioned what hardware you have Windows 7 installed on. I'm guessing, because you state that you don't have a CD or DVD drive, that you're using a netbook. These are not powerhouses. ANY modern operating system is going to make your hardware look, feel and work in a clunky way if it's not up to scratch. Inadequate processor power, memory and I/O all contribute to a poor experience, and it's not a fault of the operating system. No OS manufacturer is going to promise infinite backward compatibility for old hardware forever. Going Linux will not (necessarily) change that. It may even exacerbate it. Driver support has always been a major weakness.

Judging by the way you've asked your questions so far, I'd really not feel comfortable recommending Linux to you. It is not a "noob" OS, by any stretch of the imagination. Easy to install and use, if everything works right - yes. Easy to diagnose and get around hardware problems and compatibility issues - no.

If you do decide to dabble with it, I'd recommend Linux Mint - launched as a variant of Ubuntu with really well integrated media codecs. It's the closest thing I've come to so far as a simple but beautiful desktop Linux distro. Well worth a look. It's really well sorted, and is as close to a "noobie" offering as there is in Linux terms. There's no way around you having to get hold of an external DVD drive - or external hard disk that you can boot from. The whole point of doing this is that the computer runs from the external boot disk while it installs the new operating system on your internal drive. You can't install an operating system over itself while its running the machine... makes sense huh.

http://www.linuxmint.com/index.php

[kustard]

Have to agree with Troy and Chris here, if you're having troubles with Windows then you'll be in a world of hurt with linux. Not that you shouldn't, just be aware that it will have it's own pitfalls.

Certainly give it a try out if you can, especially with one of the more simpler to install releases like ubuntu etc.

If you tell us what issues you are having with Win7 then maybe we can try to sort that out first.

[snowyskiesau]

I'd also agree with the sentiment that if you're looking to switch to Linux because you're having trouble with Windows 7, then you'll be in for a lot of disappointment or at the very least, a long learning curve.
I've tried to answer your questions so far as to how to download Linux rather than asking the reason why you want to - that almost always leads to flame wars about which is best. ;)
While there is a lot of software available for Linux that is very good, you won't find a lot that is astronomy related, certainly not to the level that you'd find for Windows.

I've been a UNIX engineer/administrator for nearly 30 years. I've been playing around with Linux since it first surfaced and have supported it commercially for the last 10 years or so. I've never had a need to support or even use Windows so I've never had to learn how to use it. For my requirements, UNIX or Linux has always been up to the task.
That said, what little computing I've done that's astronomy related has, by necessity, been done on a Windows platform. The telescope control packages, astronomy imaging software, etc is more mature on the Windows platform and you're more likely to be able to get assistance with it from the user here.

If you're looking to download Linux just to see what it can do and to have a play, then by all means do it - it's good stuff.
If you're looking to replace Windows with it because you're having a few problems at present, then don't do it, persevere with Windows 7, I'm sure with help you'll be able to sort the problems out.

[Octane]

I was reading this thread, and I couldn't beleive that no-one, up until Troy, mentioned that if the original poster is having issues with Windows 7, how is installing Linux going to help? You're in for a world of pain.

H