I've had it with Windows!

**tbs727** · 01-03-2006, 11:09 AM

Windows XP sucks

It is slow, and it is disrupting my life! I have the Ubuntu Linux disk that I am thinking of installing but I am concerned about whether I can get my hardware to work with it.

Here's what I have:
SBC dsl
Izone digital camera
lexmark printer

and most importantly my PDA. I got a new Dell Axim for Christas (which of course uses windows os.)

If i can find Linux compatable programs for all of these items, I would gladly use it. I have used the Live disk I have (Ubuntu) and I really like it.

What should I do???

**YankeeMom** · 01-03-2006, 11:47 AM

We had the same problem. Brand new computers, running Windows XP, yet slower than MUD! My BIL came over & looked at them (he's a computer geek). It turns out the computers have JUST barely enough memory to sustain XP.
We went out & bought 512mb of memory for each desktop (we have two) and they are great now! Not a single complaint.

Try adding more memory. It was super easy...even though I made dh do his computer first, that way if he screwed it up it was his puter that was broken & not mine

**Gabe** · 01-03-2006, 02:15 PM

Did your broadband work with the live cd? If yes great!
Try uploading pictures with the live CD see if it works from your camera (not sure about your model if it has memory cards etc).

I would recommend looking at ubuntu forums for help if you need to figure out how to do it.

Printers should not be a problem. (Search ubuntu forums for lexmark)

For your PDA if you want to sync contacts and calendar it will not be an issue. But to transfer files you will have problems I believe.
Dell made their PDA for Windows so it will be very hard to get that working with Linux if you need to sync more stuff.

If you are looking for an easy way out and don't mind dealing with spyware, viruses and memory issues, just buy some ram as mentionned above. My guess is that if your computer is starting to slow down all of a sudden its because there is malicious code on it.

It really does not matter if your computer is brand new and you think it does not have enough ram. If you plug on the net with an unpatch windows (please not prior sp2!) you will get malicious code on your computer just in a few minutes.

Here is an interesting experiment.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/lin...9182093,00.htm

-Gabe

**tbs727** · 01-03-2006, 03:40 PM

Oh I see. Well, the only Windows XP I have is svc. pack 1. So that could be part of the problem?

I was thinking about installing ME on one partition and Ubuntu on another. I know its a pretty common way to install Linux. That way I could use the Linux system for most of my processes, but I could use the Windows ME OS to install my DSL. Do you know if that could work?

Thanks for your help, Gabe

**Gabe** · 01-03-2006, 06:41 PM

Download service pack 2 from microsoft.
I would recommend backing up your good files. Installing windows Me will not fix anything, you will still get problems if not more in terms of spyware, malware etc.

I would also recommend a tune up at your local computer place. You need to update your computer but it is fairly possible that it might be infected with a motherload of malicious code where you can't salvage your OS. Meaning you will need to reinstall.

If you can't afford the local computer shop, try to get someone in your family. What I believe is the safe bet to do is to backup your data files and download sp2.

It is critical that you update your operating system regardless if it is Linux or Windows as it will start to run slow because of hundreds of applications running behind the scenes wasting your processor for sending spam, viruses etc...

The quickest way to remedy your situation in my opinion is the following:
-Backup data files on a CD. (Pictures, MP3s, business files etc)
-Download SP2 from microsoft (burn it on a cd also)
-Reinstall windows and wipe your hard drive. Before connecting to the internet install service pack 2.
-enable any firewall (windows is better than none).
-Install anti-virus and make sure you have updated files.
-then connect to your broadband and go to microsoft update as soon as your connected.

Run updates from microsoft and install them on a regular basis.
keep your virus definitions up to date.

Hope this helps.

-Gabe