Linux questions --- for a total beginner
Discussion
I think I have had it with microsoft and its totally cr@p products that are always crashing and generally open to virus attacks and hacking etc.
I have heard that Linux is reliable and generally much 'safer' and less prone to crashing.
Is this a fact or just something that Linux users say because they do not have windows ?
Also does Linux have same gaming software such as Dirext X and things like that?.. ie. will Linux be able to run my favourite game ... GTR2 ?? (it runs on direct x 9c or higher)
I have heard that Linux is reliable and generally much 'safer' and less prone to crashing.
Is this a fact or just something that Linux users say because they do not have windows ?
Also does Linux have same gaming software such as Dirext X and things like that?.. ie. will Linux be able to run my favourite game ... GTR2 ?? (it runs on direct x 9c or higher)
Games designed to run under windows generally don't run under Linux - but there is a freely available windows emulation software called WINE that will/should let you run GTR2.
If you're into gaming, it's probably best to stick with windows - hand on heart, I cannot remember the last time Windows XP crashed, locked up, or behaved anything other than perfectly. Adding new hardware is easy, and simple, almost everything plugs in and works with no fuss.
Linux on the other hand would be great if you just do "computery office things", web browsing, emailing, typing, spreadsheeting etc. Although, it's not as well supported - for example, my uncle tried to get his printer to work, and there was no Linux driver for his model printer.
If you're into gaming, it's probably best to stick with windows - hand on heart, I cannot remember the last time Windows XP crashed, locked up, or behaved anything other than perfectly. Adding new hardware is easy, and simple, almost everything plugs in and works with no fuss.
Linux on the other hand would be great if you just do "computery office things", web browsing, emailing, typing, spreadsheeting etc. Although, it's not as well supported - for example, my uncle tried to get his printer to work, and there was no Linux driver for his model printer.
AJI said:
I think I have had it with microsoft and its totally cr@p products that are always crashing and generally open to virus attacks and hacking etc.
I have heard that Linux is reliable and generally much 'safer' and less prone to crashing.
Is this a fact or just something that Linux users say because they do not have windows ?
Also does Linux have same gaming software such as Dirext X and things like that?.. ie. will Linux be able to run my favourite game ... GTR2 ?? (it runs on direct x 9c or higher)
Wrong forum... but:I have heard that Linux is reliable and generally much 'safer' and less prone to crashing.
Is this a fact or just something that Linux users say because they do not have windows ?
Also does Linux have same gaming software such as Dirext X and things like that?.. ie. will Linux be able to run my favourite game ... GTR2 ?? (it runs on direct x 9c or higher)
1. Less prone to "crashing" - depends, that's not really a fact.
2. If you want to game you'll have to run WINE (allows you to run windows programs on linux) - your games may or may not work...
3. Why not just fix your computer anyway - windows crashes are generally caused by crappy device drivers (not microsofts fault) or viruses. Make sure all your drivers are up to date, make sure you don't infect yourself. My vista pc has crashed... never, because I follow these rules
Edited by BMWBen on Tuesday 23 December 10:58
I have Ubuntu on my laptop, which I use all the time. It's about a million times faster than Vista (which is on another partition, for compatibility issues). It installed flawlessly.
If its internet, email, and office work you want, Ubuntu is excellent. If you want games, keep XP on the same machine. Don't use Vista, it's s
t.
If its internet, email, and office work you want, Ubuntu is excellent. If you want games, keep XP on the same machine. Don't use Vista, it's s
t.Edited by Parrot of Doom on Tuesday 23 December 10:58
Parrot of Doom said:
I have Ubuntu on my laptop, which I use all the time. It's about a million times faster than Vista (which is on another partition, for compatibility issues). It installed flawlessly.
If its internet, email, and office work you want, Ubuntu is excellent. If you want games, keep XP on the same machine. Don't use Vista, it's st.
Well I think ubuntu is sIf its internet, email, and office work you want, Ubuntu is excellent. If you want games, keep XP on the same machine. Don't use Vista, it's s
t.Edited by Parrot of Doom on Tuesday 23 December 10:58
t, so :PWell I am running vista home basic.
The PC is more than fast enough for games. I like to do all things such as internet, office, CAD, and games.
My problem lies with Direct X software (Direct X 10 that was overwritten with Direct X 9c)...which I have found out once corrupted is very hard repair.... as it can not be uninstalled and then installed as new.
So it leaves me with a PC that can do office and internet but no games.
The PC is more than fast enough for games. I like to do all things such as internet, office, CAD, and games.
My problem lies with Direct X software (Direct X 10 that was overwritten with Direct X 9c)...which I have found out once corrupted is very hard repair.... as it can not be uninstalled and then installed as new.
So it leaves me with a PC that can do office and internet but no games.
AJI said:
Well I am running vista home basic.
The PC is more than fast enough for games. I like to do all things such as internet, office, CAD, and games.
My problem lies with Direct X software (Direct X 10 that was overwritten with Direct X 9c)...which I have found out once corrupted is very hard repair.... as it can not be uninstalled and then installed as new.
So it leaves me with a PC that can do office and internet but no games.
Hmmm, I'm not conviced by that - 9c is perfectly ok co-existing with 10...The PC is more than fast enough for games. I like to do all things such as internet, office, CAD, and games.
My problem lies with Direct X software (Direct X 10 that was overwritten with Direct X 9c)...which I have found out once corrupted is very hard repair.... as it can not be uninstalled and then installed as new.
So it leaves me with a PC that can do office and internet but no games.
What are the symptoms?
AJI said:
None of the direct x games recognise the software on my PC.... and when installing the direct x that comes on the game CD it will not correct the error or overwrite the existing installation.
Have you tried removing the older directx (9 and below) installations before installing your game?If not, go here:
http://www.gamesforwindows.com/en-US/AboutGFW/Page...
and use the latest download to repair your installation. If after doing this, when installing your game, it asks you to install their distributed direct x (GTR probably will) make sure you skip it.
AJI said:
Well I am running vista home basic.
The PC is more than fast enough for games. I like to do all things such as internet, office, CAD, and games.
My problem lies with Direct X software (Direct X 10 that was overwritten with Direct X 9c)...which I have found out once corrupted is very hard repair.... as it can not be uninstalled and then installed as new.
So it leaves me with a PC that can do office and internet but no games.
You can pretty much forget playing games on Linux unless you want to spend about 3 weeks trying to get each of them working.The PC is more than fast enough for games. I like to do all things such as internet, office, CAD, and games.
My problem lies with Direct X software (Direct X 10 that was overwritten with Direct X 9c)...which I have found out once corrupted is very hard repair.... as it can not be uninstalled and then installed as new.
So it leaves me with a PC that can do office and internet but no games.
As a ex techie Windows generally has problems when the drivers/3rd party software is not much good or when the user isn't much good. Obviously there are some exceptions to this like bad installs/window corruption etc but by and large thats it.
As for virus/Trojan's etc my home machine and many machines I have looked after have never been infected with anything.
Different versions of Linux can be very good but they are not one without faults. Download a few different versions, maybe one you can boot from a disk and see if you can get to grips with them.
I quite like Ubuntu. I use OSX for surfing the net, checking emails etc and have a windows PC for work and games.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff