What Can I Uninstall?

[wizzlefish]

I'm making space for a Linux partition on my hard drive, and I'm trying to remove as much as possible on Windows, without making it unusable.

I've installed most of the games and programs I won't be needing, but there are a few things that I'm not sure about.
- MS .NET
- Java Runtime Environment
- GTK+ Runtime Environment
- Dell Media Experience

The only things I need to use on Windows is use GAIM, use Firefox, and use FL Studio. I think I need GTK+ to use GAIM, but otherwise, I think all of that can be removed.

.NET and Java take up ~100MB each, and it would be helpful if I could remove them. I'm trying to get the Windows partition down to about 8GB - all my user files will be put on the Linux partition. Each partition will be given about 16.5GB, maybe Linux might have a little more, like 20GB and 10GB.

Dell Media Experience I only use for DVDs, but I'm pretty sure I can do that in Linux. The only setback is that I probably won't be able to get it back once I uninstall it. Maybe a System Restore point could do the trick.

So what can I uninstall? Any other tips for getting my Windows partition down to size? It's at 13.8GB right now...only 5GB to get rid of!

[Zelmo]

Out of curiosity, why not use GAIM and Firefox in Linux? Then you wouldn't need any of the above.
Assuming you do need GAIM and Firefox in Windows, then you will need GTK+ for GAIM, and probably also Java for Firefox (unless you don't plan on using any of the Java features on the Web). .NET can definitely go, and you will be able to watch DVDs in Linux after a bit of work.
Oh, also, be sure to defrag in safe mode to make your free space as contiguous as possible. And clean out your temp files.

[wizzlefish]

Out of curiosity, why not use GAIM and Firefox in Linux? Then you wouldn't need any of the above.
Assuming you do need GAIM and Firefox in Windows, then you will need GTK+ for GAIM, and probably also Java for Firefox (unless you don't plan on using any of the Java features on the Web). .NET can definitely go, and you will be able to watch DVDs in Linux after a bit of work.

I can use GAIM and Firefox in Linux. The only thing I need to do in Windows is record music. I've been searching around and can't find Linux drivers for my hardware, and most of my recording software isn't compatible. I just want Firefox and GAIM in Windows so I don't have to keep rebooting to stay in contact with the world. I could download FL Plugins over the internet, without switching, and keep in touch with some of my recording friends.

It's mainly so I can access the Internet and ask questions on forums about my audio/recording problems. I could use WINE, but does WINE support Windows hardware as well?

[Zelmo]

Wine does well with hardware, provided your hardware is properly set up with Linux. For example, I have a freeware Yahtzee game that uses MIDI for music and another format for sound effects, in addition to graphical output and mouse interaction. The graphics and mouse work as expected, as do the sound effects. But since I don't have MIDI set up in Linux, I don't get the MIDI music when I play the game.

[wizzlefish]

Wine does well with hardware, provided your hardware is properly set up with Linux.

Then I suppose I would need Linux drivers, which I can't get.