Migrating from Windows to Linux

We are migrating from Windows to Linux with 50 user facility. We are trying mandrake linux 10.1 official version. Would appreciate your guidance in the following matters :

Whether Mandriva are latest updates of Mandrake?
Mandrake allows to read window partitions but files are not writable? how can we use files in 'd of windows' writable?
There are problems in File print and sharing. What is the best guide for using this function.
Which is the best way to import outlook express mails into linux system.
SQL server : Whether MYSQL is similar to Window SQL? and where a comparison between the two is available. If our staff works in MYSQL and sends output to a client who has Window SQL, whether he will be able to use it.

Regarding open office, if I have worked on some formula in Window excel file, open it in open office as excel, do some changes and then again save as Window excel file and send to a client, whether the receipient will see the formula values or the figures (data) only without formula.

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We are trying mandrake linux 10.1 official version.

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With exactly Mandrake 10.1 ? It is quite old, and not supported anymore.

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Originally Posted by vimalgoyal

Whether Mandriva are latest updates of Mandrake?

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Mandriva 2007 is the newest version. (The new Mandrake.)

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Originally Posted by vimalgoyal

Mandrake allows to read window partitions but files are not writable? how can we use files in 'd of windows' writable?

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In which filesystem are those partitions ? FAT32 ? NTFS ? Fat32 works very easily in read/write. For NTFS write capabilities, you'll need the NTFS-3g driver (which is quite easy to install in recent Linux distributions).

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Originally Posted by vimalgoyal

There are problems in File print and sharing. What is the best guide for using this function.

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Samba is the key here and probably is what you want to share files with Windows machines.
I don't know about the best guide, but you can find such guides quite easily. For example, here is one :
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ups-howto.html

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Originally Posted by vimalgoyal

Which is the best way to import outlook express mails into linux system.

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Most mail client will import Outlook Express mail with just a click. Thunderbird for example.

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Originally Posted by vimalgoyal

Regarding open office, if I have worked on some formula in Window excel file, open it in open office as excel, do some changes and then again save as Window excel file and send to a client, whether the receipient will see the formula values or the figures (data) only without formula.

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It should be ok, but you'll have to test it yourself to make sure.

Good luck !