Help to swap Linux for Windows - please!

[MichelleGallacher25]

Hi,

I am hoping someone can help me. I bought the Acer Aspire One that comes with Linux Lite. I didn't realise how difficult Linux would be to use and I want to replace it with Windows.

Basically I want to be able to download music, tv and films onto my laptop but it doesn't seem possible. Most sites don't appear to support Linux and the few that do just download software to my computer, but I can't make them actually run.

I know you all love linux and I'm sure it is great if you know a bit about computers, but I really can't use it and I don't have the time (or desire!) to work out how to use it.

So that's just a very long way of asking if there is an easyish way to swap Linux for Windows. However the first problem is that this laptop doesn't have a disc drive, so I'd need to be able to either download Windows or intall is via a memory stick.

As I've said, I'm not great with computers so if you think I'd be best just asking a professional to do it then let me know - although I'd also be interested to know if anyone has an idea of how much that might cost.

Thanks for your help,

Michelle

[oz]

Welcome to the forums, Michelle!

Here's a HowTo for doing that comes directly from Microsoft:

How to Remove Linux and Install Windows on Your Computer

I'm not familiar with any simple methods for installing without a disk drive, though.

[smolloy]

I know you all love linux and I'm sure it is great if you know a bit about computers, but I really can't use it and I don't have the time (or desire!) to work out how to use it.

Sorry you're having such a hard time with Linux. I'm in the camp that not only loves Linux, but actually thinks it's quite easy to use If you change your mind about scrapping Linux, there are lots of people here who would be very happy to talk you through your problems. (Live chat is also available!)

Whatever you decide, I hope it works out for you.

[elija]

I have had a quick Google and several other forums where this question has been asked seem to have the consensus that installing Windows XP (forget Vista!) on an Acer Aspire One with the SSD drive will give terrible performance. I can find no quantifier of what terrible means though. For all I know it could mean terrible compared to my quad core 4gig beastie of a PC.

Also, if you don't have at least an external CD Rom drive or a network, I don't know how to install Windows. The network option pre-supposes that the AAO supports some kind of network boot.

Linux isn't that tricky, but it is different and can take some getting used to. As has already been stated, it may be worth taking a little bit of time to get used to it. If you have your heart set on returning to Windows, you may get more relevant help in a Windows forum, for example knowing how to boot and install from a memory stick.

Having said all of that; it does sound like one of the main problems you are having is installing software. This causes all sorts of confusion when people move over to Linux so you are not alone in that.

Unlike the Windows world, you don't have to download your software from a web site and then run the executable. Linux has something called a package manager. Typically you would use this to install your software. I don't know for sure where this will be in Linpus but my best guess would be under the settings tab.

Once you have open, just search for what you want and select it to install. Bear in mind that you won't find the familiarly named Windows software in there (this isn't Windows after all) but there will be equivalents. A good search tip would be to look for the type of software; for example "Media Player" rather than "Banshee"

[jayd512]

Having said all of that; it does sound like one of the main problems you are having is installing software. This causes all sorts of confusion when people move over to Linux so you are not alone in that.

Very true! If it helps any at all, try the link in my signature labeled "Linux is not Windows." It gives a detailed, but easily understandable difference between the two OS's.

[Roxoff]

Basically I want to be able to download music, tv and films onto my laptop but it doesn't seem possible. Most sites don't appear to support Linux and the few that do just download software to my computer, but I can't make them actually run.

Hmmm, downloads of music, tv and films? I suspect you mean bittorrent here (and I understand that you'll only be doing this with non-copyright material ). I would never do any of that from Windows, it's waaaay to susceptible to viruses and spyware. You're already in a safe place with the Linux your system was shipped with.

If you've got an Aspire One - then you've got a cut down version of Fedora. This is good news if you're used to Windows. Before you go ditch it, give it a fair crack, you might like the results.

Use VLC media player to play video files (all kinds). You may need additional codecs to play audio files (mp3, wma, etc.) which are covered by US patents in the music player that is already installed.

[Bemk]

When I look at Linpus screen shots, I see a very user friendly system, however not so many functions, and it doesn't seem really handy for new applications. Maybe you should just try another distribution which suits your needs. MythBuntu is a multimedia system, which comes with multimedia software pre-installed, Ubuntu is just a system which is really user friendly and good for Linux Newbies.

If you are running a low performance system you might want to use a system with a light Graphical User Interface (GUI), one like XUbntu. If you are more used to Windows, you might like the KDE, then you can use KUbuntu.

If you are still used to your Windows applications, you might try using Wine. A lot of Windows applications run properly in Wine. Some don't but probably in the future it will. Once you're used to using Linux you'll be comfortable using the Linux alternatives. I am using Linux for about 8 months now, and I hate to have to use Windows at school, however the system managers are Linux fans, the only thing that has to be done is to talk the administration into switching and the project can start!

I'm using Wine to run Photo Filtre, because I can't find a n equally user friendly yet power-full application for Linux.

Hope this will help you!

And yes, I'm an Ubuntu fan!

[i92guboj]

If you really want to use windows, it's just a matter of picking the install media, whatever it is, and following the instructions given by your installation manuals.

If you bought it legally, you shouldn't have any problem doing that.

Being that said, you can only use supported media. If windows can't be installed via network or usb (I have no clue at all), then you are out of luck. But plugin temporatily an usb cdrom or even an internal one should completely solve that issue.

[jmadero]

Yeah this problem doesn't seem all that difficult (no offense).

1. Go pick up a USB CDROM (Windows cannot be installed from USB, it's way too....bulky (which mostly is useless stuff pre installed), and I'm assuming you don't have access to a network install

2. Buy a copy of XP (or any other version that you may want, Vista won't run on that computer very well at all, you'll see huge performance losses)

3. Buy all the software that you want to do the things you want to do, if you are talking about torrents I hope you are talking about non-copyrighted material as this forum is dedicated to not helping anyone trying to infringe on copyright laws.


Lastly, I agree with whoever said that if you are doing legal torrents Linux is a MUCH safer bet. If you haven't already seen viruses and spyware in Windows you are either very very safe or very very lucky, either way, with linux you won't need to be either (for the most part)....if you ask around in the forums how many Linux users use any form of spyware detector or anti-virus software, I think you'll be surprised that it's probably less than 10%.

Lastly, if you have a little more patience I strongly suggest trying a different Linux version, maybe Ubuntu (as it is often cited as a good bridge between Windows and Linux because it's a bit easier).

If you want to do this you can install from a USB, here are instructions:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...n/FromUSBStick

[elija]

When I look at Linpus screen shots, I see a very user friendly system, however not so many functions, and it doesn't seem really handy for new applications.

Linpus has one click access to a full XFCE desktop, so yeah you can install new stuff OK.

Btw I'm an Ubuntuphile too