Thinking of trying Linux...

[911medic]

Yes, Linux can see an NTFS drive however, write access to the drive isn't permitted unless you use the NTFS 3g module which enables write support for NTFS.

My Linux system supports these partition types:

Hex code (type L to list codes): l

0 Empty 1e Hidden W95 FAT1 80 Old Minix be Solaris boot
1 FAT12 24 NEC DOS 81 Minix / old Lin bf Solaris
2 XENIX root 39 Plan 9 82 Linux swap / So c1 DRDOS/sec (FAT-
3 XENIX usr 3c PartitionMagic 83 Linux c4 DRDOS/sec (FAT-
4 FAT16 <32M 40 Venix 80286 84 OS/2 hidden C: c6 DRDOS/sec (FAT-
5 Extended 41 PPC PReP Boot 85 Linux extended c7 Syrinx
6 FAT16 42 SFS 86 NTFS volume set da Non-FS data
7 HPFS/NTFS 4d QNX4.x 87 NTFS volume set db CP/M / CTOS / .
8 AIX 4e QNX4.x 2nd part 88 Linux plaintext de Dell Utility
9 AIX bootable 4f QNX4.x 3rd part 8e Linux LVM df BootIt
a OS/2 Boot Manag 50 OnTrack DM 93 Amoeba e1 DOS access
b W95 FAT32 51 OnTrack DM6 Aux 94 Amoeba BBT e3 DOS R/O
c W95 FAT32 (LBA) 52 CP/M 9f BSD/OS e4 SpeedStor
e W95 FAT16 (LBA) 53 OnTrack DM6 Aux a0 IBM Thinkpad hi eb BeOS fs
f W95 Ext'd (LBA) 54 OnTrackDM6 a5 FreeBSD ee EFI GPT
10 OPUS 55 EZ-Drive a6 OpenBSD ef EFI (FAT-12/16/
11 Hidden FAT12 56 Golden Bow a7 NeXTSTEP f0 Linux/PA-RISC b
12 Compaq diagnost 5c Priam Edisk a8 Darwin UFS f1 SpeedStor
14 Hidden FAT16 <3 61 SpeedStor a9 NetBSD f4 SpeedStor
16 Hidden FAT16 63 GNU HURD or Sys ab Darwin boot f2 DOS secondary
17 Hidden HPFS/NTF 64 Novell Netware b7 BSDI fs fd Linux raid auto
18 AST SmartSleep 65 Novell Netware b8 BSDI swap fe LANstep
1b Hidden W95 FAT3 70 DiskSecure Mult bb Boot Wizard hid ff BBT
1c Hidden W95 FAT3 75 PC/IX
Hex code (type L to list codes): Gotcha. So reading from the drive won't be a problem, but I'd only have writes to the Linux partition itself. If I wanted to modify something, I'd have to save it into the Linux partition, leaving the original/unmodified item on the Windows partition.

[evilghost]

I was just looking at the Cedega site a little more thoroughly and realized you have to pay to subscribe to it. :(

Wife: Why are you paying for this?
911medic: Because you have to, to play these games on this OS.
Wife: Don't they work just fine on Windows?
911medic: Ummm...yeah, but...
Wife: :rolleyes: [walks away, not to be seen naked again by 911medic for at least 2 weeks]

Please allow me to help your wife become unclothed:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=193814&highlight=winex+cvs&page=1

The rule of GPL/OpenSource is that the source code must be accessible or distributable to adhere to the license. With Cedega you are paying for the 'deb' files and basically 'support'. You can compile it yourself from source and still remain 100% legal, thus avoiding the cost of purchasing Cedega.

Here's a step-by-step walkthrough:
http://patrick295767.pa.funpic.org/cvs.htm

[evilghost]

Gotcha. So reading from the drive won't be a problem, but I'd only have writes to the Linux partition itself. If I wanted to modify something, I'd have to save it into the Linux partition, leaving the original/unmodified item on the Windows partition.

Exactly, or use the NTFS-3g module and have full read/write support.

[grey_1]

I see. Are you able to access files on each HDD? For example, if there are pictures or mp3's on the Windows HDD, will Linux be able to see them (and vice-versa)?

Sorry for all the questions. I appreciate your patience.
NP on the questions, happy to help!

Most, if not all current linux distros will see and recognise windows. I regularly pull pics and files from my vista hdd over to my Ubuntu. I would guess mp3s would be the same, I haven't tried them yet.

That does bring up multimedia in linux. For the most part you shouldn't have a problem, but there are some licensing issues there. And there are resonably painless workarounds available. Legal ones at that.

On the OSs seeing each other again, windows won't return the favor . It will see the device, but just labels the partitions as "unrecognised OS".

EDIT: I see evilghost beat me to it. :D

[911medic]

Please allow me to help your wife become unclothed:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=193814&highlight=winex+cvs&page=1

The rule of GPL/OpenSource is that the source code must be accessible or distributable to adhere to the license. With Cedega you are paying for the 'deb' files and basically 'support'. You can compile it yourself from source and still remain 100% legal, thus avoiding the cost of purchasing Cedega.LOL
Thanks for the workaround. Now I just have to edumacate my self on compiling.

[911medic]

Exactly, or use the NTFS-3g module and have full read/write support.Got it.

[911medic]

NP on the questions, happy to help!

Most, if not all current linux distros will see and recognise windows. I regularly pull pics and files from my vista hdd over to my Ubuntu. I would guess mp3s would be the same, I haven't tried them yet.

That does bring up multimedia in linux. For the most part you shouldn't have a problem, but there are some licensing issues there. And there are resonably painless workarounds available. Legal ones at that.

On the OSs seeing each other again, windows won't return the favor . It will see the device, but just labels the partitions as "unrecognised OS".

EDIT: I see evilghost beat me to it. :D
Hey, I'll take explanations from both of you! Sometimes it takes two descriptions to clarify for me!

[evilghost]

Windows can recognize the ext3 partition via the use of a separate driver. As FYI, the ext3 filesystem manages fragmentation to the point that there is no need to defragment, another benefit of Linux.

http://www.fs-driver.org/

ext3 is essentially ext2 with a journal.

[911medic]

All right, one last question:

The "Live CD." My cursory understanding of this is that I can d/l a CD image, burn it to a disk, pop it in the drive and boot from it (or do I not need to boot from it? I don't remember), and experience the distro without actually installing it, right? But if I want to make modifications (such as installing Beryl), I'll have to actually do the full install, right?

For all my XP knowledge, I feel like such a babe in the woods, here...

[evilghost]

911medic, I'll leave my email address/IM address for you if you run into any snags or need help if you'd like a more "live" support function. I'm sure grey_1 would be happy to help as well.

[evilghost]

All right, one last question:

The "Live CD." My cursory understanding of this is that I can d/l a CD image, burn it to a disk, pop it in the drive and boot from it (or do I not need to boot from it? I don't remember), and experience the distro without actually installing it, right? But if I want to make modifications (such as installing Beryl), I'll have to actually do the full install, right?

For all my XP knowledge, I feel like such a babe in the woods, here...

Yes, pretty much exactly as you stated. You can make changes to the Live CD but those changes are lost upon reboot. You must boot to the live CD. There are a few caveats with the Live CD such as correct video card driver detection with 3D acceleration/etc.

The installation process is as easy as answering three to four questions. There is an 'install' option on the desktop.

I made the switch about 3 years ago from an exclusive Win32 environment to pure Linux and have really been better off. It's certainly mitigated the need to either empty my wallet or pirate necessary software.

[911medic]

Windows can recognize the ext3 partition via the use of a separate driver. As FYI, the ext3 filesystem manages fragmentation to the point that there is no need to defragment, another benefit of Linux.

http://www.fs-driver.org/

ext3 is essentially ext2 with a journal.I hope you were responding to grey_1, because most of that was greek to me. I got the fragmentation part; I had heard this previously. Are you presented with filesystem choices during install, as you are w/Windows? So I would just choose "ext3?"

[evilghost]

I hope you were responding to grey_1, because most of that was greek to me. I got the fragmentation part; I had heard this previously. Are you presented with filesystem choices during install, as you are w/Windows? So I would just choose "ext3?"

It'll default ext3 which is fine, I was stating for both of ya'lls benefit that you can have Windows see your Linux partition and Linux see your Windows partition.

[911medic]

Thanks again to both of you for the answers.

I'm probably going to try the Live CD and play around w/that for a bit. Then, if I continue to be intrigued, I'll try grey_1's "bios install" method and give it a go.

Expect more questions!

[911medic]

Here's a step-by-step walkthrough:
http://patrick295767.pa.funpic.org/cvs.htm
Missed this, I see it now. Thanks.

[radekhulan]

The easist way to "try" Linux, or to use it professionally, is via virtualization on Windows XP/Vista.

Download free VMWARE Player: http://www.vmware.com/products/player/
And Fedora Core 7 pre-installed image: http://www.thoughtpolice.co.uk/vmware/

Within few minutes, you will run Linux on Windows (with 99% of native performance) ;) I use it daily, work on Windows Vista, as it has the best UI and best /most SW available, but also run Linux inside virtual machine (VMWARE) to have MySQL, PHP and Apache in the same environment (=Linux) as my webhosting. No need for a separate server anymore.

Can use excellent Outlook 2007, Dreamweaver CS3, Photoshop CS3, DX9/10 games, while developing on native Linux x64 machine, running in the second window; have best of both worlds available...

http://radekhulan.cz/img/linux/vista-and-linux.jpg

[grey_1]

911medic, I'll leave my email address/IM address for you if you run into any snags or need help if you'd like a more "live" support function. I'm sure grey_1 would be happy to help as well.
Absolutely if I can! Sorry I missed most of the chat.

[911medic]

The easist way to "try" Linux, or to use it professionally, is via virtualization on Windows XP/Vista.

Download free VMWARE Player: http://www.vmware.com/products/player/
And Fedora Core 7 pre-installed image: http://www.thoughtpolice.co.uk/vmware/

Within few minutes, you will run Linux on Windows (with 99% of native performance) ;) I use it daily, work on Windows Vista, as it has the best UI and best /most SW available, but also run Linux inside virtual machine (VMWARE) to have MySQL, PHP and Apache in the same environment (=Linux) as my webhosting. No need for a separate server anymore.

Can use excellent Outlook 2007, Dreamweaver CS3, Photoshop CS3, DX9/10 games, while developing on native Linux x64 machine, running in the second window; have best of both worlds available...My Allendale CPU doesn't have virtualization technology, so I assumed that I can't run virtual machines.

[radekhulan]

My Allendale CPU doesn't have virtualization technology, so I assumed that I can't run virtual machines.

I think you can, just that VM will not be accelerated by VanderPool, but it will run; you only cannot run x64 code in x86 VM / host OS (otherwise it is possible, you can e.g. have XP 32b host os and run x64 Fedora Core guest on it, with VanderPool).

[esaym]

I moved to linux and stopped gaming a year ago. My life couldn't be better and I have so much free time now, it's great!

There are plenty of games that run in linux.

I have the old UT installed and it is great, still has a large community.

I recently installed Tremulous http://tremulous.net/ and it has been eating up alot of my time. Almost too much!

More good games from what I have heard:
http://www.urbanterror.net/news.php
http://www.s2games.com/savage/

Moar games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Linux_games

UT screen shots: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=2307192&postcount=44

[atriq]

I think you can, just that VM will not be accelerated by VanderPool, but it will run; you only cannot run x64 code in x86 VM / host OS (otherwise it is possible, you can e.g. have XP 32b host os and run x64 Fedora Core guest on it, with VanderPool).I can confirm that. I use qemu quite frequently on my 754pin sempron64.

Also, some fun linux games:
Armagetron AD (http://www.armagetronad.net/)
Frozen Bubble (http://www.frozen-bubble.org/)
NeverBall (http://icculus.org/neverball/)
SuperTux (http://supertux.lethargik.org/)