Part 1: Preparation

Introduction

Crashes, viruses and headaches. You have had it with Windows and you want to switch to Linux. Where to begin? How do you save your documents? Will my hardware work?

Slow down... take a deep breath, because you have a lot of work ahead of you. Millions of people have made the same switch before you, so it's not impossible. We are going to take you step-by-step through a whole migration from Windows to Linux, covering everything from picking the right Linux distribution to installing Linux applications.

At the end of the article, we will provide printable checklists to make sure that you don't miss anything during your migration.

Linux Distributions

For the longtime Windows user, choosing a Linux distribution can be confusing. Microsoft, to their credit, makes choosing Windows very simple. It usually comes with the computer you buy, already installed.

Linux, on the other hand, is fragmented into numerous "distributions". Most modern operating systems, which include Linux, are composed of two parts: a small central piece called the "kernel" and a larger piece that has the applications and drivers. Linux distributions have pretty much the same kernel, but differ in the applications they offer.

Most distributions such as Red Hat Fedora, Gentoo and Debian are free. Others, such as SUSE and Lindows, cost money.

There are plenty of good Linux distributions. You can find reviews of Linux distributions on sites such as distrowatch.com, osnews.com, or THG (of course). Some distributions have a large and almost fanatical following. You could argue that the Linux movement itself is fanatical, but that is another article!

We recommend Red Hat Fedora, Mandrake Linux or SUSE for the first time switchers. These three distributions are easy to install, have good hardware compatibility and come with boatloads of software. As you gain Linux experience, you can try more difficult distributions such as Debian or Gentoo.
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* Introduction
* Linux Distributions
* Downloading And Burning Linux
* Hardware Compatibility
* NForce Chipsets
* Laptops
* Printing
* Graphics Cards
* Sound Cards
* Wireless
* Backing Up
* Document Migration
* Outlook
* Internet Favorites/Bookmarks
* File Migration
* Final Check
* Download The Migration Checklists
* Conclusion

Introduction Part 2:

You've prepared yourself for your Linux migration, now its time to make the jump. After reading Part 1, you should have the following items: Linux installation CDs (1-7 CDs depending on the distribution you picked), CD of drivers, a CD/DVD of your migrated files and a hard-drive with your files (if you chose this route).

We will help you make it through the installation and the initial bootup. Then, we will transfer all your old documents into Linux. Your Internet Explorer favorites and your Outlook PST will be converted into Linux compatible formats. After that, we will run through a couple software installations with binary and source code packages. Screenshots and six downloadable training videos will guide you every step of the way.

Installation

All Linux distributions have similar installation procedures, but they look very different from each other. We will run through an entire installation of Redhat Linux 9. Don't worry if the installation screens are vastly different than what you see here, as the concepts are the same. All installs have these steps.

1. Hardware detection;
2. Partitioning;
3. Package Installation;
4. Final Configuration.


Setting your CD to boot

First we have to boot with the first CD of your Linux distribution. You will need to enter your motherboard BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and set your CD to be the first boot device. Usually this is accomplished by hitting delete as the computer starts. Afterwards, the Linux CD should automatically start and go into install mode.

Linux will do some basic hardware detection, such as recognizing the mouse and keyboard, and then ask you how you want to partition your hard-drive(s). Since you are wiping out Windows, it's fairly simple. Most distributions give you the option between automatic or manual partitioning. The automatic partitioning is recommended for the beginner. Manual partition is better if you are a veteran or are building a server.

Every Linux installation must have at least two partitions. The first is called the root partition or the / partition. This is like the C: in Windows. The second partition is called the SWAP partition, which holds the SWAP file. The SWAP file is an overload area that tricks your computer into thinking it has lots of RAM. In Windows the swap file is usually embedded inside of a regular partition (generally the C: drive).
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* Introduction
* Installation
* Desktop Usability
* Migrating Documents
* Internet Browsing
* Installing Applications
* Email
* Instant Messaging
* Audio Playback
* Video Playback
* Graphical Programs
* Video Editing
* Special Effects And Rendering
* Games
* Conclusion