If your system runs with the newer UEFI system instead of the old style BIOS, you can reinstall Windows from the ISO image dbosman mentions, as it stores the Window Serial number in the UEFI system. Otherwise you may need to buy a license key for Windows. Made replacing the drive in my Dell 3668 a lot easier. I used a little program called Rufus to write the ISO image to a flash drive. You'll need a fairly large one, 8GB may be big enough, 16GB should. I had a 64GB drive sitting here, so used that one, and had room to put my install files for MS Office 2007 on there, too. Still had a bunch of room left. Or you can burn it to a DVD and boot that. Either one will work.
Bill
If it is an older laptop, you might consider running Lubuntu; it's a lighter-weight version of Ubuntu, and what I I have been using on my laptops for years. My desktop uses Linux Mint, which also works very well on decently-powerful laptops.
For the sake of your sanity, DO NOT expect to simply switch over from Microsoft, and install all your Windows programs. There are Linux equivalents for most things, numerous cross-platform programs, and even a few that options that superior to what you might find on windows. Also, there are many differences in how certain basic functions are accomplished, such as installing programs.
Last edited by HumptyDumpty; 02-09-2021 at 08:55 PM.
I'm surprised to see so many running Linux on here.
I've been using Linux for some time maybe ten years or more.
If your running an older machine I would use a lighter version of Linux.
regular Ubuntu is not. Lubuntu and Mint is. I run MXlinux and love it.
Depending where your at some one could burn you a disc and help'
Those who choose violence as a first option are typically confronted by somebody else using violence as a last resort.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Do not confuse my being polite for weakness.
Using MX Linux 21
From the free state of Idaho
I've actually been using Linux full-time for over a decade at this point.Definitely less user-friendly for the first timer-but, the OS has matured a great deal over the years.
Quickbooks was very unstable with wine when I tried it. Photoshop is my other must have. Linux did not play nice with windows, messed up the boot sector and got removed, took forever to get the drive back.
I've got Win7 on the last Toughbook to support it, the drive is a SSD so it's still fast. I'll hang here as long as I can.
Mal
Mal Paso means Bad Pass, just so you know.
Quickbooks was barely stable on windows for me.
I'm seeing a lot of people running mint. I'll try that on the next build. While Ubuntu is not lean it is the closest to windows I have seen. I started on Debian in the 90's and now have my daughter "yes I had her when I was old" in edubuntu and am teaching her Python on a Pi.
It can be fun learning new tricks.
The f you go to the rufus link above a few, at the bottom of the page are links. 1 is a password fixer, another is ReactOs— https://reactos.org/. Supposed to out-Windows Windows 🪟. Maybe it will swing with QuickBook?? I have a laptop that won’t let me change anything being password protected. It came 2ndhand; no way to get password. Runs(...?) Win 10. Lots missing. I have tons of XP software that wouldn’t work on it. Maybe this ReactOs is both of our solutions.
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I think I'm the only one who mentioned Rufus, and I didn't include a link, so not sure what you're talking about. I did quote the link dbosman gave for the Windows 10 ISO download, but that's not the Rufus site, this is: https://rufus.ie/
Not seeing any links to other software there, either. I did use the second link, to create bootable media for another computer.
I've also reset the password on a Win10 laptop (ancient HP) with a linux live flash drive. Search "use linux to reset Windows password".
My parkinsonism that controls walking and balance has made me unable to work in the shop. VOTE RED * PRAY OFTEN You are welcome to message me here or send email to xlordsguitars@gmail.com.
What model Dell? How much RAM? A lot of those are easy to open up and add memory and/or swap in a SSD which will make it a lot faster and run cooler than a spinner, and if your HDD has issues which the disk repair makes me suspect it might, you would be better off with a new drive.
For the linux install... Go download Linux Mint Cinnamon 20.1 AMD 64 .iso and go download a freebie called Balena Etcher. It will be a .zip file, you simply extract it and dbl click the app image which is the extracted file. It opens, you choose where your LM .iso is, and you choose your usb stick, and you tell it to flash. It will make the usb bootable to the linux mint desktop.
Once at the desktop, you can click on Install Linux Mint and setup wil begin, you can let it partition the disk like it wants to or you can do it yourself manually, then the installer will continue. It is best not to have anything on the disk at this point, if it finds the ghost of windows it will want to add it to the boot menu, it just messes up a good install.
You can also go download gparted .iso, and write it to a separate usb stick using etcher, boot to this and you have the best partition editor on the planet. For free! Here you can delete all the windows partitions, you can create a new dos partition table which will totally erase billy gates' muddy footprints.
If it still kicks your butt you could haul it up the road here and we can run through the install together, although if I am going to be an afternoon into swapping out a drive then installing linux, I would expect to get something for my time.
My parkinsonism that controls walking and balance has made me unable to work in the shop. VOTE RED * PRAY OFTEN You are welcome to message me here or send email to xlordsguitars@gmail.com.
Gnucash is a nifty financial program for a linux. I liked it. Cant get my wife to use it. She holds the purse and is horrible at it.
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"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
~Theodore Roosevelt~
I got Gnucash after Quickbooks went buggy on me. I never got it fully set up before I got sick several years ago. I don't have a business anymore so doesn't matter.
Linux Mint has a USB image writer as standard equipment, I think it works better and faster than Rufus or Balena Etcher.
You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore
My parkinsonism that controls walking and balance has made me unable to work in the shop. VOTE RED * PRAY OFTEN You are welcome to message me here or send email to xlordsguitars@gmail.com.
Takes a computer to build or work on a computer.
Thanks for the tip about the image writer. I'll use that.
I truly believe we need to get back to basics.
Get right with the Lord.
Get back to the land.
Get back to thinking like our forefathers thought.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you
and give you His peace. Let all of the earth – all of His creation – worship and praise His name! Make His
praise glorious!
Stock answer if you ask for help, RTM.
I am not a criminal. Dump HR127.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |