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From windows to Linux...

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TheGreatPoo:
Hello,

I am new to the Linux concept but have done some reading on it and have come to the conclusion that I am fed up with the Windows OS!  I want to switch COLD TURKEY to Linux.  The version that I have found to be the best IMO (correct me if I am wrong) is Mandrake Linux.  I have a couple of questions about making the switch:

1.  Can I install Mandrake Linux (from a cd that I made from an image (ISO) that I downloaded off of Mandrake's site) after formatting my hardrive and wiping windows off?  Or do I have to use another hard drive as a master with Windows on it and install it onto the blank slave?  I want to install this cleanly and get rid of any hidden crap that windows may leave behind (by formatting it first).  It's just my way of assuring myself that windows is truely dead.

2.  Will windows software work on Mandrake Linux?  If I were to go to Lycos (which from what I can tell has no downloads for Linux) and download an MP3 player for windows (version ?) will it work on a Linux machine?

3.  What about Microsft Office?  My life (or work life) is all on that program but it too buggy!  What can I do about that?

4.  The machine that this will be going onto has an all in one integrated motherboard.  This motherboard (Pc Chips MB810L) has audio, video, and LAN all built onto it and the drivers are all SiS (which do not offer Linux driver dowloads on their site).  I had a hell of a time finding the drivers for this motherboard to get it to work with windows (which coincedentaly did not come with the neccessary drivers that were needed) and I hope that I will not have the same problem with Linux.  Is there a solution for this?

Sorry for asking so many questions but this is a serious thing for me and I want to make sure that I do it right.

Thanx in advance and I apologize for the length!

SpeeDFreaK:
If I were you, I would install Mandrake as a dual boot just in case your mobo didn't work with linux, but there is a good chance that it would. Another reason to dual boot is so you can convert your office projects to a format that staroffice or openoffice can read well. Windows software will run if you use wine. I have Half-Life and Soldier of Fortune 2 running under Mandrake 8.1 right now. But you can't do multiple cd installs from windows easily. I haven't figured it out yet. And you should be able to install from an internet image. Have fun with linux!

choasforages:
hmmm, for the mp3 player use a program called xmms. i have been using it at i find it atleast on winamps level of greatness. as for msoffice. try the openoffice suite. i use it to do my school work with. it can read and write word files quite well. as for booting it. just burn it as a disc image and not as a file on the disc/*done that before har har i felt dumb*/ some windows software will work under windows using a prog called wine or one called winex, wine is free, winex costs 15 bucks for a 3 months subscription, but i think it worthit. and for driver problems, under linux i personaly have had less problems then i did with windows, and i don't even know what motherboards im using right now, on is a gigabye one for k6's. and mandrake probably would be a good solution for you. and about asking *linux* questiions, we don't  mind, in fact alot of us like to answer linux questions, just don't come for windows support/*obvios, the sites name is fuck microsoft dar*/ well, welcome to the boards and have phun

choasforages:
and aslo do yourself a favor and go buy a book on linux, it will help you so you can make use of linux without a hard time/*unless a solarise admin lives next door, but hes moving now DOH!!!*/

TheGreatPoo:
Based on what you two have said, Linux should be pretty easy to install and use.  I have another computer that I would like to switch to Linux (It's my Mom's and she's having some difficulty with the idea.  Don't worry, I'm workin on her  ;)    ) and it is an HP Pavilion with the Pentium III.  All of the hardware is 'stock' except for the hardrive which shouldn't be a problem.  Will Linux work with this one?  

If Linux will not work with the hardware built onto the other board that I have, will I have to buy compatible hardware for it?  I only have two PCI slots (it's a micro ATX) so if Linux will not work than I'll have to choose what two are most important of the three built in's.   :(

Thanx for the Help guys!

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