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Linux and Windows Side by Side

Tags:
  • Windows
  • Windows XP
  • Hard Drives
  • Linux
Last response: in Linux/Free BSD
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February 11, 2014 4:47:35 PM

If I install Linux on my hard drive along with Windows XP, and my Windows XP gets a virus, will it affect the Linux os?

More about : linux windows side side

a b 5 Linux
February 11, 2014 6:53:17 PM

It is "possible" but not even remotely likely.
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February 13, 2014 10:24:01 AM

skittle said:
It is "possible" but not even remotely likely.



Ok, what if I keep Windows XP to store my files, use the most secure McAfee firewall mode which is stealth, and use Linux for browsing the web?

Or am I better off ditching XP and installing Linux onto my machine.
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a b 5 Linux
February 13, 2014 10:33:46 AM

Kaat1220 said:
skittle said:
It is "possible" but not even remotely likely.



Ok, what if I keep Windows XP to store my files, use the most secure McAfee firewall mode which is stealth, and use Linux for browsing the web?

Or am I better off ditching XP and installing Linux onto my machine.


The chances of this happening are not even worth thinking about.
The most likely scenario is that you download an infected file on Linux, but its code cannot execute on Linux but if you transfer the file to a windows PC then windows can be infected.

My suggestion is to ditch windows if you are truly worried about it. Why use windows at all if you are just using it to "store files"? Makes no sense...

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February 13, 2014 1:28:41 PM

Depends on your competence with Linux and your needs...but if there is no special reason keeping you in Windows, you can certainly ditch it. The main reasons people might stay with Windows are 1) lack of games in Linux 2) the business world tends to use MS Office and professionals feel like they need to have Windows or Mac to work with colleagues and 3) people do not want to have to take the time to do any troubleshooting or tweaking. If those things do not apply to you, then go ahead and make the move to Linux.
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February 13, 2014 4:17:30 PM

skittle said:
Kaat1220 said:
skittle said:
It is "possible" but not even remotely likely.



Ok, what if I keep Windows XP to store my files, use the most secure McAfee firewall mode which is stealth, and use Linux for browsing the web?

Or am I better off ditching XP and installing Linux onto my machine.


The chances of this happening are not even worth thinking about.
The most likely scenario is that you download an infected file on Linux, but its code cannot execute on Linux but if you transfer the file to a windows PC then windows can be infected.

My suggestion is to ditch windows if you are truly worried about it. Why use windows at all if you are just using it to "store files"? Makes no sense...



Well, I'm not just using Windows XP to store files, but support for XP is ending on April 8, and I can't afford to buy a new pc and I don't think Windows 7 will install properly on my ten year old machine, so that is why I was thinking of just keeping it to store files. But I guess if I install Linux as my only OS, I can store files there instead.

Linux is new to me.
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February 14, 2014 3:10:55 PM

Aristotelian said:
Depends on your competence with Linux and your needs...but if there is no special reason keeping you in Windows, you can certainly ditch it. The main reasons people might stay with Windows are 1) lack of games in Linux 2) the business world tends to use MS Office and professionals feel like they need to have Windows or Mac to work with colleagues and 3) people do not want to have to take the time to do any troubleshooting or tweaking. If those things do not apply to you, then go ahead and make the move to Linux.


I notice that Linux has a word processing program called "Write," and there is a version of OpenOffice for Linux, and both of these programs save to .doc format. Therefore, wouldn't you be able to open a windows doc with Linux?
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February 14, 2014 5:30:53 PM

Kaat1220 said:
Aristotelian said:
Depends on your competence with Linux and your needs...but if there is no special reason keeping you in Windows, you can certainly ditch it. The main reasons people might stay with Windows are 1) lack of games in Linux 2) the business world tends to use MS Office and professionals feel like they need to have Windows or Mac to work with colleagues and 3) people do not want to have to take the time to do any troubleshooting or tweaking. If those things do not apply to you, then go ahead and make the move to Linux.


I notice that Linux has a word processing program called "Write," and there is a version of OpenOffice for Linux, and both of these programs save to .doc format. Therefore, wouldn't you be able to open a windows doc with Linux?


Yes, you can open and save in .doc format in both OpenOffice and LibreOffice. Sometimes you will lose formatting and advanced features (such as "track changes") but otherwise it is pretty seamless. You can also work in the cloud using Google Docs or Microsoft Skydrive through a Linux web browser. You only really need Windows if you need 100% seamless compatibility.

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a b 5 Linux
February 14, 2014 6:04:20 PM

What do you use your PC for?
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February 15, 2014 2:21:43 PM

Aristotelian said:
Kaat1220 said:
Aristotelian said:
Depends on your competence with Linux and your needs...but if there is no special reason keeping you in Windows, you can certainly ditch it. The main reasons people might stay with Windows are 1) lack of games in Linux 2) the business world tends to use MS Office and professionals feel like they need to have Windows or Mac to work with colleagues and 3) people do not want to have to take the time to do any troubleshooting or tweaking. If those things do not apply to you, then go ahead and make the move to Linux.


I notice that Linux has a word processing program called "Write," and there is a version of OpenOffice for Linux, and both of these programs save to .doc format. Therefore, wouldn't you be able to open a windows doc with Linux?




Yes, you can open and save in .doc format in both OpenOffice and LibreOffice. Sometimes you will lose formatting and advanced features (such as "track changes") but otherwise it is pretty seamless. You can also work in the cloud using Google Docs or Microsoft Skydrive through a Linux web browser. You only really need Windows if you need 100% seamless compatibility.



Well, I do play internet games, but my Mac mini still lets me do that. I mainly use my pc for checking email, submitting poetry to various journals, working on Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator (Gimp on my Mac).

Frankly, I love Windows and prefer it, but I am in no position to buy a new pc or spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade to Windows 7 if my pc cannot handle it.
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February 15, 2014 2:24:14 PM

USAFRet said:
What do you use your PC for?


Submitting to poetry journals, listening to music, playing Gamesville, Pogo games, using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
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a b 5 Linux
February 15, 2014 2:27:04 PM

Then maybe make the switch to all Linux. If everything you need to do runs in Linux, I see no reason not to.
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February 15, 2014 2:39:05 PM

USAFRet said:
Then maybe make the switch to all Linux. If everything you need to do runs in Linux, I see no reason not to.


The only two programs I am worried about are Photoshop and Illustrator. GIMP is ok, but I much prefer Photoshop, and have yet to find an equal to Illustrator.

I may have to switch out of sheer necessity. Thanks.
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