Want to impress your Windows friends with PCLinuxOS?

[Tony]

Just to finish what has been a fascinating discussion, I had my Ex Wife (   ) buy a retail copy of XP SP2 Install Disc when she bought a Computer I had asked to be custom made, about 4 Years ago.
i.e. What processor (AMD) Video card, etc., the shop was happy to do so. That CD has been sitting for years.

I noticed it didn't have the Product Key, so rang Microsoft today. To cut a long story short as a 'One time instance' the nice Phillipino lady generated a Product Key for the Disc. Plus answered every possible problem I could think of about a previous OEM install borking when I use this disc. All ok.

Also each time they put me on Hold there was a message,"MS would never ring a MS user out of the blue. There's a Scam where people are pretending to work for MS, please just hang up."

So this Scam, which I've heard of before has hit epidemic proportions in Australia. The Government has reacted stupidly saying they're sending a notice to "every Australian" warning of the Scam.   (JunkMail)
I have cleaned Malware from MS Machines for about 6 years but this install Windows thing had me baffled, I do it very rarely.
I love the suggestions Just18 and aguila have made and the rest but probably wont install PCLinuxOS.

I told my Mother today she's really a very lucky lady cos if I hadn't had this disc she'd be up for at least $1,000 for a Tablet, or $500 for a Win 7 Disc.

Some isos back, I read about automatic updates.

I saw a notifer of updates in Synaptic, on a recent version of LXDE.  

But we might start that discussion on another thread

Yeah, pushing our luck with the Mods I think, great suggestions though  

[djohnston]

You might want to run the upgrade to SP3, if you can still do it. Support for SP2 ended on July 13, 2010.

[bicol_willem]

"...Well, there isn't enough money to make me want to fix their stuff for them. I am not going to keep enabling the cycle by fixing their machines for them."

All she needs is a Browser, and a Email client.


At this time a Linux installation is a 95% very unlikely situation.
 
How to convince someone to use Linux ?

I got all the answers! 

You see, your mam uses only a browser and email client..... How simple.
Install Linux, point her to the Desktop shortcuts leading to browser (of choice) and email client.
She will likely never know what run's her PC!

(I send the bill when I can find time) 

[longtom]

You might want to run the upgrade to SP3, if you can still do it. Support for SP2 ended on July 13, 2010.

One can download a SP3 offline install which I use these days.  A search will reveal downloadable versions. 

Here is one of the sites offering it in different languages .

[agmg]

There are many ways to impress your Windows friends with PCLinuxOS (and generally with GNU/Linux).

One of them would be to have a full install on a USB stick and take it to a friend's PC. Boot it up and show him your complete operating system which runs from a 4G usb flash drive and can take it with you everywhere you go. I have done that twice and the expressions on my friends' faces were the greatest reward! Plus you can use it for the purpose you mention, which is to fix broken Windows installations...

[Just17]

have a full install on a USB stick

You might be better advised to have a Live install and not a full install on a flash drive.

[agmg]

I'm aware of the differences and the pros/cons of each install Each one serves different purpose...

[Tony]

You might want to run the upgrade to SP3, if you can still do it. Support for SP2 ended on July 13, 2010.

Yep, definitely. Already did it when the rest of the family ran for cover when they couldn't setup the WiFi from router in her bedroom, to a spare bedroom where she wants the Comp, when I initially got her online. We're talking ADSL 2.
Personally I'd tack a lead tastefully from the landline phone jack in her bedroom to the other bedroom, setup the Router and use the Ethernet cable; taking Wifi out of the equation totally.
I wouldn't even run the thing online without SP3 (supported till 2014) as there's so many security fixes, and other useful stuff.
I used to go to MS and just download updates I needed, some can stuff you up.
Plus I would disable DNS, and install MVP HOSTS file.
Then disable any service that wasn't essential, just to get extra speed, and generate heaps of error message in the MS console/services, (whatever). Easily ignored and has no impact on system; however be very careful when tweaking services, and refer to the guru of tweaking:
http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-xp-x86-32-bit-service-pack-3-service-configurations/
bicol_willem:

You see, your mam uses only a browser and email client..... How simple.
Install Linux, point her to the Desktop shortcuts leading to browser (of choice) and email client.
She will likely never know what run's her PC!

Who would have guessed someone gave her a license and copy for Norton AV, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh !!!

Avast! Home (Resident protection), and for on demand scans MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. Avast! Home ed (free) has excellent realtime protection, but I used to only scan the System with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware as it is much better at picking up nasty's, and doesn't generate false positives like Avast! tends to.

Hey I thought this was a Linux forum  Seems I'm the only person solely using PCLinuxOS here 

[longtom]

We have to eat .... 

[T6]

good point, this should be moved to sandbox

[Tony]

You might want to run the upgrade to SP3, if you can still do it. Support for SP2 ended on July 13, 2010.

One can download a SP3 offline install which I use these days.  A search will reveal downloadable versions. 

Here is one of the sites offering it in different languages .

Thankyou longtom for the SP3 link, that'll be mighty handy actually. 

[Yankee]

There are many ways to impress your Windows friends with PCLinuxOS (and generally with GNU/Linux).

One of them would be to have a full install on a USB stick and take it to a friend's PC. Boot it up and show him your complete operating system which runs from a 4G usb flash drive and can take it with you everywhere you go. I have done that twice and the expressions on my friends' faces were the greatest reward! Plus you can use it for the purpose you mention, which is to fix broken Windows installations...

+1

They'll never get Windows on a flash drive. 
Take it to the computer store too and plug
it into that new $500 computer you might buy...

[Just17]

They'll never get Windows on a flash drive.

I have installed Windows from a flash drive    It is fast!

There are also versions that run 'live' if you search enough 
I have not used one of those for many years, so don't have any up to date info, although I believe they can be run live from a USB device. I am open to correction on that .....

[Yankee]

They'll never get Windows on a flash drive.

I have installed Windows from a flash drive    It is fast!

There are also versions that run 'live' if you search enough 
I have not used one of those for many years, so don't have any up to date info, although I believe they can be run live from a USB device. I am open to correction on that .....

Well I mean you'll never get W7 to work from a flash drive
as a regular restored OS.   My WinPE just has a few programs
on it, runs from the flash drive too.

The ms-sys idea was super.     BTW.

[T6]

win7 doesn't work on a usb drive?

supposedly win 8 will work this way