| Section 1 - for current Windows
(tm) users - see Q1-8 below |
| Section 2 - for BPCS Ubuntu Linux users
- you currently need to scroll down for this section, QU1 onwards... |
| Section 1 - for
current Windows(tm) users. |
| Q1. Do I need anti-virus software on my
Linux system? |
| A. If you are using your Linux Desktop
as a stand-alone computer or part of a Linux/Unix only network, then it's
really not necessary unless you install applications such as Wine. If you
are using it on a network including Windows computers you need to be careful
about access permissions etc. If in doubt install it. Ubuntu 7.10 and later
include a virus scanner as an add-on, or you can install Avast anti-virus
if you buy our enhancement CD1. |
| Q2. Can I run Windows applications on my
Linux system? |
A. No unless you install 'Wine'
or some other third party software such as VMWare. For more information
on Wine visit their web site http://www.winehq.org/
There you can find an 'Applications Database' which has a list of programs
that run fine, ok, not so well etc. and some further links. We also recommend
that if you run Wine or you are on a mixed network you install anti-virus
software on your system (see above).
An alternative is 'virtualization' - see Q3 below |
| Q3. Can I use both Linux and Windows on
my computer? |
A. Yes, but be careful. We suggest you
fit 2 hard drives and put Windows on one and Linux on the other (but
please also see note below). Partitioning a single drive to run Windows
and Linux needs expert knowledge, if you get it wrong, you will lose
all your programs and data!
Note: Installing it on 2 hard drives also needs some care. If you buy our
2 CD set, full 'How To' instructions are given on the second CD.
An alternative is 'virtualization'. This allows you to run Windows as 'guest'
operating system inside your 'host' Linux operating system. New computers
built by us
running Ubuntu 8.04 can be built with Windows XP or Vista as guest operating
systems. Contact us for more
details. |
| Q4. Will I get infected by spyware? |
| A. Unless you are using Wine, probably
no. |
| Q5. I've heard I can't play MP3 files on
Linux, is this true? |
| A. Yes and no. Debian based distributions
such as Ubuntu do not support proprietary formats such as MP3, WMA, AAC
and RealAudio. The 'ogg vorbis' format is a well supported format to replace
MP3 and WMA. Our tests have shown that ogg vorbis compression results in
a higher quality sound than MP3 for the same file size. There are a number
of applications which will allow you to convert from one format to another,
but be warned that converting from MP3/WMA to ogg vorbis and vice versa
will cause a reduction in sound quality as the types of compression are
different. If you really need to play WMA or MP3 it is possible to add
suitable applications after you install Ubuntu. If you purchase our enhancement
CD1 then 'Songbird' plays most kinds of media files including MP3 and WMA. |
| Q6. Do I need to install a firewall? |
| A. The answer to this is the same for Linux
as it is for Windows (tm). Some kind of firewall is always recommended,
especially if you have a Broadband connection. Modems (both dial-up and
Broadband) don't normally have a built in firewall and therefore you should
install a software one. Ubuntu includes 'firestarter' as an add-on application.
Routers normally have a built in hardware firewall and so a software one
isn't usually necessary, but please check your router documentation. |
| Q7. Can I try out Linux without having to
install it on my Windows computer? |
| A. With Ubuntu, yes, we cannot answer for
other distributions. You can run Ubuntu from the CD without affecting your
Windows system, but note that it will not run as fast from the CD as when
it is installed. |
| |
| Section 2 - for
Ubuntu Linux users and in particular the BPCS Ubuntu distribution |
| Before you use this section please
make sure you have read the printed instructions included with your distriburion
and the 'Welcome' file on your desktop. We have made a note that finding
the answer to QU1 from the help file isn't easy, so we will add this
to the Welcome file in future. |
| QU1. How do I change my password from the
default one installed? |
| A. Click 'System' in the top panel then
hover over 'Administration' in the dropdown menu then move the mouse right
and down to 'Users and Groups' (the bottom selection from the dropdown
menu) and click on it. A dialog box will open and you need to enter your
username and the default password we have provided. Now click on your name
(don't click on 'root' ) and then on the 'properties' button. Now click
in the 'user password' box and delete the black dots, then enter your
new password. Repeat this for the 'confirmation' box, then press the 'OK'
button. |
| QU2. How do I
connect to the Internet with my Broadband modem? |
| We will be answering this shortly. |
| |
| Please Email your questions to linux@bob-pearson.net we
will try to answer them as quickly as possible. |
| |
| |
