So I installed Windows today...

[d3v1ant_0n3]

Not on my ubuntu machine, but on the kids' computer. They play a lot of games, so pretty much need Windows. It was running a cracked version of Media Center, but I thought I'd do the decent thing and actually put a legal copy on (my old retail XP Pro, since it's been gathering dust for 6 months).

I was all ready to write up a long, hate filled blow by blow account of how bad it was to set up compared to Ubuntu, how long it took, etc, in response to all the 'linux is sooo hard' threads.

I was supried. I've not installed Windows in a year or so now. And it was really quite painless for a 5 year old installer. My disc is thankfully SP2, so that helped. There were 80-some updates that took forever to download and install, and don't even get me STARTED on the reboots (14 of them!!!). The actual install process is definitely more fugged than Ubuntus- I hate not being able to just leave it installing for fear of dialogs popping up and interrupting things (only 2).

The pre-install setup pages really could be a bit more obvious- I knew what I was doing, and when to expect certain things, and I still found myself having to reread options, just to be sure. And for some reason, it decided to rearrange the HDD order on that machine (what it previously saw as D:/ it now sees as E:/ and vice versa, which is odd).

Interestingly, instead of being full of warez now, the machine runs on a suite of apps I've discovered via Linux- the kids used Firefox before (I hated removing malware), but they now have GIMP, ClamAv and Open Office Not a keygen in sight.

I have to say tho, how UGLY is XP by default? Thankfully, we have Windowblinds.


So yeah. Nothing exploded. Microsoft didn't try and arrest me for installing something. It was all quite painless. Took the best part of 6 hours in total tho.

On the flipside, I had to reinstall my Ubuntu box a week or so ago. Was done in less than 2 hours- including reinstalling non-default apps and theming the heck out of everything.

[PurplePenguin]

I can identify with your comments. I, too, began to use things such as Gimp, Open Office, Firefox, Thunderbird, etc. on Windows after getting used to them on Linux.

Still, people often say things like Gimp can't do everything that Photoshop does. Gimp, though, does everything (and far more) that a non-professional like me needs to do - and the price is right! I feel better using Gimp than a cracked PhotoShop anyday.

The same goes for Open Office and MS Office.

[stalker145]

I feel your pain when reinstalling Windows. I recently re-did my wife's Win2K install... JEESE!! Modem, NIC, video, sound, wireless drivers - reboot after each one - Service Pack 4, reboot - IE6, reboot - 10 bajillion security updates, reboot - software updates, reboot... like you said, about six hours.

On the other hand, when I did my original Dapper install and got all the applications installed, tweaks applied, and prettiness factor of 10, I made an image of the drive. Now if I feel the need to reinstall, it only takes about 4 minutes over the network

Of course, I then have to download the updates that have come out in the last 4 months... at least I don't have to do the reboot tango

[Lster]

My experience with Xp is not exactly great... It took me over 3 hours to reinstall Windows; under 30 minutes with Ubuntu!

[Josh1]

I actually really like the gray windows theme, as i like the default ubuntu theme lol.
Simple is good, windows blinds chugs things down alot.

[kimusabi]

I had a hard time this morning, dragged on till about noon.
Decided to create a partition for windows using a G-Parted (link) boot disk. Went swimmingly. The install process of windows however was annoying.

I'm so used to installing Ubuntu, slide in the disk, boot, fill in the forms and waltz away to play a game, or browse.
Windows wasn't having any of it. So, after sitting in front of my computer, chuckling now and then when reading the "new and improved features" messages and inputting info, for about an hour. Windows suddenly decides to overwrite the GRUB MBR with Windows' special "YOU SHALL USE ME AND NO OTHER!" tainted boot "program" thus cutting me off from Linux for while, till I found my special grub master book disk.
After beating windows into the ground with open source, it behaved and haven't had any problems since. Then again, I haven't booted into it after all those updates I force-fed it.


Why install windows you ask?
Well granted Neverwinter Nights works well under linux due to the client (better than windows in my opinion).
NeverEdit (link) isn't very good, kept crashing for some reason (free glut error I think) and the tool set fails under wine.

Also:
I do like the default windows 95 look-a-like theme somehow feels, right.....but I was forced to use it at high-school for 4 years. Go figure.