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View Full Version : How do you escape Vista



sn0m
May 13th, 2009, 10:12 PM
Hi guys,
I bought a Packard bell MH36 laptop for my missus, that appart from built in camera, worked out of the box with Ubuntu. So it comes with vista only motherboard, therefore, to preserve warranty I dual installed Ubuntu and Vista.
Today I had to download some security updates from microsoft and guess what, after installing them cabum, ubuntu and the backup drive had disappeared. So how do I deal with this in the future, don't download any security updates, is there anyway to ensure next time Mr Gates tries his dirty tricks, it dosen't succeed.
Any comments welcome.
Ta
Sokol

Sealbhach
May 13th, 2009, 10:17 PM
I'm only guessing, but I would say even if you dual-boot your warranty would be void. If you call the help desk and mention you're using Linux they would probably tell you that your warranty is not valid anymore.

.

BuffaloX
May 13th, 2009, 10:48 PM
Usually preinstalled Windows comes with some sort of option to burn an install CD if not supplied with the system.
Make one of those and a backup copy, then install Ubuntu wiping Vista.
If you need repair, backup your home folder, and reinstall Vista.

hessiess
May 13th, 2009, 10:57 PM
Buy a second hard disk and run Linux on that, I wouldn't trust some repair company with my personal work anyway.

LinuxGuy1234
May 13th, 2009, 11:34 PM
Vista updates sometimes mess up GRUB. Reinstall GRUB.

Redache
May 13th, 2009, 11:48 PM
If you call the help desk and mention you're using Linux they would probably tell you that your warranty is not valid anymore.

Restore Factory Image = Warranty Back :D.

I'd reinstall Grub instead of just Ubuntu. Follow http://http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=117829&postcount=2 (http://http//ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=117829&postcount=2)

It should work perfectly.

CharmyBee
May 14th, 2009, 12:22 AM
What if you only boot Linux from a remote USB hard disk? Would that affect the system's warranty?

Anyway if you're stuck in a vista you'll probably want OnStar's services to pick you up because in a vista no one can hear you scream but sometimes in the winter you could cause an avalanche. Hope you got a cell phone handy</lame>

camper365
May 14th, 2009, 12:54 AM
So Bill Gates is still doing that.
My dad says that he did the impossible by installing UNIX and Windows NT 3.0 on the same system (a 486 I think, it was back in 1996).
He had to install Windows (because the Windows installer would wipe UNIX off) and then install UNIX by forcing a repartitioning of the NTFS (before UNIX would support NTFS).

Note that I am saying UNIX and not Linux.

suitedaces
May 14th, 2009, 01:05 AM
I opened this thread expecting a punchline. :(

Slug71
May 14th, 2009, 01:16 AM
Call Packard Bell and tell them you want XP. They should mail you a copy.

Tipped OuT
May 14th, 2009, 02:35 AM
Call Packard Bell and tell them you want XP. They should mail you a copy.

I know this is off subject but, awesome avatar! :biggrin:

sn0m
May 14th, 2009, 06:05 AM
Call Packard Bell and tell them you want XP. They should mail you a copy.

I like your sense of humor. I bought this laptop in PC World and when I made an enquiry about XP, was told that only businesses can have it at a special price. PB dosen't even have xp drivers on the website, is Pssinit, oups pardon my french, Vista only product. It just makes you so upset about the grip that Mr Gates has got on the software business and he gets away with it. How do you go on complaining about it. I know that european trade commission fined Mr Gates some time ago for the winblows media player business, can it fined him again for dirty tricks. Shouldn't products come with drivers for other operation system rather then vista only, where is competition here....:o