i need help and so does ubuntu

[m4tic]

A female friend of mine inboxed me on facebook about how she has a virus and her pc is unusable. I'm using linux and i believe saving her data she needs a live cd at this point. I showed her the ubuntu site and realised i have no references at all, i've dug google out and cannot find a good blog introducing potential users to ubuntu without them being technical in their writing. This is very discouraging as females tend to want to see someone's writing of something on the net to back up your opinions. Please give me tips and direct me to an article suitable for even children to follow

[sisco311]

http://ubuntu-manual.org/
http://psychocats.net/ubuntu/index.php
http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html

[retro89]

Tell her to use remastersys and it will make an image of her sytem and it can then restore her pc.


http://sourceforge.net/projects/remastersys/

[m4tic]

Tell her to use remastersys and it will make an image of her sytem and it can then restore her pc.


http://sourceforge.net/projects/remastersys/

She's a windows user, virus. Remastersys would be overwhelming from just the word alone

[frup]

It depends whether you're trying to preach Ubuntu to her or just providing it as the tool for her to use to complete her data recovery.

If you're just presenting it as a live CD, so she can back up her data, I don't understand her hesitant unless she's a little scared of doing stuff she has never done before.

If you're trying to get her to begin using Ubuntu as her primary desktop I wouldn't push her too much. Pushing people tends to make them feel negative towards what they're using as they feel they have to use it. They look for reasons to compare it to windows.

I've helped lots of people switch to Ubuntu and all those who have been successful long term are those who have approached me about it. A lot of my friends who I convinced to try it, tried it for a month or two and switched back to windows. Many of them liked Ubuntu, but found it just wasn't for them yet. Fortunately most of them had good experiences. The biggest issue seems to be games, but any form of proprietary software that they're tied to will generally be a blocker if you can't offer a better open source solution or get it working in wine.

I guess what I'm trying to say is let her learn about Ubuntu and that it is there, but don't force it upon her unless she wants to try it. If all she does is uses the internet then you can mention to her that her experience will be pretty much the same but with out the hassle of licences and viruses but to most people the smallest little error in Ubuntu will give them a negative experience. You also want to make sure you're there to help give any support questions they need. If you can't answer those support questions, you're probably not ready to be convincing others to use it.

[3rdalbum]

I think Mark Shuttleworth is aware of this problem; he once said "We need an easy way to explain to women what it is that we do" (by this I think he meant "women who you meet at bars who don't know what Linux is").

[m4tic]

I think Mark Shuttleworth is aware of this problem; he once said "We need an easy way to explain to women what it is that we do" (by this I think he meant "women who you meet at bars who don't know what Linux is").

that's what we need. Sorry i'm in a different time zone

[urukrama]

If she wants to recover her files, follow these steps or direct her here: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/recovering-windows-files-with-a-ubuntu-cd-i-the-backstory/

Part two is linked to at the bottom of the other page, but in case you miss it here is the link: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/recovering-windows-files-with-a-ubuntu-cd-ii-getting-your-files/

It is clearly written and illustrated with plenty of screenshots.

[madjr]

this is why the installer is being redesigned (mum'proof :))

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_FJH0hYZmVtc/TBTzsjsmB_I/AAAAAAAAIbY/1i1hGFFNgbw/d9m38bd_184dg4b3wdn_b%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/06/proposed-ubuntu-1010-installer-changes.html

[gemmakaru]

Um I guess I am a special type of Woman then with uber-understanding-man-things-power. woot woot. Yeah can't say the same about my mum though.

[madjr]

Um I guess I am a special type of Woman then with uber-understanding-man-things-power. woot woot. Yeah can't say the same about my mum though.

seems so :)

well actually some of the highest IQ's in history have been of women, but am not so sure where they're all at (umm , social sites? :o) cuz we really need more of em giving feedback and helping dev/lead the future of the tech world.

[whiskeylover]

If she can't follow the guide, you might want to send her this URL.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/cm/thedailygreen/images/laundry-basket-lg.jpg

[proggy]

this is why the installer is being redesigned (mum'proof :))

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_FJH0hYZmVtc/TBTzsjsmB_I/AAAAAAAAIbY/1i1hGFFNgbw/d9m38bd_184dg4b3wdn_b%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/06/proposed-ubuntu-1010-installer-changes.html
That does look like it would work for most people that have never partitioned/resized a hard drive

[quinnten83]

Um I guess I am a special type of Woman then with uber-understanding-man-things-power. woot woot. Yeah can't say the same about my mum though.
Let me guess, you got bitten by a radioactive man???

Sorry to make light of this, but you gotta admit your remark was LOL.

[quinnten83]

you know, I have the impression that there are a lot more female forum members than we think.
hurray for diversity.

[Shakz]

@whiskeylover bwahahahahah Dat der is funnay. I dont care who ya are!