I'm totally inexperienced with Linux

[MAFinOKC]

I use a Toshiba Satellite L305 laptop that is several years old. It still has the original Windows Vista OS that came loaded on it. I disliked Vista intensely from the start. I intended to upgrade the OS to Windows 7, but my opinion of Windows 7 is only slightly higher than of Vista. Now comes Windows 8, and even if this laptop were compatible with Windows 8, I don't even want to think about messing with it on this laptop. So I started thinking about Linux. I did a web search for Linux on Toshiba laptops, and I found a page with a long list of Toshiba laptop models including mine, and notes from 2009 from a user about his installation of Ubuntu 8.10, which seemed to go well. Considering that that version of Ubuntu has long since been superseded, and that I have otherwise no experience with any version of Linux, I am asking the community in general for advice about what to do at this point. The question of setting up a dual-boot also arises, but my question regarding that is how much more disk space does that require? As this unit has only a 250-Gb hard disk and I don't know if buying a larger disk is worth it at this point.

[camelface]

I just installed 12.04 and it required about 4gigs. You should be fine with 250gb. I wonder if you could get the Ubuntu installation to take out your Vista.

Anyway, I don't know too well how it works on laptops, but I would suggest you get 10.04 which I think is the second last LTS (would be good if one was provided with updates to firefox, openoffice/libreoffice, etc). If you don't like Windows 8 I fail to see how you will like the new Ubuntus (the ones with Unity, 11.10 and after).

[pkadeel]

The best thing I like about major linux distros in general is that you can test it before actually installing it on your computer. Just go a head and download an iso of any major distro. Burn that iso to a DVD or a USB and boot from it. When asked, select the Try option and it will start the whole OS from that disk. Check the working of all devices on you computer and if satisfied then install it actually.

Due to the running of OS from a DVD or USB, you might feel a slowness but that is ok. A computer which can run vista can very easily handle ubuntu.

[germanix]

Hi, and welcome to the forums. I found myself in a similar situation in 2008. I badly wanted to get away from Windows and had no knowledge of linux at that time. My then 4 years old Sony Viao was running XP and I installed Ubuntu 8.04. My laptop is now 8 years old and I upgraded to all f the Ubuntu versions as they came out right up to 12.04 with Unity. All version ran out of the box. My Sony has a 1,6 Ghz. single core chip and 2 GB of Ram. I am now running Xubuntu because I am not a big fan of the Unity Desktop in the latest Ubuntu versions. I find Xubuntu faster and the desktop more to my liking.
Linux is great. There is a slight learning curve but their are many people on the forum ready to help should problems occur.
Never liked dual booting myself but it depends if you need windows as well. I cannot imagine why (unless you are a gamer and some games are not available under Linux?)
I do everything that I need with Linux and have never looked back.
Do not know about your machine but Linux runs practically on anything.

[oldfred]

Welcome to the forums.

I have an older Toshiba laptop Satellite A105 with a 160GB and XP. I purposely bought it the week before Vista came out as the previews were not good & I knew XP.
We only really used Laptop when travelling but I would copy my Firefox & Thunderbird profiles from my Desktop to the laptop & using Samba and that became frustrating as the Ubuntu updates & every Windows update to virus, firewall or Windows itself seemed to cause Samba to reset.
So I then just installed Ubuntu in dual boot and use NFS to copy data without much issue.

I have XP in 50GB, 20GB of shared NTFS for the FF & TB profiles and some other data & my Ubuntu install is the rest.

An install can be as small as 10GB (even less as it really only uses about 4.5GB) but you need room for updates and if writing a DVD you may need another 4GB in tmp just while writing. I usually suggest 25GB, but then it depends on whether you have a separate /home or not. I usually suggest a separate /home but do not use one as all my data is in shared NTFS or Linux formatted partitions.

I use my laptop more as desktop when travelling so I do not use all the features, but for what I do it works well. Some Toshiba have different configurations and may work better or worse depending on just how it is configured.

Not sure if close to your model or not.
http://www.linlap.com/toshiba_satellite_l300d-l305d
All laptops seem to run warm even in Windows.

Be sure to back up all your data and may be best to do a full backup of Vista. Some overwrite Windows but find one application that does not have a good equivalent in LInux to Windows and then want Windows back.

How many primary partitions are used? Windows 7 systems almost always use all 4 and make it difficult to install but Vista often did not.
Post this from Ubuntu liveUSB terminal. I suggest USB for testing & installing as it is a bit faster than CD/DVD.
sudo fdisk -lu

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DiskSpace

Use Vista's tools to shrink Vista but not to create any new partitions. Use gparted to create new partitions.

GParted partitioning software - Full tutorial
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gparted.html


Also instructions for CD or USB
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
Write image or burn image not copy ISO as one large file to CD.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...-cd-on-windows
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...n/FromUSBStick


Install options, Do not use erase entire drive unless that is really what you want.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot
Install Ubuntu 12.10 0 with screenshots
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...desktop-latest
http://howtoubuntu.org/how-to-instal...cise-pangolin/
Install 12.04- side by side auto install with screen shots
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing

[grahammechanical]

Here is the installation guide which will show you images of the screens you will see during installation. Ubuntu will install in less than 5GB but 10 - 15 GB is more useful.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...g-term-support

Regards.

[Swagman]

Some important things you need to know right from first base.

1: iTunes is incompatible. If you have to have it then either duel boot or setup a vm.

2: Any document created or edited using Libre Office/Open Office will cause you formatting grief within Ms Office. <-- Many people will disagree with this but just as many will agree !!

3: I'm sure others will add to this list.

I've laid these out for you right here so you are not disappointed later.

Also remember..As a N00b you are likely to accidently wipe your windows install when first time attempting a duel boot installation.

Also.. Here's an old but very apt read, still relevent today.

Linux is NOT Windows


If you decide to go ahead with the install you now have your eyes wide open. We're all here to help you with any problems/glitches you may run into.

Good luck ... & Welcome to the world of Gnu Linux

[snowpine]

Welcome to the forums!

Here is an easy & fun way to experiment with Ubuntu, without any permanent changes/risks to your existing system: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/virtualbox

I recommend that all new users test-drive Ubuntu for a couple of weeks before they commit to a full, permanent install.

[Bashing-om]

MAFinOKC; Hi Welcome to the forum.

My input, Your laptop has a celeron processor and I doubt "pae" enabled, thus ubuntu will not run. However lubuntu will scream on your lappie. As others advise boot up the install disk -> "try" mode ( be advised may have to edit the kernel boot line with acpi_osi="linux parameter) and play with lubuntu, see if you like it and all devices work.

I left windows behind a long time ago and have never looked back. The only advantage to keeping windows that I am aware of is:
a. games you are fond of;
b. Any proprietary applications that you can not leave behind, -- I am unaware of any windows aps that an alternative is not available in 'buntu.

What else can I say, but welcome to our world, may be a steep learning curve departing from windows and learning a different operating system; but, believe me the effort is well worth it !

my 2 pounds worth ==> BDQ

[mungatsuma]

Some important things you need to know right from first base.

1: iTunes is incompatible. If you have to have it then either duel boot or setup a vm.

2: Any document created or edited using Libre Office/Open Office will cause you formatting grief within Ms Office. <-- Many people will disagree with this but just as many will agree !!

3: I'm sure others will add to this list.

I've laid these out for you right here so you are not disappointed later.

Also remember..As a N00b you are likely to accidently wipe your windows install when first time attempting a duel boot installation.

Also.. Here's an old but very apt read, still relevent today.

Linux is NOT Windows


If you decide to go ahead with the install you now have your eyes wide open. We're all here to help you with any problems/glitches you may run into.

Good luck ... & Welcome to the world of Gnu Linux

To add on to the list

4. Power point presentations saved in post Office 2007( read Vista and Windows 7) .pptx format will be a pain to edit and view in Libreoffice/ openOffice Impress. The workaround i have found is fire Windows, and save in XP/2003 office .ppt format, then you can view and edit in LO/OO with ease.

5. Getting Ms Office 2010 to work in Linux is difficult and will not be perfect, but LO is better anyway.

6. If you do not like the way the desktop looks like, you can change to another, more to your liking. Not just the wallpaper, but a whole lot more. it feels like a totally new system. In Ubuntu there is Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu ( KDE, LXDE and XFCE respectively) and a host of many others. Just try one after the other. I left Ubuntu out since its the default (Unity)

Welcome to Linux for Humans.