Can anyone please advise me on some Windows XP queries..

Can I also check....

IF I  download a Linux option onto a DVD disc...

I assume I then have to install it.... BUT in order to do so... either onto a unused Harddrive or I would have to create a Partition on my present hardrive...

to seperate it from my presnt Windows XP OS program...or I would have to delete my Windows XP OS program...

IF I delete my Windows XP...  DOES THAT THEN DELETE ALL MY PRESENT FILES ON IT....

OR is it possible to install Linux to override Windows XP and still maintain any Files that I have on my hardrive that were created thru Windows XP !

Yes writing a DVD from an ISO downloaded from https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

 

You can use this for creating a USB - https://sourceforge.net/projects/usbwriter/

Can I also check....

IF I  download a Linux option onto a DVD disc...

I assume I then have to install it.... BUT in order to do so... either onto a unused Harddrive or I would have to create a Partition on my present hardrive...

to seperate it from my presnt Windows XP OS program...or I would have to delete my Windows XP OS program...

IF I delete my Windows XP...  DOES THAT THEN DELETE ALL MY PRESENT FILES ON IT....

OR is it possible to install Linux to override Windows XP and still maintain any Files that I have on my hardrive that were created thru Windows XP !

Yes writing a DVD from an ISO downloaded from https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

 

You can use this for creating a USB - https://sourceforge.net/projects/usbwriter/

Can I also check....

IF I  download a Linux option onto a DVD disc...

I assume I then have to install it.... BUT in order to do so... either onto a unused Harddrive or I would have to create a Partition on my present hardrive...

to seperate it from my presnt Windows XP OS program...or I would have to delete my Windows XP OS program...

IF I delete my Windows XP...  DOES THAT THEN DELETE ALL MY PRESENT FILES ON IT....

OR is it possible to install Linux to override Windows XP and still maintain any Files that I have on my hardrive that were created thru Windows XP !

Yes writing a DVD from an ISO downloaded from https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

 

You can use this for creating a USB - https://sourceforge.net/projects/usbwriter/

I am not sure why or How , But I accidentally somehow was able to post my prior messages twice. Unfortunately I cannot see any delete option to remove the 2nd version on post Number 18.

I also made a post earlier and was able to edit it... But now that option seems to have disappeared or I am no longer able to edit my posts.

I note what you say about you recommedation for Linux XFCE version...and it being closer to Win XP.  but upon re reading some of the descriptions... It may seem to suggest that Mate maybe the better overall version if one is willing to deal with more options in the OS system.

Thats Interesting if I was able to run Linux just of the DVD alone...which I assume would be classed as the " D " Drive seperate from the "C "Drive that contains my Win Xp OS.

When you say I should  or NEED to back up my files before I install it...

BUT I am not quite sure I understand that if I would be running linux on the D Drive.... OR do the Drives somehow combine and therefore when it later comes to saving any future files etc..

or seeing any history etc.... that it may create some undesired  issues...

The thing about it being on DVD is tgat you can run it without installing it, and you'll need to back up your files before you install it.

Yes , I understand what you say in this reply, but in the previous one (post 19 ) you suggest I need make a back up  (I assume you mean of my Windows XP  OS/ files )   before IF I WAS to consider INSTALLING Linux...

BUT IF I AM only going to use Linux from the DVD... on the  seperate " D drive '.... then I am NOT sure I would really need to  make a back up of my Win Xp OS/ files.

OTHER than say somehow something was to go wrong or I say ended up using both options for Linux on a ' D' drive and Windows Xp on a 'C' Drive at the same time somehow...

IF I was using Linux from a DVD / " D Drive".... I assume also I would need a suitable browser such as Firefox or Goggle Chrome... OR could it somehow use any browser that was already  installed

already that I use on Win XP OS...

on reading the Linux Guide it refers to an ISO image.....which looks like a QR Code... IS this a similar thing ? 

I thought that only applied to mobile phones or their Apps.

I find that a bit hard to understand, and someone warned me NOT to get involved in using using Mobile phone Apps or QR codes as they get tracked by Govts...

so i dont know if this is a similar thing....  (I am Not aware that other OS systems like Windows use a similar thing )

see :              https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/_images/qr.png

looking in the search engines , it says a ISO file is described as Identical storage image of optical media.

Linux Mint comes in the form of an ISO image (an .iso file) which can be used to make a bootable DVD or a bootable USB stick.

This guide will help you download the right ISO image, create your bootable media and install Linux Mint on your computer

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/verify.htmlhttps://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/verify.html

You'd be running from the DVD until you install it. Once you install it all your files will be gone. Running from DVD will preserve your windows install.

Hi, again, @Adwin:

I have no experience with Linux, so I will defer to others for that excellent guidance.

I do, however, understand how daunting the move to a new Windows version or to Linux might be, and the challenges you face with the possibility of upgrading your computer hardware.

From my humble perspective as just another self-taught computer user, however, I respectfully reiterate my original suggestion -- and one that @cryptodan has also mentioned -- to AT LEAST BACKUP YOUR DATA (files, documents, photos, emails, browser bookmarks etc.) BEFORE you undertake ANYTHING "new" with this old XP system. Personally, I would also make a system image right away**, because it is the only way you'll be able to recover your XP system/OS from a mishap, especially if you find that Linux is not a viable solution for you.

Having said all that -- again, speaking only from the perspective of a home user -- for the next step, I would probably run some basic tests on the existing, older hardware first, to make sure it's in decent working order. 

(For example, if your hard drive is failing, then it may not be worth/too risky for continued use of the existing hardware. You may need a more robust, durable solution, such as running a new version of Windows or Linux on newer/new hardware.)

To minimize confusion for you, I will bow out and defer to others more expert than I.

I wish you the best of luck, however you proceed. 

**There is a whole forum here devoted to Backups and Imaging, where BC members will assist you.

Yes, I would have thought so...cryptodan

However, if I could even just use it to log into my email using it on DVD  Disc, then that could be mainly what I need it for at least for now...

but I would also use it for general browsing if it seemed to work reasonably ok on disc alone..

IF I found I could Try Linux by DVD disc and decided I prefer it to Windows XP.... I would then consider installing it....

BUT Id still be unsure if it would need to be installed in a partition seperate from my Present Windows XP Os...

or IF it would somehow be able to use any of the files that I created thru Win XP...

OR also if I  may need to delete Win Xp or if I can  install it to override Win XP. or if I had made a Back up from Windows XP and its files...

IF somehow when I was then to install Linux, if it was able to somehow able to work or operate and use some of those files...

CAN you  confirm would I also need a Browser to go with Linux such as Firefox ? and if so would it have to be installed somehow to work thru the use of Linux via using it on the 'D' Drive or DVD Disc..or does Linux not need a browser or is  a browser included in its software download  somehow   ?

The linux mint on DVD is not the most optimal way to use linux. You'll get a better performance installing it.

Hello again MoxieMomma,

I note what you have said and some of the points that you reinforced to suggest that I do in ref to creating a backup .

I Think maybe some years ago I may have made a back up of one of my past Windows  OS...but at the moment I cannot recall exactly what was involved..

but I suspect I can check it out on how to go about it on the search engines...

What I am not sure about is how long it may take and WOULD I have enough Disc space to do it.... which maybe a concern for me at the moment.. as my hardrive maybe getting a bit full..

and I would have to get some idea how long it may take before considering doing it...

I think it will take quite some time depending on how much data one may have used and how well ones computer may operate.

I am considering Trying Linux at least  by using it from a  download onto a DVD  Disc if it seems reasonably easy to achieve based on Cryptodans guidence.

But also if there was other ways to consider trying with my present Win Xp  OS system.. then that may still be a possibility if there maybe a solution.

I DONT really to put anyone to too much trouble and time in trying to help me... in the hope that I  / we may had been lucky and found a solution in a reasonable time.

but I do appreciate all the help and guidence that I have had so far.

I understand you may not be familar with Linux as neither had myself and maybe that applies to most ex Windows users...I suspect. !

As I am using an older DELL Laptop , it maybe seen now as possibly being a hardware problem... or I may just have some sort of unknown Malware problem that could be preventing me say from accessing my email services.

Someone had suggested that I try another Browser called Opera... which I think I once tried to download but had a problem in trying to get it to work...

But I think there is now another version that I have yet to fully  try...but I may have trried to download it and found that I was unbale to open the file and install it...

whether it was incompatable with my system or due to a malware issue... I am not sure..

BUT I wondered if anyone had recommedned using or trying OPERA or if any anyone had ever had similar problems in trying to use it say on Windows XP...

!best  regards

Hi, again, @Adwin:

 

I have no experience with Linux, so I will defer to others for that excellent guidance.

I do, however, understand how daunting the move to a new Windows version or to Linux might be, and the challenges you face with the possibility of upgrading your computer hardware.

 

From my humble perspective as just another self-taught computer user, however, I respectfully reiterate my original suggestion -- and one that @cryptodan has also mentioned -- to AT LEAST BACKUP YOUR DATA (files, documents, photos, emails, browser bookmarks etc.) BEFORE you undertake ANYTHING "new" with this old XP system. Personally, I would also make a system image right away**, because it is the only way you'll be able to recover your XP system/OS from a mishap, especially if you find that Linux is not a viable solution for you.

 

Having said all that -- again, speaking only from the perspective of a home user -- for the next step, I would probably run some basic tests on the existing, older hardware first, to make sure it's in decent working order. 

(For example, if your hard drive is failing, then it may not be worth/too risky for continued use of the existing hardware. You may need a more robust, durable solution, such as running a new version of Windows or Linux on newer/new hardware.)

 

To minimize confusion for you, I will bow out and defer to others more expert than I.

 

I wish you the best of luck, however you proceed. 

 

 

 

**There is a whole forum here devoted to Backups and Imaging, where BC members will assist you.

 

 

Thanks for the Confirmation.... Thats interesting to note that they include browsers already with in its OS system...

Maybe updated Windows also do similar now...

I will try to take a look at CCleaner  speccy.

I think I may have used something similar to it some time ago , on a past problem I had thru another forum malwware adviser...

Firefox and Thunderbird are installed already so it's covered.

 

Posted Today, 01:04 AM

Download and install Speccy - https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy

Run it, and then go to File and Publish Snapshot. Post the resulting link in your next reply