DualBoot Windows Vista and Fedora 14 and Other Questions

[coolguythampy]

Hello all,

I am planning to buy a new system by Jan 2011. I am planning to use fedora and windows vista (I have a legal copy with me and I dont want to buy a new one. That's why no windows 7 here).

How shoudl I proceed? Which OS to install first? I believe (from reading the threads) that I should install windows vista first and Fedora second.

The main question I have is this. I heard that HDD makers will no longer ship the current HDD's in Jan. Heard that 512 byte hard drive format is to be replaced by 4KB. I read somewhere that this can cause issues when we go for dual boot. Is this true? In that case, what steps can I take to ensure no problems occur?

I really want to use Vista only for running certain applications which do not run on linux. I have heard WINE can simulate a WIN environment. But is this really true? I mean, can it simulate WIN environments perfectly?

My next question is regarding dual HDD. I am planning to go for 2*500GB HDD instead of 1*1TB HDD... So will it be better if I dedicate one HDD to Vista and 1 HDD to Fedora? (I know it will be a waste of space since I will be using Fedora mainly and hardly aropund 10-20 GB for Vista. But I can access the Vista partitions)

Does fedora play all media formats? I know out of the box it might not.. But does having VLC help?

I dont see any firewall protection in Linux. I have heard of using IPTables, but then how efefctive are those? I will be doing many online transactions and I want my system to be secure. I know Linux is pretty secure. So should I harden the security with a hardware firewall?

I will be watching a lot of DVD movies, AVI movies and some HD movies as well. Does linux have issues rendering HD movies properly? I have read somewhere that fedora has issues while Win is good and Debian/CentOS (Not sure which one was mentioned) is even better. I had a pretty powerful config in teh past and yet I have seen that my Vista machine had trouble rendering a HD movie properly.

I will be buying AMD configuration along with an ATI graphic card (sometimes). Does Fedora have any driver issues?

Then which is the best book to learn fedora inside out?

[glennzo]

My thoughts on your questions. They are by no means authoritative and as such are just opinions based on experience, or lack thereof. Hope some of it is constructive and helpful. Additionally, I'm sure that others will chime in here with their opinions which will be a good thing.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

Hello all,

I am planning to buy a new system by Jan 2011. I am planning to use fedora and windows vista (I have a legal copy with me and I dont want to buy a new one. That's why no windows 7 here).

How shoudl I proceed? Which OS to install first? I believe (from reading the threads) that I should install windows vista first and Fedora second.

Install Windows first and Fedora second.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

The main question I have is this. I heard that HDD makers will no longer ship the current HDD's in Jan. Heard that 512 byte hard drive format is to be replaced by 4KB. I read somewhere that this can cause issues when we go for dual boot. Is this true? In that case, what steps can I take to ensure no problems occur?

I'm no help on this question.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

I really want to use Vista only for running certain applications which do not run on linux. I have heard WINE can simulate a WIN environment. But is this really true? I mean, can it simulate WIN environments perfectly?

I think you'll see that Wine has been used with very mixed results. In my opinion it's way too much trouble to even bother with. Run Windows apps in Windows.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

My next question is regarding dual HDD. I am planning to go for 2*500GB HDD instead of 1*1TB HDD... So will it be better if I dedicate one HDD to Vista and 1 HDD to Fedora? (I know it will be a waste of space since I will be using Fedora mainly and hardly around 10-20 GB for Vista. But I can access the Vista partitions)

Since you'll be able to access other partitions, essentially all of your disk space, I would say that it doesn't matter. If it were me, I'd install both OS's on one drive and use the other strictly for storage.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

Does fedora play all media formats? I know out of the box it might not.. But does having VLC help?

Most of them, but you're right, not out of the box. VLC is a big help.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

I dont see any firewall protection in Linux. I have heard of using IPTables, but then how efefctive are those? I will be doing many online transactions and I want my system to be secure. I know Linux is pretty secure. So should I harden the security with a hardware firewall?

This is a firewall and it is turned on by default, allowing access to very few ports. There's also SELinux.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

I will be watching a lot of DVD movies, AVI movies and some HD movies as well. Does linux have issues rendering HD movies properly? I have read somewhere that fedora has issues while Win is good and Debian/CentOS (Not sure which one was mentioned) is even better. I had a pretty powerful config in teh past and yet I have seen that my Vista machine had trouble rendering a HD movie properly.

No help here. I don't watch movies on my computers.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

I will be buying AMD configuration along with an ATI graphic card (sometimes). Does Fedora have any driver issues?

Here's another question where I think you'll find mixed results. Both ATI and NVidia can be tough. I've had better luck with NVidia.

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

Then which is the best book to learn fedora inside out?

Not to sound sarcastic but with so much information available on the Internet does anyone really need to read books to learn about Linux?

One more thing. Hit the link at the top of the page, Fedora SetUp Guides, and do some reading before you install anything. It will give you a feel for what you are about to get into, what works and what doesn't. Poke around this web forum and it's sub forums. There's a lot going on here, a lot of problems and a lot of solutions.

[coolguythampy]

Thanks a lot for the detailed reply glennzo.

Can anybody help me with the the DVD and HD playback and the HDD question? I use my computer mainly for DVD and HD movie playback... I dont want that to get messed up.

[coolguythampy]

Any help on this issue? DVD and HD movies anyone? I know Ubuntu doesnt have a problem because I have used it. But what about Fedora?

Also, does learning Fedora make learning RHL easier? Or is it completely different??

[pythagorean]

"I really want to use Vista only for running certain applications which do not run on linux. I have heard WINE can simulate a WIN environment. But is this really true? I mean, can it simulate WIN environments perfectly?"

You should consider just putting the Vista in a Virtualbox under Fedora unless you are planning heavy graphics/mediacenter applications. No dual boot issues with Virtualization. I use Oracle/Sun Virtualbox PUEL.

"My next question is regarding dual HDD. I am planning to go for 2*500GB HDD instead of 1*1TB HDD... So will it be better if I dedicate one HDD to Vista and 1 HDD to Fedora? (I know it will be a waste of space since I will be using Fedora mainly and hardly aropund 10-20 GB for Vista. But I can access the Vista partitions)"

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BOOT VISTA OFF A 10 or 20 GB PARTITION. IT WILL NEED 40 OR 50 GB FOR A MINIMUM INSTALL.

"Does fedora play all media formats? I know out of the box it might not.. But does having VLC help?"

Fedora is fine with everything Vista can do unless you have some weird dvb-t card or something and you want to watch tv with it.

"I dont see any firewall protection in Linux. I have heard of using IPTables, but then how efefctive are those? I will be doing many online transactions and I want my system to be secure. I know Linux is pretty secure. So should I harden the security with a hardware firewall?"

Yes, there is a Firewall in Fedora and also SELinux.

"I will be buying AMD configuration along with an ATI graphic card (sometimes). Does Fedora have any driver issues?"

I am running a Phenom II x2 555 Black Edition and also an Athlon 7850 Black Edition for processors and for video cards: Radeon HD 5550 and also a 4350. There are no problems at all with AMD/ATI drivers. Catalyst Control Center works fine with the video cards under Linux.

[coolguythampy]

Thank you pythagorean. Can you help me with DVD and HD playback issue?

Yes, there is a Firewall in Fedora and also SELinux.

SELinux is a different OS if I am not mistake. Am I correct? Also is teh firewall in Fedora ON by default?

[Breeze]

You can disable SELinux

#vi /etc/selinux/config
Change "SELINUX=enforcing" to "SELINUX=disabled"

[pythagorean]

SELinux is not a different OS. its a part of Fedora. Its actually annoying in the beginning because you have to set it up and really there is almost zero possibility that you are ever going to get a virus or malware with Linux so why bother. Its really more for business/admin type users. I turn it off. : )

The firewall is enabled when you install too. I also just turn it off. : )

There is actually too much security in Fedora compared to other Linux distros for my taste. But I can just wipe my hard drive and reinstall any time I want if something went wrong. Enterprise users cant do that so I guess they need those features.

As for HD/DVD, yes, everyone can help you with that. Its not hard at all.

[coolguythampy]

There is actually too much security in Fedora compared to other Linux distros for my taste. But I can just wipe my hard drive and reinstall any time I want if something went wrong. Enterprise users cant do that so I guess they need those features.

I wouldnt really like the idea of turning off firewall even if Linux is completely secure.. And the fact that viruses do exists for Linux tell me not to do it. No body would like to wipe their hard disk and reinstall in case somethign goes wrong... So I might as well turn it on.. I am not sure about SELinux.... I was reading about it when you posted the message... Do you think its too much trouble for home users? I will be using paypal and doing onlien payments.. So I dont want to take the risk.

Also doesnt Linux have the same chance of being taken as a zombie computer as Windows has?

[pythagorean]

none whatsoever. You would have to su to root to complete every task.

[coolguythampy]

Ok.. Thats good... I might go in for a Fedora install alone.... Open office does a good job of word processing I suppose

[aCROX999]

I strongly advice you not to turn off SELinux. In case if SELinux blocked something, it will give you the commands to fix them, but make sure you know what you're doing, too.

[JamesNZ]

Originally Posted by coolguythampy

Also doesnt Linux have the same chance of being taken as a zombie computer as Windows has?

I have never heard of a botnet written for linux, I suppose there's probably a few out there but I never heard of any. Besides, why go for such a small market share when big, insecure windows is out there with usage in the high percentile?

To add to that, its way harder to write malware for linux than windows. Think of the file structure differences, windows in a nice, uncomplicated tree, and then linux, with branches all over the place! And to add to that, linux is just way more secure than windows in reference to system permissions. And to top that, you've got SELinux

Having said that, linux is not infallible.

[coolguythampy]

Ok... Can you suggest how I can run WIN softwares that need .NET 3.5 on Fedora?? Is it possible???

[pythagorean]

First I would read this:

http://tinyurl.com/38jpn2b

and then I would check here:

http://tinyurl.com/3yyg95o

Good luck.