Freeware Anti-Spyware

[Max Power]

Yeah, you guys are right. Since Fuzzy had a problem installing it, it's now considered unusable for a home system. I'll immediately stop recommending it.

I'll recommend Windows instead. No one has ever had a problem with that OS.

Now now......don't pout.

[taank]

I use webroot. I pay for it

[fuzzy moonunit]

I'm no expert but have you tried taking the SDD (and whatever else were giving you issues) out of the machine and then do the OS install? Then after the OS is installed, you would shut it down and try installing the SDD etc and see if things behave after that. (My thinking is that by doing it that way it doesn't give it a chance to set up using anything but the HDD.)
It was a common thing to do this with the older operating systems where you had to break things down to a minimal set up, but it might work for your situation as well.

That's how I had to fix the issue since the the bios on my box is shit. When you have a problem start removing variables. Had to pull the nuke the SSD, pull the SSD, nuke the HDD, pull the SSD, reinstall a new Win7 image (which is forever "pirated" now despite my legitimate key and use of OEM ISO) on the HDD, reformat the SSD. I love the speed, simplicity, small footprint, control, and safety of Linux; but it was just too much work getting things back to working order and it wasn't the first problem I encountered (unity has a nasty habit of ruining everything with a single mouse click). I'm just not willing to put myself through that again when I have two functional OSes already, one of which gives me a term window.

Stormy, I've played with Linux since Slackware was all the rage, I'd love to give it my recommendation, but if a simple install caused so much trouble for me, I know less experienced people are going to be bringing their boxes in to Geek Squad if a similar problem occurs. Can you honestly -- in good conscience -- recommend anything that may lead a person to Geek Squad? Could you really live with that?

[Stormwalker]

There's definitely Linux distributions out there that are not for "less experienced people". Ubuntu, however, is what I usually recommend to the "less experienced people". Installing and using Ubuntu seems to be easier for people who are not computer savvy. For a normal installation, Ubuntu definitely seems to be easier for the average person than installing Windows.

As far as your installation, I'm not quite sure why you had so much trouble. I've installed dual boot Ubuntu 10.10/Win 7 on a computer with a SSD OS drive without any issues whatsoever. You seem to be the exception to the rule.

In fact, you are the second person I've directly interacted with that has had a problem installing Ubuntu within the last three versions (one other person had to install 10.10 with a USB, could not get it installed with CD). Care to guess how many people I've helped with installation issues with Windows 7 (hint: more than two)? Based on this experience, which one do you think I would recommend to a non-savvy user that isn't tied to Win specific programs?

Believe it or not, I don't think Ubuntu is the best OS to run in all situations. In fact, in almost any business environment, I recommend Windows hands down. I've found that many home users have a much better experience with Ubuntu than Windows or even OSX.

Also, if you hated Unity so much, why didn't you just switch back to classic? It takes like two mouse clicks. I'm in agreement with you on that one, I'm not a big fan of Unity. If I was forced to use it, I'd be using my Fedora box instead of my Ubuntu box.

[Max Power]

There's definitely Linux distributions out there that are not for "less experienced people". Ubuntu, however, is what I usually recommend to the "less experienced people". Installing and using Ubuntu seems to be easier for people who are not computer savvy. For a normal installation, Ubuntu definitely seems to be easier for the average person than installing Windows.

The average "less experienced" person doesn't install Windows either. They buy a computer from the computer store and use the OS on it. I would suspect that over 95% of home PC users fit this profile.

[Fernanernie]

I like turtles

[fuzzy moonunit]

You have avoided the question, sir. Would you feel comfortable advising a person to take an action that MAY lead them to the services of Geek Squad.

I've installed dual boot osx/ubuntu systems since what... feisty fawn? I've also never encountered such a weird problem. My issue is that such a problem exists, and should someone encounter it he or she will find themselves in a world of hurt. Also, because it's open freeware and because the problem is rare, the problem won't be fixed until some ultra nerd encounters it himself and decides to write the fix. My problem with Unity is that, yes, it's easily disabled, but should you make a mistake BEFORE it's disabled (like foolishly trying to use any of its features) you may end up having to do a fresh OS install. Ubuntu is SO close, but it's just not there yet. I would never install it on a friend or family member's computer because I know there are just too many ways to break it so easily. I would, however, probably be willing to install it on someone's computer if they didn't know my address or phone number.

There's definitely Linux distributions out there that are not for "less experienced people". Ubuntu, however, is what I usually recommend to the "less experienced people". Installing and using Ubuntu seems to be easier for people who are not computer savvy. For a normal installation, Ubuntu definitely seems to be easier for the average person than installing Windows.

As far as your installation, I'm not quite sure why you had so much trouble. I've installed dual boot Ubuntu 10.10/Win 7 on a computer with a SSD OS drive without any issues whatsoever. You seem to be the exception to the rule.

In fact, you are the second person I've directly interacted with that has had a problem installing Ubuntu within the last three versions (one other person had to install 10.10 with a USB, could not get it installed with CD). Care to guess how many people I've helped with installation issues with Windows 7 (hint: more than two)? Based on this experience, which one do you think I would recommend to a non-savvy user that isn't tied to Win specific programs?

Believe it or not, I don't think Ubuntu is the best OS to run in all situations. In fact, in almost any business environment, I recommend Windows hands down. I've found that many home users have a much better experience with Ubuntu than Windows or even OSX.

Also, if you hated Unity so much, why didn't you just switch back to classic? It takes like two mouse clicks. I'm in agreement with you on that one, I'm not a big fan of Unity. If I was forced to use it, I'd be using my Fedora box instead of my Ubuntu box.

[40oz]

This is the underlying problem with linux. When someone has a problem the first reaction is to claim that it was some bizarre isolated experience that nobody else has. Some internet poster installs one of the most popular distro using all default options on pretty standard hardware, and all of a sudden "works great for 90% of home users." And since they had no issues, there is no possible way anyone could ever have issues, and if they do, "Well, Windows isn't perfect either!"

This just in - schoolbusses are now ready for everyone's driveway! You should sell your car and buy a schoolbus like all the other cool people who know things. It's just as appropriate a replacement for a personal car as a dedicated multi-user OS is for "90% of home users."

And newsflash for someone specific - 90% of home users don't use Ubunto.

[fuzzy moonunit]

This is the underlying problem with linux. When someone has a problem the first reaction is to claim that it was some bizarre isolated experience that nobody else has. Some internet poster installs one of the most popular distro using all default options on pretty standard hardware, and all of a sudden "works great for 90% of home users." And since they had no issues, there is no possible way anyone could ever have issues, and if they do, "Well, Windows isn't perfect either!"

This just in - schoolbusses are now ready for everyone's driveway! You should sell your car and buy a schoolbus like all the other cool people who know things. It's just as appropriate a replacement for a personal car as a dedicated multi-user OS is for "90% of home users."

And newsflash for someone specific - 90% of home users don't use Ubunto.

Well, I've installed many different distros multiple time over many years and I've never personally seen anything like the problem I had. No one I know had either. There's a wealth of circumstantial evidence pointing to "bizarre isolated" rather than "quietly common" in this case. Even if we throw out the biggest problem I had there are still severe breakability points in the OS. A lot of mis-clicks can lead to scenarios similar to explorer permanently crashing (reboot won't fix) and I couldn't even open a terminal without creating a launcher with a bad command, then using that bad-command-term-window to open a NEW terminal and go from there, but half the time the problems ran so deep it wasn't even fixable from there.

In all fairness, I really shouldn't be root all day every day. If you install a distro for someone and don't give them root privileges I suppose it's unlikely that they'll break anything; but what kind of asshole doesn't give someone root on his or her own damn computer?

[Fernanernie]

but what kind of asshole doesn't give someone root on his or her own damn computer?

Ohh my dear fuzzy, you've not had to support end-users on a professional basis, have you?

[kineda]

run MSE if you encounter your pc doing weird shit update malwarebytes and do a manual full system scan. i used to run spybot, ad-aware, avast etc etc they all suck.

[Stormwalker]

Well, I've installed many different distros multiple time over many years and I've never personally seen anything like the problem I had. No one I know had either. There's a wealth of circumstantial evidence pointing to "bizarre isolated" rather than "quietly common" in this case. Even if we throw out the biggest problem I had there are still severe breakability points in the OS. A lot of mis-clicks can lead to scenarios similar to explorer permanently crashing (reboot won't fix) and I couldn't even open a terminal without creating a launcher with a bad command, then using that bad-command-term-window to open a NEW terminal and go from there, but half the time the problems ran so deep it wasn't even fixable from there.

In all fairness, I really shouldn't be root all day every day. If you install a distro for someone and don't give them root privileges I suppose it's unlikely that they'll break anything; but what kind of asshole doesn't give someone root on his or her own damn computer?

After reading this it kind of all makes sense now.

Remember how I was saying Ubuntu works great for less computer savvy people? It does. I don't get any more phone calls about "my computer is running slow and antivirus 2009 says I have all sorts of problems and have to pay to upgrade it". So someone who barely knows how to turn a computer on, like say, 40oz, generally stays out of trouble when something happens for some reason even though they "didn't click on anything". Not to say Ubuntu is just for computer idiots, but it can work well even in the hands of the most inexperienced users.

You, on the other hand, simply know too much without knowing enough. I know that statement sounds weird, but let me explain. Many people I introduce to Ubuntu would never even open the terminal (they wouldn't even know what it is). Furthermore, they don't need to run root, and again wouldn't even know what I'm talking about when I say "root". You on the other hand, know all about that stuff. However, maybe your knowledge is a little old school, in which case Unity is really going to piss you off, and there's going to be some things about Ubuntu that you may be trying to do, that is actually much simpler to do in an automated fashion.

I'm willing to bet your hate for Ubuntu would be a little blunted were I to sit down with you and show you some stuff. Even then, I wouldn't recommend Ubuntu for you. I'm willing to bet you'd like gnome 3. If you're willing to give another Linux distro a shot sometime, give Fedora 15 a try.

I think Unity was a big mistake on canonical's part.

[Fernanernie]

GNOME 3

[Stormwalker]

GNOME 3

Alright, that's almost as controversial as unity. Fuzzy might like it though? Out of curiosity, what don't you like about gnome 3?

Think perhaps something KDE like kubuntu would be a better suggestion?

[Fernanernie]

Remember when Windows XP came out with big, fancy, Click Here icons? Yeah...