My colleague has been using the Gimp with outstanding success and has received applauds from around the World. While promoting Linux, it struck me that I know nothing about converting Windows files when installing Linux. Is this possible? Another question arises: is it possible to read the installation CD’s for hardware that is invariably merely for Windows? :\
In general conversion of files is not needed. For example: a PNG is a PNG, for GIMP for Windows the same as for GIMP for linux.
Installation CD’s usually contain Windows-only drivers. You can read the manuals in them though.
Actually, in addition to what Knurpht has said, Windows can read the CD/DVD contents of a Linux based system and visa-versa. Data cd’s/dvd’s can also be read equally well by window’s and linux although, if the cd was formatted as a Linux filesystem Windows can not read it. The difference between a DVD used for install versus one used as a Linux storage media with a Linux file structure is in the formatting. The BIOS knows how to read CD\DVD’s with the joilet structure for the purpose of booting, so both a windows and a Linux install media will have a standard boot sector and known filestructure.
As for files on readable media, windows exe’s, com’s, dll’s are specific to windows OS so they can be copied from the media but cannot be run using Linux. Likewise, Linux bin programs libraries and such are specific to Linux so cannot be rum under windows. Other file types are another matter. pdf’s, jpg’s, tif’s, bmp’s, png’s, plain text, html’s, wav’s, mp2, mp3, mp4, gif’s, will function the same under both windows and Linux (except that windows uses cr+lf as line terminate and Linux uses just lf so to properly read back you need to use dos2unix or unix2dos with plain text in some cases). Proprietary formats like .doc .wri files under windows need a program under Linux that understands how to read the format, and I’m not sure if it’s possible to write them under Linux. Cross-platform programs like openOffice, Gimp can both read and write files done by these programs regardless of which system the files were created on.
you might find this an interesting article that will ease your mind as
you go along…
http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:How_to_migrate_from_Windows
–
DenverD
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
CAVEAT: http://is.gd/bpoMD [posted via NNTP w/openSUSE 10.3]
I found that the translation from using windows was harder on me than on the machine. Practically all of my hardware and files are usable, the ones that are not are due to windows DRM.
The real trick was relearning the file system and what the ‘replacement’ programs were for different tasks.
I would love to get my work more focused on linux (we use Apple) but I know the majority of the staff would flip out if they didn’t have their precious little compass icon(Safari) guiding them to the internet.
However, if you are at all able to use google, you can find an answer to most of your solutions.
To be honest, when I began migrating from Windows to Linux was back in 2009 when I heard support for XP was going to stop and the only option was Vista or Linux. I chose Ubuntu because it was recommended. I screamed, I cried, I ranted and raved during my learning curve because I had been using the same nutty OS since 1998. I found that the least amount of headache for new transitions is to set up a dual boot to begin with. Force yourself to learn the new operating system whenever possible, but still have that “security blanket” there for those CYA times when it has to get done like job or school issues where there is no “fiddle” time allocated.
Eventually, begin to migrate over to a virtual machine for the Windows system (or Hackintosh if one is so brave). This configuration gets the user comfortable with booting into Linux day after day and will explore the system more becoming more and more proficient with their new found freedom from EULA’s and proprietary systems.
In 2011 I tried openSUSE and I am loving it! I continually advocate it’s use throughout my university and those who I come into contact with. When enough digging is done into SUSE, openSUSE, Novell and the partnering done with Microsoft for cross compatibility with Windows systems, a person finds a significant level of depth into a collective and community much larger than just a good looking and efficient running free OS.
Don’t give up or give in whatever you do and eventually you will find computing utopia with openSUSE!