[Tfug] My experience "recovering" Windows compared to installingDebian

[Tim Ottinger]

My last full debian install from netinst CD was less than two hours, and I
loaded the box with desktop stuff, games, office programs, etc.
It really is quite the new hotness.

On 7/28/07, johngalt1 <johngalt1 at uswest.net> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Glen Pfeiffer" <glen at thepfeiffers.net>
> To: "Tucson Free Unix Group" <tfug at tfug.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2007 12:22 PM
> Subject: [Tfug] My experience "recovering" Windows compared
> to installingDebian
>
>
> >I rebuilt a computer for a family member on Thursday, and
> >renewed
> > my dislike of Windows.
>
> Why was it necessary to rebuild the computer? Why not fix
> it?
>
> > I am sure most of you know this, but almost all computers
> > with
> > Windows pre-installed come with some type of "recovery"
> > media
> > instead of Windows install CD's. That really irritates me.
>
> What kind of PC is it? Mfg? Older or newer?
>
> > One hour after starting the recovery process I had a
> > supposedly
> > "clean" Windows XP Home install.
>
> Recovery, meaning what? - Wiping the drive and starting
> over? I hate when OEM's do that.
>
> > But we know it was far from
> > clean. It installed 20 or so useless software packages and
> > about
> > 5 unnecessary services. Since there is no way to remove
> > them all
> > at once, I spent the next two hours removing them
> > piecemeal.
>
> Why remove them?
>
> > Then after installing AntiVirus and AntiSpyware software,
> > I began
> > the "update" process. Windows Update is not able to
> > perform a
> > complete system upgrade in one shot like apt. It took 5
> > iterations of:
> >    1. Run Windows Update.
> >    2. Reboot
> >    3. Windows Update notifies me that there are updates
> >       available.
> >    4. Repeat.
>
> Did the recovery disk include Service Pack two?
>
> > AARRGHHH! That took about seven or eight hours!
>
> What kind of internet connection was it? Fast or slow?
>
> > Finally I came to the good part. Install Debian and make
> > it dual
> > boot.[1] A complete install with all the packages that I
> > think
> > they will need, took me about two hours. And that included
> > the
> > time I spent configuring user accounts and their gnome
> > desktops.
>
> This install was from CD or the Internet?
>
> > Oh, and the new Debian installer .... I am amazed. The
> > last time
> > I installed Debian Etch it was in testing and there were
> > still
> > some issues with the it. But this time it recognized all
> > my
> > hardware flawlessly. I did not have to tell it anything
> > about my
> > video card or monitor.
>
> What version of Debian Etch? You downloaded it at that time?
>
> >
> > Windows: ~10 hours
> > Debian:    2 hours
> >
> > And now, in typical script kiddie fashion:
> >
> >    WINDOZE SUCKS - DEBIAN RULZ!!!  ;-)
>
> SCript Kiddie
>
> > Glen
> >
> > [1] I am trying to convert them over to Linux, but just in
> > case they gripe too much, I decided it is better to have
> > Windows
> > setup already.
>
> Why on earth would they ever gripe?
>
> It's not necessary to defend the evil monopoly, because I
> think they suck too. But, this thread sounds like a skewed
> comparison.
>
> Or, is this an example of "Linux Marketing" to compete with
> Windows BS?
>
>
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