Just got my T500 do I dare try Linux?

Hi,

Just got my T500 - lovely machine, but I want to try out Linux. However I got this with preinstalled Vista business + XP downgrade. Apparantly, this means that there are XP DVD's with it - but no Vista Business.

Before I try Linux I swant to make sure that I can revert to a clean Vista install. How to do this? Before I try calling support I want to hear if anyone know how this works? Are there some way to create a Vista install DVD? Or is this just bad luck?

Thanks,

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Just found the "Create Product Recovery Media" in ThinkVantage. Sound like it will create a Vista install DVD...Try It out tomorrow.

 

You can't create a Vista Install DVD, but you can make factory recovery Discs. Double click on the Q: partition and follow the wizard, you will need 1 CD and 2DVDs for the recovery image.

Installing Linux is relatively straightforward. I like Ubuntu and it is well supported, but Suse, Fedora, and others should work fine. Most Linux distros are able to resize your Windows partition and setup a bootloader so you can switch between them.

You should also try a "LiveCD" first. This will load the system into RAM and allow you to play with a distro without any risk.

 

Just like jonlumpkin said. Make your recovery discs first, which will allow you to go back to the "day one" factory state if there is a problem. Next download a live Linux distribution like Ubuntu. Create a CD with this distro on it. Next just pop the CD in your drive and reboot. The machine should boot off of the CD and you can play with the distro without having it change anything on your machine. If you want to install it permanently, you can do that or you can take out the CD and reboot to get back into Vista again.

BTW - From what I have read I am not sure if support will help you with Linux or other software support questions.

 

You could always use a partition resizing app, create a 2nd partition for Linux and dual boot.

 

I highly doubt they would give you any software (or driver) support for Linux. That being said, a lot of the new Linux distros support ThinkPads very well. Your hardware would still be covered by warranty if it were to fail though.

You should also check out the resources at ThinkWiki as they are dedicated to Linux on ThinkPads.

You don't need a partition resizing app. Almost all distributions of Linux can resize your drives for you without causing any damage to the Windows installation.

 

if you want to try out Linux i'd suggest you do so on an older machine that you wont use.

dont "try" something out on a new machine because if you dont like it you'll have problems going back. by that i mean, you'll have to go through the pain of partitioning, deleting, etc.

trust me ive "tried" ubuntu about half a dozen times now wanting to keep it and use it, but i always go back to windows.

 

Have a look at www.thinkwiki.org

I have a W500 (as you know, nearly the same laptop) and I've also been considering dual-booting. The main problem we have with our systems is the graphics card. NVidia graphics cards have a lot better manufacturer support in the linux environment. ATI is not so friendly with their linux support. From what I've read, most people have better luck on the Integrated card than the Radeon.

For myself - I am waiting a few more months for drivers to be developed a little further before jumping in. It really isn't a horrid thing to try... it won't destroy your computer and cause it to go up in flames.

Best of luck!

 

Thanks all. Excellent answers. I'm keen on trying a Linux distro though

 

ATI (well, AMD) have definitely improved their open source offerings of late, they were indeed dire, they're now almost passable ;-)

 

Mine is just the integrated Intel - all I need is working X11 (has this been replaced the last 20 years?) and I will be fine - also capable of running a Matrix screensaver of course

 

This is exactly why it is best to initially try Ubuntu using the livecd without installing. Like I said, it doesn't change ANYTHING on the machine, but lets you try the OS out and see it you like it. If you don't like it, pull out the cd and reboot, thats it!

If you want to install it then you will need to get into the partitioning etc.