hello BC users! i dont have a clue how linux works!

i just heard about linux ubuntu from another a Advisor and was told to post in this section.
my computer is fairly old. i use it to watch youtube and sometimes movies. ultimately i just want my system to be secure..no virus malware trojans keyloggers etc.

im afriad that my current unregistered copy of windows 7 64bit is really infected.

CPU: amd fx 6350
RAM: 8GB
HDD: 931GB


EDIT: i forgot to mention that i am looking for something fairly simple to use but i want it to be secure as possible as well with little knowledge if thats possible.(if it isnt possible i could learn the very basics of it on what to do to secure ubuntu if anyone would like to post it) 

i do intend on learning more but it seems like there is a lot to learn and i do not have the time i would like right now to invest into learning more. but i do intend to learn and go by at my pace when i have time to learn.
im also not planning to install any games/files via 3rd party torrenting etc cause that stuff can be very risky to a noob like me and im not planning to go on any malware/virus sites or to click any links i dont know etc. but i do make mistakes like all humans and ive typed in youtibe instead of youtube .com before and it seems like even a simple mistake like that can ruin your security.
what is most important to me right now is that i just want to know my current system is clean and secure before doing anything.

Edited by noobody, 07 February 2018 - 07:01 AM.

(OP was given advice recently in THIS topic.)

Yes, sorry i did not post that myself. thank you

No problem.

 

A short back story for you. I ditched Windows approx 2 years ago...installed Linux Mint (cinnamon) and have not looked back. I practice safe surfing, and use good add ons in my browser to help in this regard.

 

Put simply....the people who distribute malware, viruses, adware etc etc...go where the big numbers ($) are and that is Windows. Linux only has around 2.5% of the market, so it is not much of a target ($)

 

Linux has none of the "dramas" that windows has with updates and the rest of the dramas that we see daily here especially in windows 10, (but win 8 and win 7 are not far behind)

 

Buddy's advise is sound. Load an iso onto a usb or a dvd, change the boot order, and take it for a 'drive'. It runs from RAM (random access memory) and will not harm the win 7 you have on the hard drive. If you really love it....there is an icon on the desktop that says "install Ubuntu/linux Mint (whatever distro it is that you have ob the usb/dvd)....... if you dont like it, then you can either choose another linux OS or go back to win 7.

 

You have a learning curve ahead of you. I firmly believe that Linux Mint is easier to pick up.....but that choice is up to you.......take it and ubuntu for a 'test drive' and go from there.

CPU: amd fx 6350
RAM: 8GB
HDD: 931GB

 

What graphics card does it have?

 

This will determine which Linux you will be able to run.  The AMD product is not well supported on some graphics cards.

Thank you for the reply and your input @Condobloke

 

im not scared of the linux damaging my windows. i dont care for windows. i just want this hard drive completely infection free before i attempt to use Linux mint or ubuntu. Im scared that the person messing with me now will infect the Linux/Ubuntu i install.
All in all i just want to be sure that if im going to use ubuntu/linux, i wanna do it where as i know for sure my computer is clean.

which of the two (ubuntu/linux mint) is easier to just quick configure the security settings.( or do they come installed protected with security stuff already?)
And yeah it seems like there is so MUCH to learn and at this point in my life i really dont have much time to begin learning it all unfortunately. all my time i currently have is invested in other life complications
(and if i dont have a removable USB or CD what are your suggestions?)
 

 

 

@pcpunk, thank you for replying too!

 

sorry that i did not mention it, but the graphics card i have is a nvidia geforce gtx 580

i have a really odd/bleepty build

 

 

which of the two (ubuntu/linux mint) is easier to just quick configure the security settings.( or do they come installed protected with security stuff already?)

Linux Mint will be easier to learn in my opinion and you won't have to worry about Security Settings.  The only thing one needs to do on Linux is Activate the Firewall.  Then just the common Security practices like Browser protection Extensions.  There are advanced things that can be done, but securing accounts and safe browsing is more important for now.  Linux is super easy to use, and if you don't have a Windows 7 License then that is what I would do.

 

All in all i just want to be sure that if im going to use ubuntu/linux, i wanna do it where as i know for sure my computer is clean.

 

Once you Install Properly all Windows files folders and infections will be gone.  If someone already has access to your accounts that is different, they will still have access to your accounts that are Web Based.

 

You may have other issues also, like Hard Drive failure, keyboard issues from your other thread etc.

 

I would test the Hard Drive before moving forward.  The Hard Drive is the most common thing to fail on a pc.  You can ask this question on the Hardware section.

 

That Graphics Card will be good!

 

Is this a custom build or a stock oem.  If stock oem can you provide the Model#

Edited by pcpunk, 07 February 2018 - 09:40 AM.

If you don't mind spending a few bucks....then I think it best that you purchase one of the below items. That's based on your comments

and questions.

 

The below is copied from OSDisc.com - Ubuntu Mate 16.04

 

Ubuntu MATE 16.04.3 LTS - Install/Live DVD (64-bit)

• Categories: Desktop
• Media Type: Install, Live
• Contents: 1 DVD
• Platform: 64-bit (x86-64, amd64)

$5^.95

 

 

Ubuntu MATE 16.04.3 LTS - 16GB USB Flash Drive (64-bit)

• Categories: Desktop
• Media Type: Install, Live
• Model: Kingston DataTraveler SE9 (USB 2.0)
• Transfer Speed: 15MB/s read; 5MB/s write
• Persistence: No
• Capacity: 16GB
• Platform: 64-bit (x86-64, amd64)

$14^.95

 

Edited to show 64 bit...I goofed earlier posting the 32 bit

Edited by buddy215, 07 February 2018 - 10:36 AM.

You can also make your own USB flash drive if you want to save some money.

If you got a 4GB flash drive (or above) you are in luck.

I would actually agree on the distro buddy215 suggested Ubuntu MATE 16.04 as it may be more friendly on that hardware than Mint will be.

Ubuntu MATE has a slight learning curve but has loads customization thanks to the MATE tweak tool which is able to make things look like windows.

https://ubuntu-mate.org/download/

 

Use the 64bit version

 

Here is a video on it concerning its tweak tool:

 

 

Its also quite easy to install multimedia playback (dvd's, MP3's etc) too using its software boutique

 

It also has one of the best welcome screens in the linux ecosystem, its very friendly for those brand new to linux.

 

i just want this hard drive completely infection free before i attempt to use Linux mint or ubuntu. Im scared that the person messing with me now will infect the Linux/Ubuntu i install.

 

 

Provided you're not wanting to install Linux (whichever distro you decide on) alongside Windows in a dual-boot set up, then you don't need to worry about how "infection free" your drive currently is.

 

Say for example that you wanted to install Ubuntu, then If you choose the "Erase disk and install Ubuntu" option when you install, then it will format your hard drive, and erase any existing data, and that will remove any infection that's present, along with everything else that's currently on the drive.

 

This guide to installing Ubuntu ... https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-install-ubuntu-desktop#0 ... contains good step-by-step instructions for Ubuntu.

Edited by Gary R, 07 February 2018 - 11:01 AM.

My advice to you...

 

before you do anything else, before the day is out, back up all of your data. No matter what you choose to do with your life, back up all of your data first. No matter what happens to your illegal copy of Windows 7, no matter what flavor of Linux you choose, back up all of your data right now.

So many comments and advices! You people here at BC are awesome! and im glad to be apart of the community!
im going to review all the comments and suggestions and decide on something!

thank you again to all of you that have took the time to read my problems and suggesting solutions!!!!! :)

Hey take your time.

 

Another great linux to try for a first timer is the aforementioned linux mint, perhaps the most windows like distribution in the linux world:

 

https://linuxmint.com/download.php

 

Typically my suggestion for new users is the cinnamon desktop edition (64bit) as mint offers many variations of its desktop as certain user interfaces work better than others on certain hardware which is actually a perk of linux as you are not locked down to one user interface. Some people say its a bad thing but remember all the backlash that windows got with Windows Vista or windows 8, heck windows 10 has gotten a bit of backlash too.

Linux doesnt have this kind of issue as there is so much choice in linux.

 

Despite that Linux really isnt that hard to learn use and install, granted yes it has a bit of a learning curve but everything does really even Windows.

 

Here is a video on linux mint if you want to know more about it:

Edited by MadmanRB, 07 February 2018 - 02:25 PM.

Post #11, couldn't agree more. Also try making a system image backup as well as a backup of personal files, that can make restoring your whole windows OS much easier. Once you've got linux up and running you can make system images for it too, though I've yet to learn quite how I'm a fairly new linux user myself, for the same purposes. When you first boot linux the key security step is to open a terminal and type "sudo ufw enable" (without the "quote marks" around it) to turn on the firewall, after this the main way to keep secure is to apply updates and to be careful about where you get programs from, keep to the built-in repositories, or other very well known repositories, or things from developers you can be sure you can trust.

These have always been a great resource for my learning about Linux.

 

https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/

 

https://linuxjourney.com/