Migrateing to Linux doing a lot of reading here

For the life of me, don't understand why one would want to keep Secure Boot activated, it doesn't do anything to protect consumers against Malware coming in from the Internet...

Cat, I don't want to derail this thread but I am surprised that you still don't understand the purpose of Secure Boot when it was already hashed to a frazzle in this thread.  Gary's explanation of why Secure Boot was introduced is as good any you can find.

Edited by Agouti, 14 March 2016 - 09:43 AM.

Wait till the Mint DVD arrives, it should support UEFI and Secureboot out of the box...

Although, purely by accident, I discovered that I could boot Mint with Secure Boot was On, AFAIK, Mint does not officially support Secure Boot.

 
I've found this to be the case on some computers also, the Linux Mint ISO, be it in the optical drive or USB stick on some models, depends on the UEFI firmware. Some models requires to be booted via a USB stick, or a USB attached optical drive, rather than the inbuilt one. Samsungs are bad for this.

The grub2 boot loader is compatible with secureboot. If your distro uses grub2, then you shuold be able to leave secureboot enabled.

@dannyboy
You don't have to modify anything. You CAN modify if you want to. I used to do a lot of heavy modifying on my last laptop. Selecting different versions of different progarms and core libraries, backporting and what not..
But it's not mandatory. In 99% of all cases you can just leave everything as it is. You will need to install some programs, but that's about it. Right now I don't even change the wallpaper anymore, as I like the default one of KDE. Don't let others tell you, you have to tweak... You may choose to tweak, but it's absolutely your choice and the OS won't break if you don't do it.

regards
myrti

The grub2 boot loader is compatible with secureboot. If your distro uses grub2, then you shuold be able to leave secureboot enabled.

Really?  I never knew this.  Except perhaps for Ubuntu, every article I have every read about installing Linux specifically tells me to disable Secure Boot.  Where can I find some documentation that says we should enable it?  Thanks for the info though.

Agouti....for 3 years the grub2 boot loader has been used by Linux distros to boot without disabling secure boot.

Linux Compatibility With Secure Boot....Now! - Linux & Unix

 

A bit of history on why Ubuntu was undecided by using grub2:

Ubuntu Linux changes its plans for Windows 8 Secure Boot | PCWorld

@buddy215, I am well aware that Ubuntu is able to boot without disabling Secure Boot.  In fact, if you read what I wrote in post #33 you would see I said...

 

Except perhaps for Ubuntu, every article I have every read about installing Linux specifically tells me to disable Secure Boot.

...so I am not referring to Ubuntu.

 

What I am looking for is something (hopefully official) which says once you are using Grub2 you don't have to turn off Secure Boot.

 

Your first link takes me to a 3-year old post by Rekhillbill and your second link is to a 2012 article describing Canonical's change of heart re Grub2.  I have read and re-read both the post and the article but I cannot find where it says Grub2 is compatible with Secure Boot.

 

What am I missing?

Just to update everyone. I have resolved my getting into BIOS issue and can change boot order and turn off safe boot when needed and there appears to be a Legacy option which I will not try at this time.

 

Thanks for all the interest and information.

Were the Manuals on that page of any help? and, is that your pc?

Yes  that is my PC but there were 2 different manuals made 1 in 2014 1 in 2015 I had the earlyest version. I did dl the newest and there is a slight difference between parts of them. The key sequence is one of the differences.

 

No manuals or CD/dvd came with it at all and the onboard help files leave much to be desired. lol

 

WoooooHooooo it's here. I think I will wait till in the morning while I am fresh kinda wore myself out today been a long day.

Edited by dannyboy950, 14 March 2016 - 05:36 PM.

I forgot to ask how does Mint do with older printers. Kodak 3250 USB all-in-one about 2009 vintage lol

I forgot to ask how does Mint do with older printers. Kodak 3250 USB all-in-one about 2009 vintage lol

 

Uh-oh, I have the same exact one. While you can get it to print connected directly to the computer, I've yet to figure out how to make it work over my router's USB port, though it works that way on Windows great. 

 

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/568183/need-assistance-with-setting-up-usb-router-printing-linksys-n900/

 

There was a 64 bit .deb file somewhere on the Internet, which installs just like an .exe file. Can't find it at the moment, though I believe the needed 'esp files are in the Package Manager, once you get installed, we'll do our best to help. Since Kodak went bankrupt on the consumer division end, there's been very few Kodak printer drivers released for Linux. It printed like a champ on 32 bit Linux Mint, when it was supported. 

 

You should be able to use it though, just make sure that it's plugged in & turned on when updating, Hopefully that will give you the files you need, in addition to what's in the Package Manager. 'c2esp' will be the search term you need to use, and it'll come right up. Should I find the 64 bit .deb file, will post the link.

 

EDIT: Here's the page, was able to download it to have a newer copy. You'll need to try more than one of the North American sites, the first one timed out, it's a very small download in .deb format. 

 

http://packages.ubuntu.com/trusty/amd64/printer-driver-c2esp/download

 

Hope that this is helpful!

 

Cat

Edited by cat1092, 15 March 2016 - 01:16 AM.

@dannyboy950:

 

Hi Mate, my ears were burning so I've swung on by.

 

Nick's suggestion about magazine cover DVDs is valid, but if you are not near a newsstand, then we have internet subscriptions.

 

Mine is LXF - Linux Format Magazine, a British publication. Used to cost me an arm and a leg in OZ, at AUD $19.95 per issue (12 per year). The Christmas before last they had a half-price deal and I took it out for 2 years. Now I get it delivered to my PO Box about 100 metres up the road, only a day or so after the Brits themselves get it. Cool.

 

I haven't really got past page 1 here, yet, after reading

 

 

 

 

Then you have folks like "wizfromoz" that at last count has something like 1024 distributions installed across 64 machines or something.  Does he "need" to do that?  No, he's doing it for intellectual curiousity (probably because someone said he couldn't install every single distribution) and he's learning from every one of them (and graciously sharing his experience with the rest of us).

Wasn't me honest.

 

 

"...One thing I have noticed is the number of posts by veteran users of linux in many distros that are almost constantly having to fiddle with their distro to keep it like they want."

Some people like to tweak things their way I am one of them, When one uses Windows do you not have to Tweak things also? Do Virus scans, Malware scans Install browser plug ins like No Script Install Anti Virus Install Graphics card drivers and quite often other drivers, Remove OEM Bloat ware Go thru THE DREADED Windows update reboot update reboot cycle and pray it all works just to name a few Is this also not tweaking to get it the way you want.  No Operating system is perfect out of the box and the more experience a user has the more they want to " Change Things". Just because LOL.

 

 

 

.. so I'll digest the rest before commenting further.

 

 

@NickAu:

 

"wasn't me honest" - Nick and honest - might be an oxymoron? When are you going to tell us about the schools project?

 

BTW it's only 18 Distros on 3 computers, but got another 2TB unit to crack and add more.

 

@ranchhand_:

 

Where have you been hiding, or do I just talk too much? Nice to make your acquaintance.

 

 

Question is "Guest_PCNetSpec_*" ... PCNetSpec? Why the change, Peppermint one?

 

 

Anybody could do worse than try Elementary OS "Freya" simple but elegant, comes in 32-bit and 64-bit but the FM (Gnome Files aka Nautilus) is clunky and needs replacing with Dolphin or Nemo.

 

Before I exit for my evening, back at the OP:

 

@dannyboy950:

 

 

One thing I have noticed is the number of posts by veteran users of linux in many distros that are almost constantly having to fiddle with their distro to keep it like they want.

 

The thought comes to mind am I moveing up and out to freedom or just from the frying pan straight into the fire.  Just my observation.

 

 

... and a valid observation. It is not for the most part necessary. And it will not become a cross for your back to bear.

 

Think of Linux as being like buying a car, except it is free. There are options you can take for granted like power steering, power windows, manual (stick) or automatic transmission. Get it in any colour shape or size you like. If all you want is to drive it from Point A to Point B, there is a brand for you. If you are into tinkering under the hood, you can do so.

 

Free maintenance, and if you go LTS (Long Term Support) you've got a 5-year warranty, or choose to upgrade every couple of years.

 

Enjoy, and I'll be back before I try my next five Distros, lol.

 

Wizard

 

 

Free maintenance, and if you go LTS (Long Term Support) you've got a 5-year warranty, or choose to upgrade every couple of years.

 

Now that's an original, and a very accurate statement. There's many still happily running Linux Mint 13/Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, some because they have to, others because they want to get the last mile out of an OS & doesn't care for a reinstall (or fresh upgrade) every 2 years. This extra time also lets them get to see Mint 18/Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, for any bugs to be ironed out (usually these are before release), and make their mind up if they'll step up two leaps, or to Mint 17/Ubuntu 14.04. Which may be a good choice if running two LTS releases behind, to avoid culture shock. 

 

Fortunately, the last stumbling block that has prevented me from upgrading to the latest Linux Mint has been lifted, will be removed from my main PC & onto a custom AMD build, don't have to worry about 'cpufreq' not working & other minor issues, as see in this Topic, will be a custom Linux OS PC. One can see what it was & what it is now after the MB upgrade last night. 

 

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/607136/are-asrock-motherboards-any-good/

 

dannyboy950, you're on the right track & within the right community to assist you in any way possible. Wiz is right in that the OS carries one from Point A to Point B, and the Internet paths will be the same, why purchase a Camry when you can have a Lexus for free? Since arriving here, have seen many convert to Linux, some of us were active participants in the XP Forum at one time, doing our best to lead these users to a safer place, any many took the leap. Now it some with Windows 7 through 10 who are doing so, Those on Windows 7 knows their days are numbered, and not all upgraded to 10. 

 

Rather some came here & made themselves a home. We're a community, while we have our differences of opinion over some issues, don't let these disrupt the large picture. Keeping our community friendly & welcoming to anyone who wants to run a Linux OS. All it takes is desire, for example, if you read one of the Topics that jargos started (now closed), he came a very long way in a short span of time, because he put his heart into what he was doing. He didn't let the first setback stop him, rather made the desire deeper to learn. Now I know that he plays this down, yet in less than a year, he's further ahead than where I was in four. 

 

You have the same opportunity, what you make of it is up to you. Am hoping that in a few months time, you'll have came a long way yourself.

 

Cat

I loaded up mint about 5 am spent a couple of hours looking and playing a bit.  So far likeing what I see. Forgot to drop in and say hello from mint.[sorry]

I keep looking for a ok button or something to accept/activateing a change in something useing the GUI interface.  Mint seems just to do it on it's own once you make the selection.  LOL

 

Had a little trouble dismounting Mint and comeing back to windows.  My own fault tho.  I had set up my bios last night before I shut down to boot to Mint so I was unable to test whether secure boot can be left on.  The next time I try Mint I will leave secure boot enabled and see what happens. lol

I loaded up mint about 5 am spent a couple of hours looking and playing a bit.  So far likeing what I see.

...

I keep looking for a ok button or something to accept/activateing a change in something useing the GUI interface.  Mint seems just to do it on it's own once you make the selection.

Hey, glad it worked! But holy smokes man, 5 AM! You must have been excited... I was sleeping at 5 AM, had to drag myself out of bed at 7 if I wanted to make it to work today... but anyway.

Glad you are liking what you see so far!

 

What do you mean about hitting "okay" for accepting/activating a change? What kind of things did you do that you expected to see that on?

For example I like ueing back grounds but not the defaults , I like pictures. Mint has some nice ones available. I decided to do a slide show, after makeing my choices in settings in windows you have to accept the changes a button useually to accept/apply/ok. In mint I saw no such thing however after a few seconds delay my chosen slide show started. Same when I set my time and date format.  After a few seconds Mint just quietly did it. No user intervention required.  Yes I think I will like this OS.

Ahhh. Yes those particular things don't require a "Accept this action" type button. You just set it and it does it. It is rather nice. One less step. Certain things require "root" (Admin) authority so you have to type in your password in a prompt box. You typically have to do that for updates and such.