[AccessD] New computer, Linux Mint

[John Colby]

I'm actually thinking of running a windows vm on Linux.

On Sun, Sep 1, 2024, 18:05 Paul Wolstenholme <Paul.W at industrialcontrol.co.nz>
wrote:

> If you want to avoid running several computers and have the odd program
> that needs a different OS or different OS version you could always consider
> running a virtual machine.
> Try googling "VMware Workstation Pro: Now Available Free for Personal Use".
>
> I'm a recent first time user but I understand this technology is a common
> thing amongst those who must support users on different OSs.  It is
> surprisingly easy to get started with.
>
> Regards,
> Paul Wolstenholme
>
>
> On Mon, 2 Sept 2024 at 06:32, James Button via AccessD <
> accessd at databaseadvisors.com> wrote:
>
> > Some considerations when doing the multi OS type -
> > Windows partitioning may set the entries in a partition table to have
> > different slot references in the partition table -
> > At least that was, apparently the problem one of the users I supported,
> > had apparently managed to do -
> > Apparently using a Linux partition management facility and a windows one
> > alternately as he worked through the setup  !
> >
> > He had started off with a cloning app, then adjusted the partitions so
> > that he had 4 "windows" recognised ones - 2 primary, and 2 in an extended
> > partition
> > Then went to the new partition specifications, then added another windows
> > partition, using a windows install CD , setup another windows OS on a
> newly
> > created partition - that was then recognised by the Windows version of
> (in)
> > secure boot, and then used a Linux install to put Linux on that
> partition -
> > - Oh, and, apparently booted up the clone while still having the source
> > drive accessible -
> > - separate partition id's allocated by the cloned OS  for itself, boot,
> > pagefile, swapfile, and the boot&OS selection process -
> >
> > - some of the above extracted with difficulty from the culprit, and some
> > by wondering what the OS thought it was using !
> >
> > Also - Windows does not seem to always be happy with non-Windows
> > recognised partitions  coming earlier in the partition table than other
> > OS's partition formats -
> > Sometimes made apparent when trying to restore a "System image" -
> > including boot and OS partitions that was taken by Windows !
> >
> > Re buying a win-10 licence -
> > Check the terms of any win-7, or 10, or even 11 updates - you may find
> you
> > have licences assigned to you - MS account - rather than to specific
> > hardware.
> >
> >
> > Note - windows UEFI  seems to set "it's OK to run that " status for OS's
> > on USB connected drives,
> > And sometimes remembers the partition id assigned last time that drive
> was
> > plugged into that port and the OS run, and sometimes it allocates a
> > different one -
> > So have a bootable facility that will allow you to set the partition id
> > back to what the OS expects itself to be running from !
> >
> > Also - beware of drives that were setup with a boot block partition
> table,
> > and then got updated to GPT,
> > Or that were setup on newer hardware that handles 10TB drives and then
> > connected to a system that does not handle such large drives ( 2TB or
> less)
> > Or had the initial setup of the 10TB drive done on a system that believes
> > there is nothing past the 2TB limit, and were moved to a newer system !
> > With the added fun of 32 bit, 64 bit, and in - XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, & 11
> > There were a number of different sets of partition, and boot/startup
> codes
> > in the DVD's from MS
> >
> > The above from experiences in support, but I've left that behind me now
> > At least I sincerely hope I have !
> >
> > Then again there are the small versions of Win 10 & 11 - supposedly
> > running on Pentiums with under 512MB RAM,
> > And even a report of someone getting a browser to work from within the
> TPM
> > - Secure Boot chip - no onboard ram, or storage device needed !
> > I'm waiting for the option to run using Optane drive cache on the
> > motherboard  - and no? drive, just the code in the TPM module.
> > Or - a  plug-in PCIe-4 board for multiple  removable   NVMe M.2 SSD's  6
> > 2TB ones on 1 board  ( Toms guide ! )
> >
> > Oh! The evil things that can be done by the adventurous - let alone those
> > with actual knowledge and intent !
> >
> > JimB
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: AccessD <accessd-bounces+jamesbutton=
> > blueyonder.co.uk at databaseadvisors.com> On Behalf Of John Colby
> > Sent: Sunday, September 1, 2024 1:46 PM
> > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving <
> > accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> > Subject: Re: [AccessD] New computer, Linux Mint
> >
> > LOL, sounds like you love Windows as much as I do.  I had successfully
> > remained on Windows 10 until the catastrophe (whatever it may have been).
> > Now Linux Mint is fairly kind and easy.  But it is Linux in the end.  I
> am
> > going to keep the new system as Linux and ease my way into the
> differences.
> >    So far so good. I have only used it over this last weekend but I like
> it
> > so far.
> >
> > I think I am going to try to build a "mobile" windows 10 on an old 1gb
> > little samsung drive I have and plug it into the new computer if and
> when I
> > need to run it.  My only real concern is the "One is none and two is one"
> > delima.  Right now I have one (functioning) Windows and one functioning
> > Linux.  Which means neither is truly backed up.
> >
> > I really wanted to do a dual boot for the new computer (and may
> eventually)
> > but that meant buying, installing and getting running a new Win 10 on the
> > new system and then doing a new linux Mint install on the same system
> and I
> > wanted to get something up and running ... so I just went with naked
> Linux.
> >
> > On Sun, Sep 1, 2024 at 8:02 AM James Button via AccessD <
> > accessd at databaseadvisors.com> wrote:
> >
> > > That is a symptom, I found of installing the OneDrive App
> > > My I7 laptop went into black ( powered-off look) screen for about 20
> > > minutes,
> > > and - after my login, the old desktop ignored all mouse or keyboard
> input
> > > for
> > > several days -
> > > And, on both there was a new \OneDrive\ folder and structure in my
> \user\
> > > area
> > > - and that contained MFT entries with "live links" to all the files and
> > > folders
> > > within the OneDrive stores that  I could access
> > > As in delete the entry from that \user\ folder   and it goes from the
> > > OneDrive,
> > > and ... if SYNC'd, it goes from the PC location it was SYNC'd to
> > >
> > > Yes, you get access to an unlink option - but that only shows in the
> menu
> > > after
> > > the entire linking process is completed !
> > >
> > > Oh - and I am "co-ordinator" - as in Admin for all the family's
> OneDrive
> > > storage
> > > and that's where their backups, and old data storage is held!
> > >
> > > Re the new system -
> > > I would recommend at least 32GB RAM  for Win-11, but you could have an
> > > alternate
> > > boot partition, or SSD drive for Windows and Access  SQL server as
> well,
> > > and
> > > maybe Oracle -
> > > Maybe free copy from Oracle  of the "Personal/developer" version on
> both
> > > Windows
> > > and Linux ?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > And
> > > My description of Linux was - an OS with which there is a huge variety
> of
> > > ways
> > > for the user to cause problems !
> > > My description of Windows 10 & 11 is an OS with which there is a huge
> > > variety of
> > > ways for the supplier  to cause problems, and more being created for
> > > discovery
> > > on any day you have it powered up !
> > >
> > > Toolbars - depreciated
> > > Write - long gone
> > > DEBUG.COM   - well there is the "DOS environment facility - runs win
> > 3.1,
> > > 75,
> > > etc... so - 16 and 32 bit apps -
> > >
> > > Hey - maybe that will do for Access !
> > >
> > > Notepad  using different codepage ( unchangeable default according to
> > > windows
> > > version) to my other Apps and tech.
> > > Wordpad dropping large parts of files when a file gets to about 1GB
> size
> > > GODMODE - Na! too easy for users to undo
> > > MS installed changes.
> > >
> > > Shared  external drive - well different bitlocker key on each system.
> > > Low comms connection - come back next month, the system is doing a
> > backup -
> > > upload to the 5GB of space you have with the 64GB Windoze environment.
> > > Oh - and check on the character strings in long, or 8.3 file names, or
> > file
> > > types  that the OneDrive facility won't handle.
> > > Oh! And check the limits to the lengths of full names within OneDrive -
> > > not nice
> > > for those with names longer than 35 characters -
> > > As is the File-History - 255 fullname limit to the backup version, and
> > > that 255
> > > includes at least 30 characters for the PC, OS and user id's
> > > So a file with a fullname of more than 225 characters won't be backed
> up
> > -
> > > as
> > > you will find when you look for the not taken, and not reported failure
> > to
> > > take
> > > that backup !
> > >
> > >  And do remember the shift and right-click on file explorer lists  to
> get
> > > full
> > > fullnames in a list within clippy, and then the ones needing the full
> > > longfilenames access mode shown in blue when the list is pasted into
> > > WordPad.
> > >
> > > For file handling I use KarenWare DIRPRT, with hash values - and
> process
> > > the
> > > list in excel - match on hash indicated likely actual duplicate file
> > > content.
> > >
> > > Hope you can get out of the annoyances of supporting users of old
> > versions
> > > of
> > > windows, and corporate licences for Office 2000, XP, and 2007 under
> > > ...Vista.
> > > As well as users playing coal mine canary with OS and 365 - Pro Plus!
> > With
> > > Teams
> > > and corporate/education OneDrive  userid mixes.
> > >
> > >
> > > And.. Have a better linux life !
> > >
> > >  JimB
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: AccessD
> > > <accessd-bounces+jamesbutton=blueyonder.co.uk at databaseadvisors.com> On
> > > Behalf Of
> > > John Colby
> > > Sent: Sunday, September 1, 2024 1:30 AM
> > > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> > > <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> > > Subject: [AccessD] New computer, Linux Mint
> > >
> > > My old hp laptop decided to go into an endless circle cursor after (I
> > > think) a windows update.  It was at least 5 years old, an old 4 core
> AMD
> > > and so I decided that, while I may yet try to recover it, I would buy a
> > new
> > > computer.  I got a Lenovo IdeaPad 16AHP9 which is a pretty modern amd 8
> > > core with 16gb RAM and a 1tb SSD.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Touchscreen-Graphics-Keyboard-Fingerprint/dp/B0DB5
> > > KJKXL?th=1
> > > <
> >
> https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Touchscreen-Graphics-Keyboard-Fingerprint/dp/B0DB5KJKXL?th=1
> > >
> > >
> > > which I managed to snag for $660 with a mouse and backpack case.
> > > Unfortunately it comes with Windows 11 which is a non-starter for me,
> > > particularly after the "take a screen capture every few seconds"
> fiasco.
> > >
> > > And so I decided to install Linux Mint.  I have played with Mint over
> the
> > > years but this time it is a decision to give it a real try as my daily
> > > driver.  It cannot do Access dev obviously but pretty much everything I
> > do
> > > with my machine has been possible.
> > >
> > > I have installed Veracrypt, Dropbox, LM Studio with a ton of local LLMs
> > to
> > > play with, all of my music files from my tablet, and of course it comes
> > > with LibreOffice which I have used for quite some time for writing as
> > well
> > > as spreadsheets.  The bluetooth connects flawlessly to my mouse, my
> > > bluetooth speaker as well as my trucker headphones for doing zoom
> > meetings.
> > >
> > > Of course this is linux which I am not well versed in so there is a lot
> > of
> > > google to find out how to install things.  But so far I am thoroughly
> > > pleased with Linux Mint as my new daily driver.
> > >
> > > --
> > > John W. Colby
> > > Colby Consulting
> > > --
> >
> --
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