[AccessD] New computer, Linux Mint

[jamesbutton at blueyonder.co.uk]

Thanks -

I tend to go with the old techniques - partitions on extra hard drives 
Used to have a set of caddy's with drawer -
So maintenance work from my base OS, or kept in the safe maintenance OS drive,.
And separate hard drive for a guaranteed sandbox - or building non-standard extended install systems for users.

Then there was the boot from a USB drive using "Identity" rather than connected port,

And, with pro windows and 32GB+ of RAM, the virtual environments.

I still like keeping backup incidences of the OS's I use for my work In a safe, and uploaded as an image (in 4GB parts) to cloud.

JimB

-----Original Message-----
From: AccessD <accessd-bounces+jamesbutton=blueyonder.co.uk at databaseadvisors.com> On Behalf Of Paul Wolstenholme
Sent: Sunday, September 1, 2024 11:04 PM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
Cc: jamesbutton at blueyonder.co.uk
Subject: Re: [AccessD] New computer, Linux Mint

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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