05-16-2020, 05:19 PM
I'm still reading... trying to understand the different possibilities.
One of is whether to mess around with converting the HDD disk from MBR to GPT. Inspecting from different view points (Linux and Windows), it seems possible. I think I understand enough to do it, but I don't know if down the road 3-5 years having a MBR disk is going to be functional... like whether it's easier to deal with it now or whether it's a toss up.
Mostly though, what this post is about is having two or more Linux distros in the machine... to have Linux Lite available for a non-linux person (Linux Lite seems to be the absolutely best choice)... to have one or two other distros available for that person so they see there are differences/choices. The distros would be Debian-types, most likely Ubuntu-types for simplicity and familiarity (Ubuntu-MATE is one I thought might be nice).
Within my understanding level... Do Not need or want shared data. Would not share data with Windows if it were kept. I think this machine will hold up for quite a while... it's old (2012) but has not been used... a few years of rare e-mailing and viewing written news, then used a week or two here and there while another computer was being replaced (past 5 years).
Under the assumption the machine would hold up as a back up user, I think it's likely I'll have to upgrade the distros. To me, that means it would be better for each distro to have it's own /home.
I thought it might be possible to install each distro with a different root user (the user asked for during install). That that might simply keep each /home distinct, thereby avoiding possible configuration conflicts (asked for Name and hostname the same.).
Is that all it would take? If not, do you know of a simple approach to this you would pass on to me?
Mike
One of is whether to mess around with converting the HDD disk from MBR to GPT. Inspecting from different view points (Linux and Windows), it seems possible. I think I understand enough to do it, but I don't know if down the road 3-5 years having a MBR disk is going to be functional... like whether it's easier to deal with it now or whether it's a toss up.
Mostly though, what this post is about is having two or more Linux distros in the machine... to have Linux Lite available for a non-linux person (Linux Lite seems to be the absolutely best choice)... to have one or two other distros available for that person so they see there are differences/choices. The distros would be Debian-types, most likely Ubuntu-types for simplicity and familiarity (Ubuntu-MATE is one I thought might be nice).
Within my understanding level... Do Not need or want shared data. Would not share data with Windows if it were kept. I think this machine will hold up for quite a while... it's old (2012) but has not been used... a few years of rare e-mailing and viewing written news, then used a week or two here and there while another computer was being replaced (past 5 years).
Under the assumption the machine would hold up as a back up user, I think it's likely I'll have to upgrade the distros. To me, that means it would be better for each distro to have it's own /home.
I thought it might be possible to install each distro with a different root user (the user asked for during install). That that might simply keep each /home distinct, thereby avoiding possible configuration conflicts (asked for Name and hostname the same.).
Is that all it would take? If not, do you know of a simple approach to this you would pass on to me?
Mike