Help! Linux is driving me mad!

ymcas

Hi,
I was convinced to install Linux on our laptop by a friend. Although there is much I like about it, I can't seem to do anything new without asking for help and I am tired of being dependent on his goodwill. Latest is that I want to create a photobook but all the websites for this seem to need you to download software that is only suitable for windows... also have baby due in 6 weeks and Grandma bought a webcam so she can see baby often (lives 5 hours away).... I can't even make this work! Can't get wifi to work either! Linux help websites seem like a foreign language!

So, short of driving myself mad I seem to have 2 options:
1. Change this laptop back to windows..... but don't have any back up disks so will need to buy windows.... which one??? how much???
2. Just buy another laptop so we have 2, run the new one on windows and keep this one on linux.

Any suggestions for a cheap place to buy windows or very basic cheap laptop running windows?

Cheers

DatabaseError

*cough* borrow windows installation disks, you doubtless have a cd key on your lappy

DCFC79

ymcas wrote: »

Hi,
I was convinced to install Linux on our laptop by a friend. Although there is much I like about it, I can't seem to do anything new without asking for help and I am tired of being dependent on his goodwill. Latest is that I want to create a photobook but all the websites for this seem to need you to download software that is only suitable for windows... also have baby due in 6 weeks and Grandma bought a webcam so she can see baby often (lives 5 hours away).... I can't even make this work! Can't get wifi to work either! Linux help websites seem like a foreign language!

So, short of driving myself mad I seem to have 2 options:
1. Change this laptop back to windows..... but don't have any back up disks so will need to buy windows.... which one??? how much???
2. Just buy another laptop so we have 2, run the new one on windows and keep this one on linux.

Any suggestions for a cheap place to buy windows or very basic cheap laptop running windows?

Cheers

is the web cam compatible with linux, why dont you get a flickr account, you can put your photos on there

ymcas

DCFC79 wrote: »

is the web cam compatible with linux

Doesn't say so on the box.... Mum wouldn't have thought to check. Looked it up on the web and seems to be some discussion about how to make it work, but nothing easy like downloading a driver for windows... I think I'm just not smart enough to get my head round Linux at the moment.... blame it on baby brain. It's a Philips one, says SPC500NC on the box.

DatabaseError

ymcas wrote: »

.. I think I'm just not smart enough to get my head round Linux at the moment....

i also gave up, wireless did me in!

DCFC79

ymcas wrote: »

Doesn't say so on the box.... Mum wouldn't have thought to check. Looked it up on the web and seems to be some discussion about how to make it work, but nothing easy like downloading a driver for windows... I think I'm just not smart enough to get my head round Linux at the moment.... blame it on baby brain. It's a Philips one, says SPC500NC on the box.

whoops i thanked you by mistake oh well,
anyway i take it you have googled for SPC500NC drivers for linux,

ymcas

DCFC79 wrote: »

whoops i thanked you by mistake oh well,
anyway i take it you have googled for SPC500NC drivers for linux,

Tried this but nothing that looks easy to use

rednose66

What flavour of Linux are you using? If you are using Ubuntu there is loads of help available via the Ubuntu community.

ymcas

rednose66 wrote: »

What flavour of Linux are you using? If you are using Ubuntu there is loads of help available via the Ubuntu community.

It says Mandriva down the side of my screen but Ubuntu sounds familiar.

Anthony2oo5

Linux is good, but not for the faint hearted. If you get an XP CD off a friend, use the serial on the bottom of your laptop and your away.

If your friend knows linux, ask him to put windows back on.

DCFC79

ymcas wrote: »

It says Mandriva down the side of my screen but Ubuntu sounds familiar.

maybe its mandriva that you have installed, the easy way is to stick xp back on if you can