Dell Media Direct and Linux

[gold_finger]

Just one question of detail (I'm still on the learning curve...).  I think I understand the advice on not creating both a root and a home partition as well as a swap one on a USB stick, partly because of space-constraints.  But that aside, what is the reasoning for having a root and a home separately?  Is that equivalent to having a "system" partition (for the OS) and a "data" partition (for your files/documents) in Windows-speak - or is it more complicated than that?

Yes, the separate root and home partitions is along same lines as having a "system" and "data" partition in Windows.  In Linux, your home directory is normally where all of your data files end up (Documents, Music, Pictures, etc.).  Also in that directory are the user configuration files for various software packages ("programs" in Windows speak) that you use.

Main advantage to having the data and config files separated from root is that it makes re-installations and upgrades easier.  If, for example, your system gets messed up and you can't figure out how to fix it, you can simply re-install the system and be back up and running within 30-45 minutes.  Essentially you're just assigning the same mount points to each partition, but telling the installer to only re-format the root partition.  Everything on the /home partition remains untouched and ready to use again.

My reasons for recommending just a root and swap partition:

1.  Unless you're using something larger than 16GB, it's just easier to not have to guess at a sufficient size for root.  Too big and you lose data saving space.  Too small and you may run out of room for critical system files.  With a single root partition that also contains /home you don't need to worry about that -- the system will use what it needs and rest will be available for storage until you fill the whole thing up.

2.  It's easier for newcomers and you're likely going to just use the USB for a relatively short period of time.  You'll probably install to the hard drive once you feel more comfortable with Linux and that would be a better time to consider other partitioning options.

3.  A whole lot of people (new and experienced) just go with a root and swap partition.  As long as you keep backup copies (as you should under any scenario) of your important files, it's really not that big of a deal to just copy them back on to an installation vs. having them separated on a /home partition.  (I happen to prefer keeping things separated, but it is by no means a requirement to do so.)

Maybe it's subjective, but I think the responses are quicker from the USB flash drive than from the CD/DVD drive spinning up and down.

It's not your imagination.  A live USB is definitely faster than a live DVD.  The performance of the "live" USB will be very similar to the performance of a fully installed system to the USB -- there won't be as noticeable a difference between the two.  A hard drive installation will be noticeably faster than the USB.

I'm still trying out my shortlist of Linux OS distros.  Linux Lite heads the list because it's fairly "light", so good for slightly older laptops like mine.  The other one I have been trying out is Zorin.  But I found that neither worked on my older (Dell Inspiron 8600) laptop whose CPU does not have "pae".  So the third one on test is LXLE (a Lubuntu variant) which works without needing "pae".

Here are four others that I believe will work and that you may want to try on that old Dell:

Mint 13 Xfce (32-bit)  (If you decide to install this one to the old Dell, read this first -- Mint 13 Specific Install Tips.)

Zorin OS Lite 6.2 (32-bit)

Peppermint OS (32-bit)

Lastly, if all of the above are too sluggish, try this:  AntiX.


EDIT:  Just saw your other post about PAE, which I forgot you had going at the same time as this one.  If you're happy with LXLE and don't want to bother with testing other distros I just listed, that's fine.  Don't feel obligated to do so.