[ SECRET POST #2570 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2570 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.


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02.
[The Lying Game]


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03.
[Hobbit movies, LOTR movies, Tolkien]


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04.
[Perry Mason]


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05.
[Carnivale]


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06.
[Downton Abbey]


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07.
[BBC Sherlock]


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08.
[Lee Pace]


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09.
[Virtue's Last Reward]


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10.
[Deep Space 9]


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12.
[Elementary]














Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 040 secrets from Secret Submission Post #367.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Re: Help, computer people of FS

[agentcthulhu]

FreeDOS does not have a graphic user interface (GUI). Unless you already know how to navigate DOS, like using the command line interface in Windows' Command Prompt, FreeDOS will probably be difficult for you to use. You can get around this by installing a GUI.

Another question you may want to ask yourself is what do you want to do on the computer. Many software programs are OS-dependent and may not be supported by other operating systems. For example, Microsoft Office does not run on Linux operating systems. Computers using Linux OS use alternative word processing programs like LibreOffice instead. Are the programs you plan to use compatible with FreeDOS? If not, are there any alternatives you can use on FreeDOS? If alternative programs are not available, you may have to wipe the disk and install an OS that supports the programs you want to use.

Installing an OS is pretty straightforward nowadays. You will need an installation disc or a bootable USB drive containing installation files of the OS you want on your new computer. There are many how-to guides out there with detailed instructions. There should be videos capping the experience as well. I suggest watching them first to get an idea of what happens during the installation process. Expect a lot of waiting.

Also, keep a working computer with internet access nearby in case of problems during the installation process (ask Google!) and always keep a spare mouse and keyboard. Good luck!

Re: Help, computer people of FS

[(Anonymous)]

First off, thanks!

I do have some experience with the command line interface, but enough that I'd feel comfortable completely without a GUI. And now that I've cooled down a bit sticking it to my uncle doesn't feel that important anymore. :P

I guess I'll be installing Win 7 then, I know what to expect from that. When you say bootable USB drive, does that mean any USB drive big enough to contain the installation files or are those special kinds of USB drives? I'll have to download Win 7 first; are there any inherit advantages to installation disc vs. bootable USB drive?

Again, thanks for your answer!

Re: Help, computer people of FS

[(Anonymous)]

What she/he meant (I'm assuming) is that there are certain drives (Graphics driver, network adapter driver, etc) that are OS specific. You'll need to get those drivers, and the drivers for your other hardware off of a manufacturer's website and store them on a USB. When you install another OS, you're essentially replacing the partition your old OS was on. This erases the drivers and whatnot, which will need to be reinstalled after the other OS is setup.

Re: Help, computer people of FS

[agentcthulhu]

I meant "drive" as in hard disk drive, flash drive and solid state drive, storage devices that allow computers to boot up from. Drivers are software that allows the OS to communicate with hardware effectively - a set of instructions for the OS, if you will.

You do make a good point about drivers though. Just installing an OS will not make all the hardware work properly. A list of hardware on a laptop may be found via the support section of the laptop maker's website; Dell, Toshiba and many large laptop manufactures have databases that list what hardware a laptop was shipped with when that laptop's service tag or number is entered. Windows' Device Manager is a good way find the make and model of hardware that a computer is currently using. Opening up a computer and reading the model number of hardware is another way to find out what is in a computer.

This is why it is always good to have another machine capable of internet access nearby when installing computers. The other computer can be used to download the driver for the network card on the newly installed computer and "unlock" its internet access!

Re: Help, computer people of FS

[agentcthulhu]

You're welcome! :3

Not many people know how to use command line interface. Kudos to you. If you want to install Win 7 for compatibility issues, that's a perfectly good reason to not use FreeDOS.

When I said bootable USB drive, I meant a USB drive with special files on it that allows a computer to boot up from it. And large enough to contain the installations files needed, of course. I mentioned a bootable USB drive because it is a popular alternative to optical discs for installing Linux systems. Windows and Mac systems are more commonly installed from discs, probably because they are proprietary software and sold as discs.

If you don't already have a bootable USB drive, or the installation files do not allow the drive to be bootable, then you will have to make the USB drive bootable first. Some people don't know how to do that so they choose the disc option. Unless the installation files are burned onto a rewritable disc, you will have to find a place to put the disc that you might never use again. That's the disadvantage of using an installation disc. Also, some newer computers do not come with optical drives and using a bootable USB drive is the only way to install a new OS if a portable optical drive is not available. As for inherit advantages, there are none that I know of in using optical disc vs. USB drive in installing an OS.

Before you wipe the computer, go into its BIOS and make sure the method you will use for installing Win 7 - either optical drive or usb drive - is listed before the hard drive for booting up the computer. Unless the BIOS has been changed, most computers list floppy drives (do people even remember what these things are?) and optical drives as bootable devices before the hard drive. USB drives may not even be listed as an option, so you might have to do some minor troubleshooting if you want to install from a USB drive!

Have fun, and I wish you the smoothest installation experience. :D

Edit:
The other anon made some good points about device drivers. Please take a look at my reply. I don't know if you can look up the list of devices (hardware) that the laptop is using on FreeDOS. Assuming all devices have drivers installed and working, you may want to make an image of the drive with FreeDOS on it in case things go FUBAR. (Unlikely IMO especially since you already have some experience installing computers. It's up to you.)