Need help convincing my mom

[Floyd10]

to let me install linux on her box. it's been riddled with spyware, all of the important/semi-important files will be backed up and are compatible with linux. I've told her this, and she still wont give me the go ahead. her point is that she isnt familiar with it, which I told her wouldnt be a problem, but still. any help?

[Goz]

Try her out with the live CD version of Lindows (very windows like). There's no risk. If she doesnt like it, reboot without the CD in the drive. If she likes it, then there ya go.

Check out distrowatch.com for other flavors.

-Goz

[Floyd10]

hey, good Idea

[DaveMMR]

to let me install linux on her box. it's been riddled with spyware, all of the important/semi-important files will be backed up and are compatible with linux. I've told her this, and she still wont give me the go ahead. her point is that she isnt familiar with it, which I told her wouldnt be a problem, but still. any help?

Why not just clean the spyware?  Do you move to a new house when the old one is dirty?  Adaware is a great program, free, a no-brainer to use and pretty good at getting rid of spyware.  http://www.lavasoft.com  You can always use another spyware remover in conjunction with Adaware if you want to.

I'm siding with your mother on this one.  Linux is nice and all but if she's used to Windows (and not a computer maven like you) then why force feed her a different OS needlessly?  Some people swear by it but, after taking a class in it, I think it's overrated.  Sure the price is right when there are pennies to be pinched but I'll take Windows over Linux any day.

But let me cast opinions aside.  By installing a completely new OS you might be introducing new problems to address a simple issue.  Fix her computer, don't experiment on it.

[rchadd]

linux is for geeks

[tep0583]

I like the live distro idea. You can have her get used to it on that and let her decide if she wants to go ahead and install it or not.

You could also move her to a different web browser (like Firefox) and combat spyware with Ad-aware. That should keep her relitively clean, if you can convince her not to install weather progrems, the bonzi buddy, ect.

[paigeoliver]

If you backup her important files, format, reinstall windows, do all the updates then install firefox, and most importantly HIDE ALL REFERENCES TO INTERNET EXPLORER to keep her from launching it, then most  all of her problems will go away.

[danny_galaga]

or just have all files and programs on a second hd. then you can re-format the c drive without worrying about what you might lose. that's what i do...

[Trimoor]

If you backup her important files, format, reinstall windows, do all the updates then install firefox, and most importantly HIDE ALL REFERENCES TO INTERNET EXPLORER to keep her from launching it, then most  all of her problems will go away.

Yeah, but then you have to do the same thing in 3 months when all the spyware comes back.  I know.  I'v had to reinstall windoze many many times for relatives.  (Not fun.)  Somehow the spyware just keeps coming back.  Next time, I'll just shove a Linux disk in their face and say "here".

Removing IE shortcuts won't do a thing.  Since IE is imbedded in windoze, all of its blatent security holes are impossible to fix.  Plus, there are some idiotic webmasters who make IE only pages.  They should be shot.

Stick with linux.  You only have to install it once.  It will send those b****rds at micro$oft a message.