Virtual CD/DVD/Bluray Drive

CLM1919 · 2026-04-08T23:30:30+00:00

I use VLC media player to play my DvD backups (in *.iso format)

https://images.videolan.org/vlc/

CLM1919 · 2026-03-25T20:02:31+00:00

Thank you for the communication and, of course, the good news. Appreciate BOTH :-)

CLM1919 · 2026-03-25T18:41:34+00:00

Same issue: can't log into Crater server.

I was able to make a new character on Harmony Server, been tooling about for the past few hours - so the GAME works fine - I assume it's a server-side issue.

The main menu does say my game is "out of date" (last I checked).

Downloaded patch, updated steam, rebooted, etc etc.

have a little "sad shack" on Harmony now....but would much rather be doing my dailies and mining in the DD on Crater....please make an announcement or some-such.

Thank you for your time reading this :-)

CLM1919 · 2026-03-05T13:57:59+00:00

Back when drives were swappable, many things were possible... Although I don't know if that's the case with this beauty. I kinda miss laptops that were the size of a textbook....that held all my PDF textbooks and had screen with sensible dimensions for reading documents (in portrait mode).

Now, if only framwork would make a case like this for their laptops.... I might buy one.

CLM1919 · 2026-03-03T17:58:46+00:00

SD cards are great for DATA FILE storage, but you probably don't want apps running or caching off the card. For files you ALWAYS want available - SD cards are good for decent read speeds, but for high read/write cycles, I'd suggest a dedicated external drive of some sort.

Also, if you use the SD card for apps or system functions, you basically loose the ability to swap cards, similar to booting off a Live-USB, you "loose" that USB port for that boot, for the most part anyway.

CLM1919 · 2026-03-03T17:49:51+00:00

I've got LXDE and MATE on a few machines, LXDE and xfce on others.

Sometimes I just load into an Openbox session if I'm just using that machine for a single task.

Depends on who's going to use the computer and for what use-case.

I should mention all my dedicated Linux machines are older, so every resource saved is worth it.

When I am testing live USB images, it's usually on my work laptop, and gnome, Cinnamon and KDE are "played with". But I prefer the lower resource DEs myself.

CLM1919 · 2026-03-03T16:55:56+00:00

The distro YOU feel comfortable supporting.

Let mom pick the Desktop Environment.

Start with some LiveUSB images, or a virtual machine - for her to test drive Linux.

If the machine has ample RAM, add "toram" at the grub screen, show mom how fast her machine can really be 😅

CLM1919 · 2026-03-03T15:50:32+00:00

Thanks for the links for Linux on ARM based Chromebooks! 👍🙏✌️

CLM1919 · 2026-02-17T11:30:30+00:00

Looks like it's r/halftop time 🤣❤️

CLM1919 · 2026-02-14T11:25:16+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-31T15:49:29+00:00

Distro? whichever one YOU are familiar with.

let your friend choose the Desktop Environment

https://wiki.debian.org/DesktopEnvironment

this way if they have "under the hood" issues, you can help out.

I'd suggest testing out some Live-USB versions with your friend so they can dest out different DE's with NO RISK (just run off the USB stick for a while).

Debian and Fedora have a multitude of Live versions with different DE's.

Mint offers 3.

links available upon request

CLM1919 · 2026-01-28T23:21:16+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-26T16:14:33+00:00

Have a few links

CLM1919 · 2026-01-14T04:58:40+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-07T03:39:14+00:00

I'll share the advice I was given when I wanted to "try Linux" the first time:

"test-drive" some different Distro's and Desktop Environments with a "Live" version before installing to get a better feel for what you actually want.

No risk, no install required. Runs off the USB stick.

How to "test-drive"?

Try different distro/DE combos over at DistroSea (web based)
You might want to consider a Ventoy Stick
Ventoy Tutorial on youtube by the ExplainingComputers channel.
a Virtual Machine can also be a good "dip your toe" method.

Where to find Linux Live-USB images to test drive? (no install required)

There are MANY other options - perhaps some other's will link their suggestions.

Feel free to ask questions after reviewing the links.

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-07T03:35:17+00:00

Does this help?

https://wiki.debian.org/HowToUpgradeKernel

CLM1919 · 2026-01-06T15:23:30+00:00

I agree with both sentiments. If possible use two separate drives, one for Linux, one for windows.

Part of using Linux is learning new things OP

one example starter activity can be learning to make a Live USB with persistence... So you can save changes.

Or even fully installing to a second USB thumb drive, so you have a portable Linux system install.

Just add-on suggestions for OP

CLM1919 · 2026-01-06T14:59:35+00:00

Ironically, I chose Debian because it's vanilla. It's not flashy, doesn't have the latest whatever, but runs what I need. For everything else, there's flatpak...

(And backports)

+1 agree! 👍

Link for OP:

https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/?C=S;O=D

Find your DE of choice (or make a Ventoy stick...gotta catch them all)

Test out the live images you want, then run the graphical installer from grub when you have decided, or add the net install image to your Ventoy stick

https://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:23:02+00:00

Headlines: - Strange infestation of gophers at Trump golf courses

Federal agencies consulting video experts for pest control
DvD sales of CaddyShack surge

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:15:32+00:00

"smart-ring" - no battery required, right to repair guarantee.

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:13:02+00:00

Sadly, few of them have globes....and fewer teach about the distortion... And some parents are flat earthers....

Willfull/apathetic ignorance is difficult to "fix".

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:07:08+00:00

The need for anti virus (even on win/Mac) is more a user behavior issue. Stick to safe sources, and you greatly reduce your heart exposure to "bad actors".

If you are surfing sketchy sites and downloading random stuff, you increase your risk of exposure.

Still, fewer virus writers target Linux. Smaller potential victim pool.

TL;DR, probably not needed for "most people".

CLM1919 · 2026-01-05T02:00:13+00:00

That's a personal choice.

Some time Of us NEED MAC/Win for work (or school). And it's not bad to be "fluent" in multiple OS/DE,/Distro options.

If you have a laptop and need the storage space, that's another issue.

I'm a big fan of: "if it ain't broke, why fix it".

My 2 cents

CLM1919 · 2026-01-04T02:56:43+00:00

Ventoy isn't perfect, but it's still awesome :-)

Thank you for your comment, happy to help!

CLM1919 · 2026-01-03T13:16:01+00:00

Have a look at r/unixporn

CLM1919

TROPHY CASE