Hi BeginnerChick,
I too once used WinXP Pro SP2 w/a dual-boot Fedora FC3 Linux (each on its own hard drive - I don't like the idea of more than one OS on a hard drive). The only thing that impressed me was that you were willing to give Linux a try. Let me tell you part of my story.
Once I figured out how to get online w/Linux (had a dialup 56k modem at the time), I also figured out that it would be a wise thing to save each MBR (Master Boot Record) off onto my Linux hard drive - the thinking being that someday I would surely need one of them if the MBR on one or both got trashed. Well, if you have a clue, at this point you may be asking yourself (with your IQ) just how would I be planning to access those saved MBRs on the Linux hard drive when both hard drive MBRs are trashed. The answer is simple - a Live CD of Linux would be able to mount and then read and write either of the MBRs after comparing with what is currently residing in either of the trashed MBRs locations. As it turned out, I did have to recover in that manner just as I thought I might. I don't think you can save your MBR with "Wondows" as you wrote it, but maybe there is a tool to do so - I don't know, as I have never heard of any.
I don't think "Wondows", has either a Live CD or the capability to do anything like that - i.e. unless you write a bit of code for a tool that will do that.
Linux has the tools to completely replace Windows. If you insist on being able to execute a Windows executable you can't do without, you can just install Wine in Linux and away you go.
When WinXP stb'd on me just under 3 years ago, I got it back working partially for two weeks then it really just stopped working at all - my bad as I did not fully complete the exact procedure I followed. I probably have to do a parallel re-install to get it back to working. That will never happen. I can just mount the disk with my current setup to access any file I feel I need with Linux.
What I do with Linux takes a little patience, but has big dividends. I work exclusively in a Live CD environment I have constructed w/scripts to update with each powerup to install tarballs of the updates I have made. It only takes about a minute or two to do the setup and install the updates.
Why would anyone do that you may ask. The first reason is security. The main difference between my setup and any installed OS is that my disks are not mounted, and the Live CD is not writable.
Think about that for a moment and ask yourself the question of how most malware works and what systems it targets. The usual answer is it cloaks itself in the file system, and targets mostly "Wondows"! To attack Linux, the sophistication or wealth of the cracker needs a major upgrade to either be able to craft the attack or buy it on the "Dark Internet" websites out there catering to organized crime, etc.
Initially, I had 1GB of RAM - now I have 3GB, and may yet jump it up to the 4GB max my motherboard can tolerate as memory is cheap. Additionally, I can throw the sdparm command to spin down my disks - another special thing that "Wondows" is not likely to be able to do - i.e. I have 4 disks in my system - unless some code is written for a tool to do it.
When I power off, if any malware (Linux can get compromised) gets through (my iptables firewall is very restrictive and my hardware router firewall is stealthed as well - both tested with zenmap/nmap for all ports) the malware is short-lived. I have even figured out how to retrofit the smem executable to wipe memory (10 min) at shutdown - ask yourself how I do that with with my file system built (from Live CD) in memory!
Although the Linux kernel comes with iptables capability, you have to give it rules on boot up to make it work, without which unless you have a hardware router firewall - your Linux may be running "naked" on the Internet without protection from intrusion.
I mentioned above that Linux can be compromised. A former work colleague had his home Linux server compromised when he did not keep up with security updates - and this fellow is very smart and competent. His system became infected with the SuckIt rootkit. Mostly, the experience embarrassed him, as it should have. Luckily, there are two pieces of software to scan for such problems - chkrootkit and rkhunter which are both available in Linux repositories or source code or binaries can be downloaded and compiled or installed. Also, there is ClamAV and Bitdefender for Linux if you feel the need to do AV scanning in Linux.
I have all of these security software(s), and use them only occasionally as with not being up 24/7, I am not a very attractive target for malware as opposed to "Wondows".
The benefit - you ask - I pay $0.00 for OS or security software. I used to have Trend Micro's PC-cillen for AV, Webroot's SpySweeper for AS and real-time agents, both paid, Prevx HIPS, and several other some paid and some free - but, all almost requiring daily updates.
The only sort of malware I may be vulnerable to is probably a Bios rootkit, but it would still have to target me in the first place, and that is not very likely with Linux and a lot more so with an easy target like an unpatched "Wondows".
Also, I never do any financial transactions via my computer - I prefer to deal directly with a human being at the local bank.
"Wondows" comes with one of the worst OS constructs ever created - a Registry which everyone can access. Bad, bad, bad idea - worst OS idea ever! Linux has the benefit of file permissions (which you've already confronted), and while "Wondows" may support some of this - "Wondows" was never architected with security aforethought.
I personally will not give any new "Wondows" a shot if and until M$ ramps up a new OS derived from the "Singularity" research project - about 1200 PhDs designed and built a new OS from the ground up (including security) with a new language - very impressive research. The only deficit was that there was no bridge to M$'s revenue stream of Applications that folks seem to want to buy - but, they are now working on that according to what I last heard.
As always, the question of usability will be high on my list - and if it fails in any regard, then I will not consider using it.
Linux is far more flexible and adaptable to new technologies - I can hardly wait for graphene-based processors to take over from silicon!
In short, with Linux you will be able to do everything "Wondows" does, and then some where "Wondows" will never be able to go.
-- Tom
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