Best Linux version for user friendliness and data recovery?

[TheBigCheese]

Hi guys

I'm thinking of setting up a dual boot system on one of my PCs so I can boot straight to Linux.

So far I've had a dabble with Ubuntu booting from a pen drive but I'd like something a little more permanent.

I do have a reason for it as well, a couple of big NTFS drives have gone wonky and aren't working properly in Windows so I'd like to copy all the data from them in Linux onto new drives (neither of them are boot drives).

Does that sound like a simple enough thing to do?

As I say, I've used Ubuntu before now but I would like some opinions on the best easy to use Linux version for a newbie at it (heck I may be on the right path with Ubuntu...no idea!).


Finally...how best should I setup the drives so I can dual boot W7 64 or Linux on one machine? I'd like it to dafault to Windows but give me the option of going to Linux as well...any suggestions?


Many thanks!

 

[TheBigCheese]

Thanks for the reply, I've probably put too many questions in one post.


I have two drives that are a bit knackered, drive E and drive L.

Drive E has stopped responding properly in Windows, whether it's corruption or a physical fault I don't know.

Drive L went weird a while ago on a previous Windows install and has left security permissions on there which means I can't delete data or move it elsewhere (I've tried changing the security permissions, it can't do it).


I long while I was sure I had a similar thing and managed to fix it in Ubuntu but I can't remember what it was I did.


I just wanted a recommended Linux version, whether Ubuntu or something else to help me salvage the data from both drives.



On an unrelated note, I'd like to experiment with Linux more so I was wondering how I could dual boot between Linux and Windows easily.

 

[TheBigCheese]

Thanks very much for the reply.

Ubuntu it is, I like it just works!

I'm hoping it could just be filesystem errors...I certainly think drive L is that as I can still use it successfully, I just can't move or delete some stuff...these are the errors I get with it (two messages blended into one):





Drive E I can't really remember what the problem is with that, I'm hoping it won't have a hissy fit in Ubuntu like it does in Windows!

Thanks for that brilliant info on dual booting, I'm definitely going to give that a go!