Re: Blender is running slow

 Ingie wrote:
 
> I do agree, I'd rather use Linux, but we play a lot of
> WoW at our house and use Windows based programs for work.  I
> haven't used linux in so many years now (3) it *could*
> be the windows overlays run smoother now, but I'm just
> too tired anymore to mess around with it.  
> 

Ingie,

If you have not run Linux in a few years, it is now very easy
to run Linux on your PC without disturbing anything that you
have under Windows. 

(Since you have run Linux before, I am assuming that you are
fairly sophisticated PC user, and can avoid storing stuff on
your disk my mistake, etc. To be on the safe side, be sure
your Windows OS and data are backed up before experimenting!)

The easiest way is to get a "LiveCD" Linux distribution. There are
a lot of choices, but I suggest Ultimate Edition 2.1 because
it has Blender built in, and I have it running in front of
me right now. Ultimate Edition is based on Ubuntu Linux.

See:  http://ultimateedition.info/ultimate-edition-21/

Just download the x86 version and burn it on a CD as an ISO
image (DATA, not sound!).

(Make sure your computer can boot from CD first.)

Shut down windows and boot from CD. If everything works
well, your computer will start to then run a graphical 
version of Linux.

Remember,you do NOT want to install Linux, because you do
not want to disturb your Windows installation.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND TRYING TO DUAL BOOT WINDOWS AND LINUX FROM
YOUR MAIN HARD DISK. YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO RELOAD YOUR
WINDOWS OS AT LEAST ONCE, IF YOU TRY.

At the top of the Linux screen click on Applications, then
Graphics, then choose either fullscreen Blender or windowed 
Blender.

The remaining question is what to do about the Blender
data that you want to save.

I suggest using a USB thumb drive, so you will not disturb
any data that you have on the Windows disk.

For better performance and larger capacity, you probably
should get a USB disk drive for your Blender data. But you 
can get started with a thumb drive until you decide whether
you want to invest in a USB disk drive.

When you are done with your Blender session, make sure that
your Blender data is saved on your removable drive, then 
go up to System/Shutdown at the top of the screen.

Take out the Linux CD and the USB device, reboot, and
all of the Windows programs and data should be exactly
as you left them.

Hope this helps.

Max