Some newbie questions

[Bat Phil <batphil64@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all

Please forgive my ignorance, but I've decided to upgrade to Linux. I've had a play with both Ubuntu and Fedora 20 (both with the LXDE desktop) and done a few installs, updates, application installs, etc. and am getting more confident / knowledgeable as I go.

I have decided to go for Fedora 20 with either the Gnome or KDE desktop (not decided which yet, so I'll have a play and see what suits best). However, I do have a few questions and would be grateful for some answers / confirmation of my assumptions.....

1. I am using older hardware - AMD Semperon 3000+ (socket 754), which I understand is a 64 bit CPU. Will this run better, worse or no differently with the 64 bit OS over the 32 bit?

2. Currently I have 1Gb DDR400 RAM, although I have some 1Gb modules on their way to me so within a few days I'll hopefully have 3Gb (but I may have a dodgy DIMM socket so it might only be 2). Will I be able to do a graphical install with only the current 1Gb or am I better waiting until the new memory arrives?

Ultimately I plan to install 2 drives in the box - one for the system and the other for the home directory structure, which in itself raises a few more questions.....

3. Am I correct in my assumption that my mail client (I will be using Thunderbird) stores all its e-mails and settings in a hidden directory within the home directory?

4. If I do a reinstall later, will the OS pick up that I already have the home directory structure on a separate drive and automatically configure to it or will I have to do a bit of tinkering?

5. Will the reinstalled OS automatically recreate the user accounts based on the home directories that exist or will I still need to do that?

6. If I need to recreate the user accounts manually, will they automatically map to the correct user directories in the existing home directory structure or will that be more tinkering?

7. Besides my data, will the system also be able to access my e-mails, user-specific settings, etc. set up within the previous install?

8. If I later upgrade my "data" drive, is it just a case of copying the home directory structure onto the new drive, plug it in and away I go, or will I need to configure the OS to recognise the new drive first?

Apologies for the length of my request, but I think that is about it for now. I'm sure however, that I'll have loads more questions / cries for help later.

Many thanks in anticipation of some informative replies.

Phil

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