Painless Linux

[Skyhooker]

This has been mentioned briefly in a couple threads in the past, but for anyone who'd like to try out Linux as a full installation (as opposed to a Live CD), I recommend Wubi (Windows Ubuntu Installer).

Wubi (http://wubi-installer.org/)

It runs as an .exe within Windows, downloads the installation files, and sets up a folder in the Windows file system just for Ubuntu, rather than repartitioning the drive. It modifies the boot menu to make booting Ubuntu an option, and Ubuntu then sees the folder as its own drive. I installed it over the weekend and I'm having a blast learning a new OS and thumbing my nose at M$ :D .

Have fun!


Sky

P.S. I highly recommend running JKDefrag or similar so the new folder can be contiguous - and, of course, backing up before the install in case of disaster.

[purple_minion]

I agree, anything to get some exposure. I found an old iMac out by the dumpster, and I played on it for quite a while. It was really really really slow, it had os 9 and it was one of the first ones made I believe. But I played around because it was new. I enjoy learning. I even bought a cheapo newer imac on ebay for my mom to use, but never delivered it. Installed OS X on it and have to say it's different, but nice. I think for my mom who checks email and websites what more do you need?

Anyway ubuntu will run happily on much less hardware then windows needs so any old pc around you could install it to. I haven't tried the wubi thingy yet, but if it works that's great news! Let me know how it goes.

(One of the best things I like is that EVERYTHING just updates in linux, from openoffice to the kernal, no hunting a BILLION websites to see if there is an update.)

EDIT: For anyone wanting to dual boot, always install linux SECOND, as windows thinks it's the only kid in town.