Getting Linux

[amiami]

Hi, I am planning on getting a version of Linux. Which one should I get? People say Ubuntu Linux is good for beginners. I only have one hard disk (200 G.B. with about 174 G.B. left) on which I plan on installing.

Can someone tell me how I can install it onto windows xp without deleting it? And once I install it, how do I use it? Does it work like a program? I.e., do I have to click on it on my windows xp desktop to access it?

Thank you, in advance.

[mikeyp]

A good program for you to use would be Knoppix[http://www.knoppix.org/]. It runs straight from the cd, so it allows you to run Linux without installing it. It does this by various compression techniques and using your RAM.

As for installing it, my personal favorite is Slackware [http://www.slackware.com]. Many people praise Ubuntu, so that would be a very good choice too. Dual booting (having 2 operating systems on the same computer at the same time) can sometimes be tricky so be careful and make sure that you have all important data backed up before you attempt to do it. Typically it would not work like a program on your desktop. Typically when the computer is booting you would choose which you wanted to run (Windows, Linux). I say typically because there are some emulators/virtualization programs which allow you to run one operating system directly within another.

[amiami]

So should I use Knoppixx or Slackware?

[mikeyp]

Give Knoppix a try and see what you think of Linux. Then if you want try out Slackware/Ubuntu. If after using Knoppix you decide that you do not like Linux then there is no harm done.

[amiami]

Give Knoppix a try and see what you think of Linux. Then if you want try out Slackware/Ubuntu. If after using Knoppix you decide that you do not like Linux then there is no harm done.

Isn't Ubuntu better than Knoppix?

[_Aerospace_Eng_]

Ubuntu is more user friendly. I wasn't able to get Ubuntu to boot on my system. Search for things called LiveCD linux distros. They have been mentioned but they give you a chance to try out some linux distributions. I'm going to try Ultima Linux (http://www.ultimalinux.com/) which is based off of Slackware. Its been really customized by the author to be pretty user friendly. They have a livecd available.

[erisco]

do I have to click on it on my windows xp desktop to access it?

UGH!!! I think something inside of me just died... oh the humiliation... the... ugh... horridness... even the thought! My oh my... help me someone... I need a hug... I'm gunna get nightmares....

Linux is an operating system, not an application. It wouldn't be any good if it ran off windows now would it? I use Ubuntu and I find it excellent. There is Kubuntu and I think one other type of it too... but just the normal Ubuntu (6.06 is the last release) is awesome. It is still going to be updated for the next 3-4 years.

[fireboy]

though it is getting on for a year old. The later versions have a quick try-it package using UMSDOS that will allow you to try Linux and X11 on your hardware without the hassle of repartitioning.