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General discussion

How to start using Linux?

Feb 19, 2011 7:48AM PST

I'm running Windows 7 at the moment, and I hate it with a passion. You can apparently burn an image of Linux and run it without messing with your current OS, just to test it out? I've heard of FreeBSD, Linux, and Unix, but I'm not sure which one to use. Are either of them more suited for programming?

Thanks for any help!

Discussion is locked

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place to start...
Feb 20, 2011 2:11AM PST

yes, many Linux distros have "Live CDs" (or "Desktop CDs") that you can boot up into to try it out. You can also install Ubuntu to run within Windows with their "Wubi" installation - but it would probably help to have a fairly fast PC for the latter option.

anyway - a excellent site for info about dual booting Linux & Windows is the Illutrated Dual Boot site. the site is geared towards the Ubuntu Linux distro but much of the info is applicable to Linux in general.

I recommend Ubuntu if trying out Linux for the first time - mainly because it's so popular that any issue that may come up for you is probably covered somewhere.

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Just use it!
Feb 21, 2011 8:19AM PST
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Ubuntu Live CD
Feb 21, 2011 10:48AM PST

Well, I wouldn't recommend a BSD OS (OpenBSD, FreeBSD, etc.) for a Windows convert, at least not at first. Unix is generally used for things like networking and servers, and the most interaction a typical person would have with it is through a unix-based OS. Linux is probably best.

Personally I would recommend Ubuntu (a Linux Distribution). It is the most widely supported distro, has an excellent UI, and is what everyone I know started on (except for those who started with linux back in the 90s). Essentially for starting out or testing Linux it is great.

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
That link will give you step by step instructions on how to make an Ubuntu live cd.
Or if you want a more verbose walk through:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/linux/create-a-bootable-ubuntu-usb-flash-drive-the-easy-way/
for making a bootable USB or
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
where the first half shows you how to make a Linux live CD.

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Wine
Feb 21, 2011 10:55AM PST

PS.
For the purposes of running Windows only programs there is the option of Wine which runs those programs via a compatibility layer. It can run on most Linux distros, freeBSD, Solaris, openSolaris, etc. Essentially any Unix-based OS you will ever use.

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Try
Feb 21, 2011 9:26PM PST

Mandriva One is the easiest Distro to learn and is pretty much 99.9% all GUI as a Life CD.

If I am not mistaken, even Ubuntu is copying the Mandriva Control Center (MCC) Grin

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Windows 7 or Linux? Both??
Feb 28, 2011 4:37AM PST

Hi Ghost,

I would like to give a recommendation if you don't mind, just to try make your life bit more fun and easy.
Two distributions in our Linux-community world are the best and rock-solid stable, professional: Linux Mint 10 and Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid (not the 10.10, because 10.04 is LTS- Long Term Supported). I prefer Ubuntu, proven security, friendliness, huge info database and 10.04 you can install amazingly easily next to Windows 7 on the same drive, just like moving a slider with mouse at installation moment to select spacesize for him. And there are a lot of beautiful graphical extras with it to install to change your entire desktop. High-end system. Windows is unserious compared to.
Any questions? keizer790@gmail.com .

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That email address.
Feb 28, 2011 4:40AM PST

Even Linux users can suffer from spam emails, especially when posting their email address in public forums such as these where 'spam bots' visit trawling for them.

You sure you want your email address available to spam bots?

Mark

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Email
Feb 28, 2011 7:11AM PST

Thanks for reminding me, i see that as a friendly action. BUT, that is not an important or main email address, for other private and work business i use an other what, of course, i never would post. But thank you anyway, i liked your comment. Hopefully once everyone will be this attent and alert!

Have a nice evening.

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no of methods for installation of linux
Mar 30, 2011 4:13PM PDT
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Thanks!
Mar 31, 2011 3:08AM PDT

Thanks everyone! I'm still struggling along getting started, but at least kind of know what I'm doing now. Grin I'm probably going to start with a basic Linux distro and work my way through the other suggestions as I get more comfortable with the OS.

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Forget mint
Mar 31, 2011 3:57PM PDT

Ubuntu 11.04 beta just dropped, I'd download that and VirtualBox(assuming you have a recentish box with virtualization extensions) and give it a spin, if I remember right the official launch will be on the 20th.

Once installed I'd recommend adding http://www.winehq.org/ http://www.getdeb.net/ and http://www.playdeb.net/ repos, as well as select all of the universe, restricted and multiverse repos from System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager then Settings>Repositories

You may also want to add the scripts package http://www.ubuntu-unleashed.com/2007/09/125-nautilus-scripts-to-simplify.html

Synaptic is the way you'll install, update and remove almost all of your software. I'd recommend adding Bleachbit and replacing the default chat app with Pidgin.

That'll give you a good starting point from which you can fill in your own blanks.

I'd also give other alt OSs like Haiku and ReactOS a look, they aren't anywhere near as complete as Linux yet, but they have some very interesting features.