What is Linux?

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 07:13 AM

I must sound really stupid here, but I am having trouble understanding what Linux is. Could someone please explain what it is in a simple way.

**Go The Power** · 05-13-2007, 07:38 AM

It is another operating system like windows, and most versions of Linux are free

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 07:39 AM

So do you need to uninstall windows to get linux?

**Joefireline** · 05-13-2007, 07:40 AM

Linux is like a operating system family, like Microsoft Windows. You have different distro's, such as PCLinuxOS, Mint, Fedora Core, Redhat etc. Most distros are free, and there is no such thing as viruses and malware in it.
The biggest problem with it, is running software and drivers designed for Windows OSs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrillriderdan

So do you need to uninstall windows to get linux?

No, you can install it on a serperate partition, and use a boot loader like grub so you can chose the OS you want to use.

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 07:45 AM

Quote:

No, you can install it on a serperate partition, and use a boot loader like grub so you can chose the OS you want to use.

Sorry to sound novice but what is a seperate partion and how do I go about creating one?

**Bartender** · 05-13-2007, 08:18 AM

dan -
Welcome to the forum.
Please feel free to seacrch back thru the last few weeks and months. There are numerous threads where folks new to Linux are asking questions and others are answering, or trying to answer.
This is a whole new concept, and nobody can respond to your post in a manner that's going to get you up to speed. Spend a few hours reading threads, seeing what sort of problems cropped up, absorbing some idea of what's going on.
I'm very excited about the Linux movement. Did you hear that Dell is going to start offering LInux pre-installed to consumers? I'm guessing other vendors won't be far behind.

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 08:59 AM

Thanks Bartender and I will definately get on to doing that. But before I do what is a seperate partion?

**Joefireline** · 05-13-2007, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrillriderdan

Thanks Bartender and I will definately get on to doing that. But before I do what is a seperate partion?

You know how in XP, you have C:, and your drive may be D:, it is basicly another one of those, just part of your hard drive.

Such as, you have a 80GB hard drive, you want 60GB for XP and 20GB for linux, so what you can do, is split the hard drive into 2 - C: being the 60GB, and D: being the 20GB. You can use various programs to do this, or you can do it when you are installing linux.

The definition of partition is "a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)", and the same applies with hard drives.

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 09:10 AM

Ahh right I get you now. What programmes do I need to do this?

**Joefireline** · 05-13-2007, 09:14 AM

You can use http://partitionlogic.org.uk/ which is free, but I prefer Partition Magic 8, though costs quite a bit.

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 09:16 AM

Thanks. This has been useful!

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 09:46 AM

I have downloaded the partion logic file. What must I do with it now? (I downloaded the ISO one)

**Joefireline** · 05-13-2007, 09:56 AM

Well, that is a CD image, you need to burn it to disc. When you burn it to disc, you must be careful not to just burn it straight to disc, you need to use a program like NTI CD & DVD maker, to burn the image correctly. You can use the trial, which only lasts 30 days, but should do the job. http://www.ntius.com/shadow_downloads.asp

I would advice you use about 20GB for Linux, dependent on the distro you use. I would recomend PCLinuxOS: http://www.pclinuxos.com/

I don't know exactly how to use Partion logic, as I have never used it, so maybe someome else could help you here.

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 10:00 AM

Can I do this with Nero?

**Joefireline** · 05-13-2007, 10:02 AM

Yup, use this to help you: http://www.wizardskeep.org/mainhall/tutor/neroiso.html

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 10:23 AM

I have it burned onto a disk. Now what do I do?

**Joefireline** · 05-13-2007, 10:31 AM

Restart, with the disc in. Then when you boot again, instead of loading to XP, it will load the program, just make sure that CD is set to boot first. Infact, just see if it boots the CD, if it doesn't, I'll explain the part about booting from CD first instead of Hard drive.

thrillriderdan · 05-13-2007, 10:45 AM

The computer has booted from this disk at startup. Also my Hard Disk is only 37gb is this an advisable thing to do?

**TheMatt** · 05-13-2007, 11:10 AM

Hi Dan

Depending on how much space you need for Windows, you may get by with that amount. I would seriously consider though getting an external hard disk and moving your My Documents contents there so you will have more disk space. You can install linux on 10 GB of disk space, but you will be limited on how many programs you can install.

Have you selected a distro yet? Take a look at this page to help you choose.
http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php

**K-B** · 05-13-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrillriderdan

The computer has booted from this disk at startup. Also my Hard Disk is only 37gb is this an advisable thing to do?

How much of that is free space?

05-13-2007, 07:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	What is Linux? I must sound really stupid here, but I am having trouble understanding what Linux is. Could someone please explain what it is in a simple way.

05-13-2007, 07:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Go The Power Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 10,972 OS: Windows XP Home SP2 Blog Entries: 1	Re: What is Linux? It is another operating system like windows, and most versions of Linux are free __________________

05-13-2007, 07:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	Re: What is Linux? So do you need to uninstall windows to get linux?

05-13-2007, 08:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: What is Linux? dan - Welcome to the forum. Please feel free to seacrch back thru the last few weeks and months. There are numerous threads where folks new to Linux are asking questions and others are answering, or trying to answer. This is a whole new concept, and nobody can respond to your post in a manner that's going to get you up to speed. Spend a few hours reading threads, seeing what sort of problems cropped up, absorbing some idea of what's going on. I'm very excited about the Linux movement. Did you hear that Dell is going to start offering LInux pre-installed to consumers? I'm guessing other vendors won't be far behind.

05-13-2007, 08:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	Re: What is Linux? Thanks Bartender and I will definately get on to doing that. But before I do what is a seperate partion?

05-13-2007, 09:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	Re: What is Linux? Ahh right I get you now. What programmes do I need to do this?

05-13-2007, 09:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	Re: What is Linux? You can use http://partitionlogic.org.uk/ which is free, but I prefer Partition Magic 8, though costs quite a bit. Last edited by koala; 05-13-2007 at 10:14 AM.

05-13-2007, 09:16 AM	#11 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	Re: What is Linux? Thanks. This has been useful!

05-13-2007, 09:46 AM	#12 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	Re: What is Linux? I have downloaded the partion logic file. What must I do with it now? (I downloaded the ISO one)

05-13-2007, 09:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	Re: What is Linux? Well, that is a CD image, you need to burn it to disc. When you burn it to disc, you must be careful not to just burn it straight to disc, you need to use a program like NTI CD & DVD maker, to burn the image correctly. You can use the trial, which only lasts 30 days, but should do the job. http://www.ntius.com/shadow_downloads.asp I would advice you use about 20GB for Linux, dependent on the distro you use. I would recomend PCLinuxOS: http://www.pclinuxos.com/ I don't know exactly how to use Partion logic, as I have never used it, so maybe someome else could help you here.

05-13-2007, 10:00 AM	#14 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	Re: What is Linux? Can I do this with Nero?

05-13-2007, 10:02 AM	#15 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	Re: What is Linux? Yup, use this to help you: http://www.wizardskeep.org/mainhall/tutor/neroiso.html

05-13-2007, 10:23 AM	#16 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	Re: What is Linux? I have it burned onto a disk. Now what do I do?

05-13-2007, 10:31 AM	#17 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	Re: What is Linux? Restart, with the disc in. Then when you boot again, instead of loading to XP, it will load the program, just make sure that CD is set to boot first. Infact, just see if it boots the CD, if it doesn't, I'll explain the part about booting from CD first instead of Hard drive.

05-13-2007, 10:45 AM	#18 (permalink)
thrillriderdan Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: England Posts: 63 OS: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE,Windows Vista	Re: What is Linux? The computer has booted from this disk at startup. Also my Hard Disk is only 37gb is this an advisable thing to do?

05-13-2007, 11:10 AM	#19 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: What is Linux? Hi Dan Depending on how much space you need for Windows, you may get by with that amount. I would seriously consider though getting an external hard disk and moving your My Documents contents there so you will have more disk space. You can install linux on 10 GB of disk space, but you will be limited on how many programs you can install. Have you selected a distro yet? Take a look at this page to help you choose. http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides