Linux
- Thread starter strker16
- Start date
First you need to decide which distribution you plan on running and then download the iso disk image or images in order to create the one or more installation disk depending on the size of that particular distro. The free drive tools QParted and GParted(Gnome Partition Editor) are then used to create the root and often swap partitions needed.
Most new releases(for full install not simply live for cd) will see one of the two drive tools included in the packages you download. Once the partition(s) are created and formatted you then proceed to install the distro along with seeing the boot loader Grub or Lilo installed into the mbr. Linux uses a rather different type of booter compared to Windows.
Note a swap partition substitutes for the MS paging file as far as supplimenting the physical memory installed by using drive space for virtual memory there. Linux will also run on a system with far less memory then XP or Vista to start with making it the choice OS for restoring an old boat anchor system seeing only 128-256mb installed.
Most new releases(for full install not simply live for cd) will see one of the two drive tools included in the packages you download. Once the partition(s) are created and formatted you then proceed to install the distro along with seeing the boot loader Grub or Lilo installed into the mbr. Linux uses a rather different type of booter compared to Windows.
Note a swap partition substitutes for the MS paging file as far as supplimenting the physical memory installed by using drive space for virtual memory there. Linux will also run on a system with far less memory then XP or Vista to start with making it the choice OS for restoring an old boat anchor system seeing only 128-256mb installed.
That was about the simplest way to explain how to get Linux on. Being that it's a totally different OS when comparing it to Windows the methods for installation and operation are a bit different in several ways.
The first step is the need for a Linux type drive tool being either one of the two mentioned(QParted, Gparted) in order to partition and format the drive for use. With any OS and a blank drive this has to be done first. Then you go through the process of installing the OS. Linux unlike Windows sees more then just a few editions however.
Get familiar with the term "flavor of the month" since Linux is an open source operating system that can see changes once someone submits some new process or feature. It's a constantly changing OS now starting see support for running Windows type apps and games. Most will try a live for cd version without making any changes to a system first in order to find the right distro for them.
To understand that firther you may want to look over the different distros named and seeing a description at http://www.linux.com/distributions/ Once you have an idea of which one you would run then we can go through the details for seeing how that is installed since some are small and some are geared for servers more then desktops like Fedora(Red Hat).
The first step is the need for a Linux type drive tool being either one of the two mentioned(QParted, Gparted) in order to partition and format the drive for use. With any OS and a blank drive this has to be done first. Then you go through the process of installing the OS. Linux unlike Windows sees more then just a few editions however.
Get familiar with the term "flavor of the month" since Linux is an open source operating system that can see changes once someone submits some new process or feature. It's a constantly changing OS now starting see support for running Windows type apps and games. Most will try a live for cd version without making any changes to a system first in order to find the right distro for them.
To understand that firther you may want to look over the different distros named and seeing a description at http://www.linux.com/distributions/ Once you have an idea of which one you would run then we can go through the details for seeing how that is installed since some are small and some are geared for servers more then desktops like Fedora(Red Hat).
Irishwhistle
New Member
What you have to do is this:
Step 1: Download Linux - There's a lot of different versions of Linux (they are normally called distrobutions, or distros for short), but the one I'd recommend is called Ubuntu. You can download it here: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
Step 2: Burn It! - So you have to burn the file you downloaded to a CD now... the thing is there is a special way you have to burn it. Here's how. (note that that guide was written for a different version (distrobution) of linux... it doesn't matter though as the method for burning is the same.
Step 3: Booting from the CD - Now put the CD in the drive of the computer you want to install Ubuntu (Linux) on and start it up! It should boot up from the CD without a problem (if it doesn't, don't worry, most likely we can help.)
Step 4: Installation - After booting from the CD you will be greeted by a menu use the arrow keys to select "Install Ubuntu" and press enter. You will now be guided through a step by step installer... from then on it's pretty simple.
Hope that helps!
One of the popular distros is ubuntu while other small ones are often seen live for cd as well. But the question is how to install to a blank drive. The install from a live cd is not usually the preferred method. Live cds are simply the means of trying out various distros when deciding which one will be best for your own use. The installations however are quite limited.
Irishwhistle
New Member
??? Have you ever installed Ubuntu? The Live CD is generally the prefered method... and it does have a good installer on it. I've installed Ubuntu from the Live CD (generally called the Ubuntu desktop CD... the text-based installer is the "alternate CD") TONS of times on computers that have no OS.
i had 7.10 on the XP drive with 8.04 sharing the Vista drive here. The live install is limited still since you can't add all of the packages available like changing the Gnome or KDE desktops. Being that ubuntu is a smaller distro it's simply more commonly seen in the live cd distribution. In fact the latest 8.10 64bit live cd is still sitting in the cd drive here presently waiting for the next boot from that.
strker16 seems to be wondering about how to get Linux as the main OS on an older system lacking one presently where he will want a full OS with all options supported. A live install is a quicky for those that simply what to dual boot without fuss there. The newer releases of Zenwalk, Knoppix, and others have been made easier to install and use as well.
Downloading any ISO disk image and not being able to burn it to disk either lacking a cd writer or dvd burner or a program that will work with iso type images is another problem besides choosing which one. A rather recent free program called Starburn will effectively burn the unbuntu or other distro's iso image in order to first see either the live cd or bootable install only type disk(s) made up. http://www.rocketdivision.com/download_starburn.html
strker16 seems to be wondering about how to get Linux as the main OS on an older system lacking one presently where he will want a full OS with all options supported. A live install is a quicky for those that simply what to dual boot without fuss there. The newer releases of Zenwalk, Knoppix, and others have been made easier to install and use as well.
Downloading any ISO disk image and not being able to burn it to disk either lacking a cd writer or dvd burner or a program that will work with iso type images is another problem besides choosing which one. A rather recent free program called Starburn will effectively burn the unbuntu or other distro's iso image in order to first see either the live cd or bootable install only type disk(s) made up. http://www.rocketdivision.com/download_starburn.html
Irishwhistle
New Member
True... for a beginner trying to install Linux for the first time Ubuntu IS ideal, but if he is trying to bring an old rig to life then Zenwalk is good.
The main advantage of using a small or installing while live type distro is often the lack of any requirement for a swap partition. Larger distros on the other hand will expect to see twice the amount of memory installed which would 2gb of drive space with 1gb seen on an older system.
When running Fedora a few years back that took about 4-5 cd-rs to create the set of installation disks needed to get that on and running. The server type distro is one strker16 would want to avoid as a first time starter with Linux.
The question for strker16 is would this be simply to get an old pc running, wanting to try out a different OS, or simply lacking the money to go out and buy a full install Windows disk, or a combination of things?
The thing to know about any distro is found in the tutorial for each while the Bash commands similar to the old MS Dos in that sense are still manually typed in at dos like console. Unfortunately the documentation for the latest 8.10 is a little slow there for things like the tutorial. https://help.ubuntu.com/
When running Fedora a few years back that took about 4-5 cd-rs to create the set of installation disks needed to get that on and running. The server type distro is one strker16 would want to avoid as a first time starter with Linux.
The question for strker16 is would this be simply to get an old pc running, wanting to try out a different OS, or simply lacking the money to go out and buy a full install Windows disk, or a combination of things?
The thing to know about any distro is found in the tutorial for each while the Bash commands similar to the old MS Dos in that sense are still manually typed in at dos like console. Unfortunately the documentation for the latest 8.10 is a little slow there for things like the tutorial. https://help.ubuntu.com/
That's because ubuntu is a small distro to start with seeing the live cd as the install cd as well. For a larger distro like Fedora you have to burn about 4-6 cd-rs depending on release. Ubuntu, Knoppix, Darnsmall, Zenwalk, Knoppix, Mephis, Gentoo, and some others generally are seen on a live cd version available.
Irishwhistle
New Member
Oh, and btw, if you are looking for DarnSmall you probably won't find it.
Ubuntu is the best probably and I've heard good things about Fedora, I've never tried it though as I'd have to download 4 CDs.
Fedora is geared more as a server type distro there. That one requires a swap as well as root partition when installed to the drive. Believe me as a new comer to Linux the older releases were something else to get running when I first tried that some years back.
Many prefer SUSe or another distro since you can do more with many larger distros like simply adding more features by downloading additional packages as well as changing desktops around. The latest 8.10 looks good as I mentioned before with the option seen now for installing while booted up in Windows over running it strictly live.
Many prefer SUSe or another distro since you can do more with many larger distros like simply adding more features by downloading additional packages as well as changing desktops around. The latest 8.10 looks good as I mentioned before with the option seen now for installing while booted up in Windows over running it strictly live.