Best Linux Within Windows (XP) distro?
 

Anyone have any reccomendations?
Keep in mind that i'm very new to linux. I want something with some good built in help, and preferably a graphical interface if I choose to use it. I also want to be able to connect to it if possible with debian which is installed in school.

Thanks

Well if you want "easy" go with Mandrake, I've personally used a few different distros and like Red Hat. but if your already using debian at school there ya go! Search the forums this question has been asked MANY MANY times by about every new user incuding myself a few months ago, you prob won't get to many responces due to that fact also.
happy shopping

Libranet
 

I too am a newbie. If you're fond of Debian and looking for an easy distro then Libranet is your best choice. There are a couple other Deb based distros which I found easy to use... Knoppix (and its Gnome clone Gnoppix) and Ark. For support though, Libranet can't be beat.

Mandrake is also a good choice for someone new to Linux. It has a software install feature similar to Debian's apt-get called urpmi and you can get sources for it from the Penguin Liberation Front. Once you have this done, using Mandrake is a breeze.

Check out www.distrowatch.com for info on almost every Linux flavor in existence.

:newbie:

I meant the best Linux I can run from within Windows XP, without a seperate partition. I need to be able to access my files from within windows with linux, and I don't want to have to reboot into it, or have to reinstall drivers for everything.

I have not used Debian for anything except emacs, and I only use that for my java programming class. I just mentioned it becuase I hope to be able to log onto my linux at home from debian at school. I do not know how to do anything besides the basic cd, cp, ls and rm in debian.

To connect to Debian at school you just need to use telnet or preferably ssh (PuTTY) from Windows.

Forgive me if I misunderstood you, but by "the best Linux I can run from within Windows XP," I assume you're thinking of running Linux as if though it were just another application in Windows. I can think of VMWare, which allows you to run Linux as a virtual machine in Windows and vice-versa. You might want to try it.

Yes, if your school's Debian computers allow it, you can remotely access them (preferably with Cygwin and a local X server)

As far as distros that can be installed within MS Windows... I wouldn't recommend it. Although there are some distributions such as Dragon Linux that allow you to do so, they are terrible when compared to full-fledged distributions. If you _really_ want to try it out, I'd recommend VMware (it emulates an entire computer within windows) -- get yourself a hold of a Debian floppy or two, and build your system from there. Also, your school probably uses Woody which is now showing its age (uses KDE 2.2.2 while 3.2 is coming soon)

Good luck with your Linux adventures.

I use cygwin on my XP computer at home, and ssh into my RedHat machine at my office. It's awesome, I can essentially run Unix programs rigtht in Windows XP. Just make sure you download the X-Windows package as well, which does not automatically come with the typical install. Google around, and you'll find some great tutorial for setting up cygwin. Basically you need to manipulate the startxwin.bat script, and use that to jump right into an X-server and xterm on Windows. Post any questions, and maybe I can help.

It also seems like you want to login to your home computer from school. That may be a little bit different, but I'm pretty sure you can setup your cygwin to be an ssh server as well. You'll just need to keep it running, and know your IP address.

cygwin is the way to go for Linux in Windows, in my opinion. But be careful, because it does encourage you to converting to a full-time Linux user. I try to do everything via Linux nowadays, which is especially helpful in my scientifc research. Windows crashes on me whenever I run an intense calculation.

Pura Vida

That is very, very interesting!!!!

A question.

If I'll run Linux on XP, can I use all Internet s/ware like browser, email proggie etc and my machine has typical Linux feel and I can switch any time into XP?

I don't know if many of you realize that such idea would the best start of Linux, until others like Adobe, Corel or Emagic will follow Linux.

Also, that idea would be excellent for those who are craving for privacy on a computer.

With Linux running happily on XP I could slowly eliminate one by one M$ programs and replace them with Linux s/ware.
The last thing would be a removal of… XP.

As a computer technician I could put on every sold machine with XP Linux as well for those who want to experiment or want to have Internet virus and spyware free.

I’ll bet that MANY people would start using Linux that way, just for the Internet.

More info about it please!!!

TIA...

Yeah I suppose that would be an okay idea, but too much work IMO. Linux is an Operating System not an enhancement to the MS GUI or software add-on. I am a newbie to linux perse but I really think if you want to use Linux you should just dual boot and switch back and forth until your comfortable using it as your full fledged OS. This is what I'm doing now, I'm dual booting XP Home & Mandrake 9.2 DE, that way I can figure out which programs I use most in XP and try and find them for Linux and figure those out. Just my opinion though <shrug>.

I would really recommend just using Knoppix and having a FAT32 partition on your HD where you can store data. That way, you don't have any problem with running Linux. Trying to run Linux WITHIN XPee is like trying to swim in an old brass diving helmet. It'd be easier to just pop in a knoppix CD and restart the machine. Having a FAT32 partition would just allow you to save data to the hard drive and exchange data between Linux and Windoze.

Dragon Linux you can run linux in your windows partition.

I need to clarify my usage of cygwin. It's really just an add-on to the operating system. It will not replace the full functionality of Windows. If you want this, then you should dual-boot or go with Knoppix. I've tried Knoppix, but it was just too slow for me. Plus, you need to reboot.

I also use a lot of the GNU software that has been ported to Windows. I have Xemacs, R, MikTeX, Mozilla Firebird and Gimp all running in Windows as well. That has also helped eased my transition to Linux. Without even knowing or intending to convert, I have become a true Linux fan. I find myself constantly selling the Linux operating system to other graduate students in my department (even my advisor). They can't believe the power it has, and how much better it is to run scientific work.

One thing to keep in mind, is that a lot of people recommended to just take the plunge into Linux. That really is the only way to truly learn it's power and flexibility. I do this with my machine in my office, I only use cygwin to combat my frustration with Windows in my work, and also use what I have running on my RedHat machine down the road.

Actually I had a good friend of mine who was fighting with my Mandrake 9.2 and my Alcatel Sped Touch modem.

I've read how hard it is to install that modem driver on USB so I virtually gave up on it.

But... I had a spare switch so accidentally I've read that USB for LAN and ADSL is not the best thing because need a lot of resources.

So I've disconnected my SMC EZ Connect USB and connected my modem
to a switch, started Linux and that's how trouble started again! ;-P

Called a friend and we were trying to get ADSL happening.

And after 1 hour we got it. That was after initial my stuff up with USB network adapter.

What has stunned me is the fact how easy was editing these scripts, if wizard was failing to do the job correctly.

Friend was jumping to scripts, few commands and all was working.

I have to admit that I love the way it was done and I have realized that these scripts are essential in Linux and they are must.

Having Linux running I will experiments with it further and learn along the way.

I'm a convert now, however still it is in to early stage to be ready for much wider fan' base.

Peace…


Still, using some simpler form of Linux on top of XP would be a great idea.

Knoppix is gone! :(

http://www.knoppix.org/