LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 10-04-2009, 03:56 AM   #1
The Captain
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Oct 2009
Location: Derby
Posts: 1

Rep: Reputation: 0
Unhappy First time trial of Linux


Hi There, I am a complete novice on computers, I am fed-up with Windows and feel it is time to move on. I would like to try Linux but do not want to ruin Windows just yet. I have a 4GB pen drive doing nothing, can I download a version of Linux onto it and try an experimental run using the pen drive? In other words, could I just open the pen drive with a double click of the mouse and have Linux up and running off that device? If so which version of Linux? I know nothing about the BIOS so going in there and resetting the boot sequence is beyond me; and not alot about computers. I am an Amateur Radio freak and have lots of ham radio programs that I use regularly, can I still use them on Linux?
Sorry to you all for being so thick about things computer wise.
Very best regards from The Captain.
 
Old 10-04-2009, 04:10 AM   #2
repo
LQ 5k Club
 
Registered: May 2001
Location: Belgium
Distribution: Arch
Posts: 8,529

Rep: Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899
Welcome to LQ

You can install linux on the pendrive, but I would suggest to burn the iso to CD, and boot from CD
Most distributions have a LIVE CD version, you can run from CD, no need to install, or you can run linux in a virtual machine in windows (vmware)

http://www.livecdlist.com/
 
Old 10-04-2009, 04:37 AM   #3
DrLove73
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2009
Location: Srbobran, Serbia
Distribution: CentOS 5.5 i386 & x86_64
Posts: 1,118
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 129Reputation: 129
Well, hm, Linux is Operating System, just like Windows is. Running it inside Windows (double clicking on it) is not how it is used.

For starters, you should surf the internet and find more details about Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Mandriva, Knoppix, Fedora, CentOS, Debian and Slackware. There are also many other variants. Spend a week or two reading about their ease of use, advantages and problems from perspective of total beginner.

Linux can be run in many ways, From regular installation, from USB pen drive, from CD (LiveCD), or from Virtual enviroment.

LiveCD is easiest to use since most BIOS's are already set to boot from CD/DVD, and they are designed to not write on HDD by default. You ARE allowed to read and write your documents, but system itself will run in RAM without touching your files. Important note is that some Linux distributions do not have NTFS support built in by default, so in that case your documents will be out of your reach.

USB pen drives are another option, but your PC must be set to prioritize booting from them before booting form HDD. You would not have to "reset" booting order, just rearrange it, and that can be done by any PC Maintainance shop, or skilled individual.

Full Linux installation can be done so that your Window stays on the hard disk along side of Linux and that you can select which one you want to use when you start/reset your computer. That would also require a skilled individual (much better option is trained professional) to resize one of the partitions on your hard disk to leave minimum 20GB of empty space, or (this option is tricky for a beginner) you could add another hard disk so you install Linux there. There is no need for the person that will resize the partition to do anything else beside create empty space on HDD, Linux is clever enough to use any empty space without messing with your existing partitions. Of course, before any of that, it would be vise to backup all of your documents (write to DVD for instance).

Closes to what you want is running Linux in Virtual environment, and it involves installing program for virtualization like VirtualBox and then installing inside that virtual environment. You would run that program, start Linux virtual machine and use it normally but with speed penalty.
 
Old 10-04-2009, 04:40 AM   #4
tredegar
LQ 5k Club
 
Registered: May 2003
Location: London, UK
Distribution: Fedora38
Posts: 6,147

Rep: Reputation: 435Reputation: 435Reputation: 435Reputation: 435Reputation: 435
Quote:
In other words, could I just open the pen drive with a double click of the mouse and have Linux up and running off that device?
No, you need to boot from it. See here: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/
Quote:
I am an Amateur Radio freak and have lots of ham radio programs that I use regularly, can I still use them on Linux?
Probably not, but linux is likely to have programs with equivalent functionality.

Welcome to LQ!
 
Old 10-04-2009, 05:25 AM   #5
ajlewis2
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2003
Distribution: Ubuntu
Posts: 218

Rep: Reputation: 46
Another way is to install from inside Windows with Wubi. This will install it within the Windows partition. Then when you reboot, you will have the option to boot into Windows or Linux (Ubuntu). If you don't like it, you uninstall like any other windows application and reclaim the space. I installed this in a friend's computer and I don't see any difference in performance from my own install on a separate partition. The performance from a livecd is much slower. I've also used the usb drive and that was better than the livecd.

http://wubi-installer.org/

Anita
 
Old 10-04-2009, 12:44 PM   #6
DrLove73
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2009
Location: Srbobran, Serbia
Distribution: CentOS 5.5 i386 & x86_64
Posts: 1,118
Blog Entries: 1

Rep: Reputation: 129Reputation: 129
As for Windows programs, there is a way to use some of them. It will depend on how complicated and rooted in windows they are. There are Wine (regular Windows applications) and Mono (.Net Applications). Only way to know for sure is to try. You might need some help with Wine since some people were able to tweak Wine to run MS Office 2003, but first time user would fail in that task.
 
Old 10-04-2009, 01:34 PM   #7
smeezekitty
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2009
Location: Washington U.S.
Distribution: M$ Windows / Debian / Ubuntu / DSL / many others
Posts: 2,339

Rep: Reputation: 231Reputation: 231Reputation: 231
i recommend using a live cd to get used to linux
also i would definitely not sugjest ubuntu
unless you like constant face to do simple tasks
and lets not forget how "FUN" it is to get the internet working
 
Old 10-04-2009, 01:36 PM   #8
jmc1987
Member
 
Registered: Sep 2009
Location: Oklahoma
Distribution: Debian, CentOS, windows 7/10
Posts: 893

Rep: Reputation: 119Reputation: 119
The if you are a windows user just a heads up linux may be extremely difficult do to how windows spoils people. But once you start to get the feel of linux you might start liking it. Personally I uses Linux for Web Servers etc. For desktop I use windows and Ubuntu linux.

Any ways to answer your question. I first start off with DSL (Damn Small Linux) Based off of Debian. Its a live CD all you do it download it and burn it as a image with Power ISO Etc. Then be sure to set your bios to boot CD Drive then HD. Then just insert your CD and restart. It should boot your CD into linux. Use your pin drive to save stuff on.

I would suggest installing Linux on your HD with Windows and you just pick what you want to boot from Grub Boot loader. If you want windows to boot first then edit

/boot/grub/grub.conf or /boot/grub/grub.cfg or /boot/grub/menu.lst.

1 of those listed. It depends on your dist which 1 you would use.

To edit it you something like VI editor like this

# vi /boot/grub/grub.conf

but you need to understand the command of your editor. you could use nano editor as well.

Hope this helps. I know its a little off topic but just trying to give you heads up on something things you can do.
 
Old 10-04-2009, 01:36 PM   #9
repo
LQ 5k Club
 
Registered: May 2001
Location: Belgium
Distribution: Arch
Posts: 8,529

Rep: Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899Reputation: 899
Quote:
also i would definitely not sugjest ubuntu
unless you like constant face to do simple tasks
Why?
Do you mean unable to use the GUI as root?

Most distributions do this.
I don't see the problem.

Last edited by repo; 10-04-2009 at 01:38 PM.
 
Old 10-04-2009, 02:03 PM   #10
schneidz
LQ Guru
 
Registered: May 2005
Location: boston, usa
Distribution: fedora-35
Posts: 5,313

Rep: Reputation: 918Reputation: 918Reputation: 918Reputation: 918Reputation: 918Reputation: 918Reputation: 918Reputation: 918
my opinion is that the fedora live usb creator is the simplest to use.

they have created a multi-platform program for downloading and installing their live iso to a external usb drive so all the leg work is basically already done for you:
https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/

Last edited by schneidz; 10-04-2009 at 02:05 PM.
 
Old 10-04-2009, 03:26 PM   #11
smeezekitty
Senior Member
 
Registered: Sep 2009
Location: Washington U.S.
Distribution: M$ Windows / Debian / Ubuntu / DSL / many others
Posts: 2,339

Rep: Reputation: 231Reputation: 231Reputation: 231
i gave up on ubuntu months back
its kind of irritating to ask for password every 15 minits or simply say access denied
 
Old 10-04-2009, 04:13 PM   #12
thorkelljarl
Senior Member
 
Registered: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,819

Rep: Reputation: 229Reputation: 229Reputation: 229
That BIOS...

When you push the start button, your system will start a POST sequence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:POST_P5KPL.jpg

While the POST screen is in view, press the "pause" key and look for a notation of the key to press to enter Setup, or the key to press for a one-time boot.

Upon entering Setup, you will see a blue/green screen with instructions at the bottom for how to use the commands for that BIOS. The important thing is that one of the options will be "Exit without Saving" or something similar. You may open and look, making notes and consulting your motherboard manual or google for information. Closing the BIOS with "Exit without Saving" makes no changes in the BIOS and does no harm.

When you are familiar with the BIOS function and commands you can begin.

Look for an item "First Boot Device" and set this to CDROM, with "Second Booting Device" set as Hard Disk. Go further and choose "Save to CMOS and Exit" with a yes and enter.

Your system should proceed to boot, first looking to the CD drive for a bootable CD, and if it finds a linux live-cd, booting linux live.


If you look at the POST screen, you may see a key to press for choosing which device the BIOS should look to first for an operative system for this boot. Pressing that key will present a menu of devices where you can choose the CD drive and boot a live-cd.

This is the standard live-cd list.

http://www.livecdlist.com/

Last edited by thorkelljarl; 10-04-2009 at 04:20 PM.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Installing Nero Linux Trial. FlamingChainsaws Linux - Software 2 07-28-2008 04:49 PM
Cedega Time Trial issues (Mostly Starcraft & battle.net) Ekuliak Linux - Games 0 03-11-2006 02:53 PM
Can I get Photoshop CS2 Trial to work on Linux? IanPappas Linux - Software 8 09-29-2005 05:32 PM
BLFS Trial/Hard Time/Mplayer rvijay Linux From Scratch 5 01-09-2005 03:44 AM
2 week Linux trial... my findings plisken Linux - General 21 07-21-2004 09:56 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:24 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration