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| Thread ID: 96227 | 2009-01-03 10:14:00 | Disk Partitioning for dual systems | ZapperBoy10647 (11988) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 734703 | 2009-01-03 19:58:00 | Yes definitely try ubuntu if you don't have to download it, as it is by far the easiest one to try out first and as said above can be installed inside windows, if you have limited bandwidth and need to download one then try Puppy or Damn small linux as they are less than 100mb to download | gary67 (56) | ||
| 734704 | 2009-01-03 23:39:00 | OK, before we start... your sig says you have a 350GB harddrive; how much of that are you using, how much of it is free. If you have not used Linux before (or even if you have used it once or twice) I would suggest a live CD, whereby the CD loads Linux into your system RAM and it runs from there. Live CD's I would suggest: PCLinuxOS, Mepis, or Ubuntu You will have to download these (or maybe a forum user will send you a copy if you ask). Once you have played round with a LiveCD and like what you see, then I would suggest you get hold of an old harddrive, and install onto that (or as Jen suggested, there are Linux distros that will install into a windows folder - this would be much more advisable initially) But play with Live versions first, let us know how you get on, then maybe we can give you install instructions specific to the distro you like 320gb. and ive ordered a ubuntu disk but it wont be here for 6-10 weeks so i think i need to iso burn it or w/e. |
ZapperBoy10647 (11988) | ||
| 734705 | 2009-01-03 23:41:00 | First off, you'll want to try something like Ubuntu: www.ubuntu.com If you choose something else, thats fine, but we'll pretend for now you're going to try Ubuntu (Because its the most widely adopted. With Linux there's nothing to stop you trying all of them if you really wanted). Just to clarify, I say "try" because you can load it up and everything runs off the CD without touching the rest of your HDD, no repartitioning needed. Its really quite cool the first time you see it. It'll let you see what Linux is like without having to worry about killing your PC. Now if I remember rightly PCW had the .iso file on their DVD, so you'll need to copy that to your HDD or download from ^^ Once its downloaded, the easiest way to burn it is with: http://isoburn.sourceforge.net/ Or: http://www.imgburn.com/ Either will do just fine. I say use either of those two because countless people waste discs using the built-in Windows XP CD Burning etc, all they are doing is copying the .iso file back to a CD. Thats fine generally, but what you're wanting to do is write all the information thats contained in the .iso file AS the CD (Sorry if this seems a bit above / beneath you, I figure why not explain, just-in-case). The .iso file contains potentially thousands of files, which your PC needs to see as it turns on in order to load linux. Now, presumably you've burned everything correctly, you'll want to pop the disc back in and shutdown your PC. Now, turn it back on and be ready to enter your PC's BIOS, usually with either F2, DEL, F10 or F12. Mash all of those buttons and one is bound to get you into your BIOS Be careful what you do in there, you could mess with things you probably shouldnt ... but what you want to do is figure out how to change your Boot Priority / Boot Order so the CD Drive is checked before your Hard Drives. Do that and when you Save and Quit from the BIOS you should hear your CD drive whirr into life and an on-screen display showing you its about to load Ubuntu Linux. From there, I believe it has a built-in non-destructive partitioner (but that'd need confirming) that you can use to help with the installation :) Cheers and good luck Chill. Yeah i know. ill just have 2 press delete a few times before it comes up with my bios enter current password form. and so what youre telling me is windows wont boot up just the live cd disk? am i right? -p.s sorry for the double post |
ZapperBoy10647 (11988) | ||
| 734706 | 2009-01-03 23:43:00 | It wont boot up from CD unless you go into the Bios and change the boot order to 1st boot cd2nd boot HDD etc. It might already be set like this sometimes they are, you'll just have to have a look and no windows won't boot it | gary67 (56) | ||
| 734707 | 2009-01-04 06:46:00 | Just to clarify, I say "try" because you can load it up and everything runs off the CD without touching the rest of your HDD, no repartitioning needed . Its really quite cool the first time you see it . It'll let you see what Linux is like without having to worry about killing your PC . Be careful what you do in there, you could mess with things you probably shouldnt . . . but what you want to do is figure out how to change your Boot Priority / Boot Order so the CD Drive is checked before your Hard Drives . First you say "without having to worry about killing your pc" and then u say "be careful" what normal computer user would not worry about killing their pc in the bios? |
pcuser7895 (12979) | ||
| 734708 | 2009-01-04 07:09:00 | There are a lot of "trimmed down" bioses, more common in laptops. Take the EeePC for example :) | Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 734709 | 2009-01-04 08:40:00 | Justa thought ZapperBoy google copyleft or look in an old mag near the back they distribute the Linux CD's for NZ and are in Dunedin I think | gary67 (56) | ||
| 734710 | 2009-01-04 09:21:00 | I don't know if mines trimmed down but i don't touch it unless i know what part im affecting. | ZapperBoy10647 (11988) | ||
| 734711 | 2009-01-04 10:08:00 | Boot order generally has its own "Tab" in the BIOS, so you'll be fine. There are advanced settings you can mess with, but they're usually not on the main / first tab, or the Boot process tab, so you're pretty safe :) If in doubt, just come back here and ask, we'll sort ya out ;) |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
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