Note: These instructions are for those who want to have both linux and windows in their PC.
Before installing linux into your pc, it is better to know a little bit about linux.
Linux is an open source Operating system. Open source means that the source code used to create the operating system is revealed to the public. The main advantage of such a step is that more people get to see the code and fix bugs faster and easier. And above all, Linux is free to download and install. You dont have to pay dime to get linux.Its FREE.
Since it is open source, many software companies distribute their linux distribution or version into the market for free. Most of distributions are same in their functionality, but they differ only in the look and feel of desktop.
1) Choosing the distribution:
Some of the reliable and popular distributions are :
To choose the distribution, go to the website of these distributions and browse their features.
Ubuntu ( http://www.ubuntu.com)
OpenSuse ( http://www.opensuse.org)
Redhat linux-Fedora (http://www.fedoraproject.org)
Debian (http://www.debian.org)
Mandriva (http://www.mandriva.com)
As said earlier, most of these distributions are same in their functionality, but they differ only in the look and feel of the desktop.
2) Download
After choosing the distribution, go to the download page of the distribution.
In the download page, you will be provided a CD/DVD image( .iso files) of the distribution to download.
CD images will be in the range of 650-690 MB and DVD images will be in the range of 3.9 – 4.4 GB.
Please remeber that downloading linux with a dial up internet connection is not recommended because the download speed will be very slow. Broadband internet connection is recommended to download linux.
3)Write the image:
Then you must write that image file into a CD/DVD.
If the image size is about 700MB
1.Insert a CD-R into your CD drive
2.Use Nero or other CD writing program to write the image
If the image size is about 4GB
1. Insert a DVD into your CD drive
2. Use Nero or other DVD writing program to write the image
Complete the writing process.
You may take out that CD/DVD out after the writing process but it is needed during the reboot of your computer.
The CD/DVD in which you wrote that image file is called LIVE CD/DVD
4) Reboot:
Put that CD/DVD into the CD drive.
Then restart your computer.
Note :when you reboot the computer, the system will load the files from the CD/DVD in which you wrote the image file.
Live CD:
Live CD is a means of test driving linux. Usually when you want to try an operating system or any other program, you will install it in your PC and try it.
But Live CD allows you to try linux and decide whether you want to install it by loading from the CD/DVD without ever installing linux.
If you dont like it,
you can reboot the system and take off the CD/DVD from the drive.Go back to windows.
you may want to download and try another version or distribution of linux. In that case go to download page of another distribution and do the same steps.
If you like it:
Options will be shown to you on the desktop of Live CD/DVD version of linux. just click “Install” and you will start installing linux into your PC.
Installation process
The installation process varies between distributions.
But the questions which the program ask are very simple like name, address, time zone, desktop name, password.
Note in the installing process:
In the installation process, there will be a question of partition. If you are a pro, you can change the partition size and things related to it. If you are a beginner, just select “ Use the largest continuous free space” and continue the installation process.
After installation:
After the installation process, you will be prompted to take the CD/DVD from the drive. Then the system will reboot.
At every reboot, you will asked to select the operating system to start. Choose your option accordingly.
I hope that the instruction given above will be useful to you. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.
