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This page guides you through the easy process of Linux installation. Why? you may ask. Well, let me list the many advantages Linux has over Windows.
1) No Viruses and Spyware
2) Most Linux software is free
3) Linux itself is free, so you're not supporting some corporation that only cares about earning money. (The Microsoft corporation is an example.)
4) No fancy colors, effects, 3D, or colorful icons that eat up your RAM memory.
5) Way less bugs and flaws than Vista.
6) No annoying popup windows telling you about unimportant updates.
7) Not getting hacked(because hackers focus mainly on Windows.)
8) Multiple workspaces
9) Most games will work with an emulator. Plus Linux has some good games of its own.
10) No trial/demo crap that comes with Windows.
11) Fast startup/shutdown times if you have a computer that's 1-4 years old.
12) Highly customizable. If you try to modify the source code of Windows, Microsoft sues you. If you try to modify Linux, nobody will slap you with a lawsuit.
13) A lot of software works out of the box with Linux. (Quicken, Flash MX, Notepad, Microsoft Word all work with no modifications, using WINE. Click here to get wine.
14) Longer battery runtimes if you're using a laptop.
15) And last, but not least, less CRASHES, ERRORS, and CRAP!
If that long, carefully compiled list did not convince you, there's no hope for you(Except for graphic professionals, I can understand the need for Flash CS3 and Photoshop CS3). I'm comparing Linux to Windows only. If you have a Mac, then you already have the best OS. Linux is for those who like free stuff, have slow computers, for tinkerers/inventors, and for those who are just sick of Windows and can't afford a Mac. But if you have the money, go straight to apple and get yourselves the best computer on the market.
This is my Linux page. This is where I write down all my knowledge of installing linux. I'll try to keep it simple. This guide assumes you have a basic knowledge of windows, and that you know the basic computer abbreviations. If not, then go to wikipedia.org and search all the terms. Thisguide also assumes you have some patience. It will take a few hours to download and install. Plus, it will take you a few days to learn how everything works in Ubuntu, because the interface is slightly different. Also, this installation guide will work only with windows 2000/xp. Vista and Mac are not yet supported in Wubi. If you are using Windows Vista or Mac, go to the very bottom of this page for the CD installation method, which you need a working CD drive for. Only the installation methods are different. After installation, Linux runs the same, no matter what kind of original Operating System you have. Also, make sure you have he patience for booting Linux once its installed. It takes about 20 mins for me, but that's with my 7-year old laptop. For newer computers, it should be much faster.
8-14-2007.WARNING- DO NOT RUN WUBI UNTIL YOU READ THIS WHOLE ARTICLE! I'm running Linux on my old toshiba laptop. How do you think I got it to run, considering my CD drive is broken? Wubi. Wubi is an awesome installer. You can find it at: http://wubi-installer.org/. It's safe, because: 1) It doesn't modify your hard drive, 2) it automatically partitions your hard drive for you, and 3) it does everything all by itself. BUT- you have to have at least 4 gigabytes of memory on your hard drive(To check, go to my computer, and right click on C:, then select properties. Thats how you can see exactly how much memory you have left on your hard drive). 8 gigabytes are recommended for optimal use, because the installation uses up about 4 gigs. Once you've downloaded wubi, make sure all your applications are closed, and start wubi. It will prompt you for: name, password, ubuntu version, and language. It will also ask how much memory you want to partition for linux. Basically, a partition "divides" your hard drive. After partitioning, your computer will "have" two hard drives. Here is what wubi looks like:
Although it says D: in the illustration, its better to choose C:. For laptop users, its better to install linux on the internal hard drive, so that linux will always work, no matter where you go with your laptop. For desktop users, it makes no difference. Just choose the bigger drive. Now, the language is what language linux will be in, so choose carefully. Write down your Username and password, as you will need it to log on to linux. Now, for the confusing part. See the desktop environment tab? There are several different versions of ubuntu available. They are: Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu, and Ubuntu studio. Now, let me briefly describe the features of each version.
Ubuntu- Versatile, for everything, most linux apps work. Easy to use. Requires 4 gigabytes, and 512 mb of ram.
Kubuntu- same as Ubuntu, but with a different interface. It has less applications available for it, though.Requirements are the same as ubuntu's.
Edubuntu- Good for schools, as edubuntu is focused towards educational work. See above for requirements.
Xubuntu- Good for older PC's. Less applications for it, though. It only requires 1.5 gigs and 128 mb of ram.
Ubuntu studio- Good only if you are a graphics designer/DJ/Audiophile. Comes with many apps designed for multimedia. Some of the apps for it are rather demanding, so choose this only if you have a computer less than 2 years old. Requires more than 4 gigabytes, and need 1 gigabyte of ram for good performance.
Here are screenshots from all of the versions:
Some of the screenshots are distorted because they are too large to fit into the page. If you want these screenshots in full size, you could copy and paste them, save them, or go to wikipedia (which is where I got these screenshots from).
Ubuntu-
Kubuntu- while running Konquerer
Edubuntu-
Xubuntu-
Ubuntu Studio- while running Ardour 2 (sound editor)
So, are you done looking at the pretty screenshots? They'll look even better once they're on your computer. Anyway, moving on! Now, you can follow along with your computer.
Now that you've chosen your version, its time to install your version. Press the "install" button. 2 loading bars should appear next. The top one should start moving instantly. Once about 75% of the top bar loads, it will start connecting to the ubuntu servers. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST A DSL CONNECTION AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ON! Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Edubuntu are all about 700 mb. With my cheap DSL connection it took me approximately 3 hours to download. Xubuntu is about 400~500 mb. Ubuntu Studio is around 800~900 mb. If Wubi can connect to the Ubuntu servers, then the bottom bar will start to slowly move. It will show percentage of download, total filesize, how much mb you've downloaded, and your connection speed. *** A recommendation- download either in the morning, or after 1 am, because DSL tends to run faster during those times, because people don't use it as much during those times.*** Once you've finished downloading, Wubi will recommend restarting your computer. Check the "restart" box in the wubi window, and click "finish." Once your computer reboots, it should prompt you on which operating system to run. Use the arrow keys to select which OS you want, and press enter. Now Ubuntu will display what looks like a whole bunch of gibberish. After that, a loading bar should appear. Thanks to Wubi, you don't have to create a partition. This is what the bar should look like. (the text below the bar may vary).
Now, you pick up a book, or read a magazine, because this will take a good hour or so. The process is automatic, but you should stay near the computer, while periodically checking the progress to make sure there are no problems. Once it installs, it will probably ask some questions, or it will prompt to restart the computer. After the computer restarts, select [whatever version you chose] from the list and press enter. The first bootup might take a while, because [Whatever version you chose] is configuring itself.
You'll see a black screen with a bunch of white letter gibberish. This is completely normal. MAKE SURE NOT TO TYPE ANYTHING IN THE BLACK SCREEN, AS IT MAY AFFECT YOUR LINUX OS. After a while, the login screen will appear. Type in the username you chose in Wubi, and press enter. Then, type in the password you chose in Wubi. Now, your desktop should load. Congratulations on installing Linux! From now on, your computer will ask you to choose your operating system. When your version of Linux is loading, there should be a loading bar. Some jerkiness, and white gibberish is normal. Well, that's just about it, with installing Linux. For the CD installation technique, look in the paragraph below, which should be available in a few days or so.
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