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BOOT CAMP 446 (17/10/06)
Installing Linux part 1
A few weeks
ago, in Faqs! Facts! Fax! 531 (10/09/06) in response to a query about the DT Mk
II ‘Vista Ready’ computer (Boot Camp 436) I casually mentioned that if anyone
was interested in finding out about how to install Linux on this machine they
should write in, and you did!
The sizeable
response was unexpected, and not just from DT MK II builders, so in the next
few episodes of Boot Camp we are going to be looking at how to install Linux on
a Windows XP computer in a dual-boot configuration, so at switch on you will
have a choice of operating systems. We’ll also deal with a single boot (i.e.
Linux only) installation, so there’s something for everyone. If you just want
to get a flavour of Linux, without compromising your system have a look at Boot
Camp 403, which looks at a version of Linux that boots directly from a CD.
I have to
warn you that the dual-boot procedure we’ll be using is not without risk so I
urge you not to try it on your main PC unless you have backed up all of your
irreplaceable files and are prepared to accept the consequences of something
going wrong. There is a small chance you could lose your XP system and if you
do get into difficulties we are unable to provide technical help so consider
yourself duly warned!
Let’s begin
with a checklist of the things you will need. First your PC should be
reasonably up to date and in good health. If your system is flaky or you have
any hardware problems installing Linux will not improve the situation…
You will
need somewhere to put Linux and in an ideal world that will be on a separate
partition on your hard disc drive (i.e. the drive is split into two or more
‘logical’ or virtual drives). However, the chances of you having a spare unused
partition handy, or enough ‘unallocated’ space on your drive to create one are
very small. That leaves us with two alternatives; you can install a second or
‘slave’ drive exclusively for Linux, or put your faith in Linux and allow it to
create a new partition from the free space on your drive.
Most
versions or ‘distributions’ of Linux are quite small and do not take up much
space, you can get away with as little as a 5 gigabytes but I recommend
allocating at least 20Gb to it, preferably more if you are going to be using it
seriously. If you are running out of space on your hard drive or it has become
cluttered and fragmented the chances of something going wrong at the
partitioning stage are higher so don’t take chances! If you still want to go
ahead you should carry out a thorough clean up of your drive including running
the Windows defrag utility and disc error checker (in Windows Explorer or My
Computer right-click the hard drive icon and select the Tools tab).
The only other
thing you will need is a copy of Linux. There are many distributions to choose
from -- almost 400 at the last count -- but the good news is that many of them
are absolutely free. That’s one of the many benefits of Open Source software,
but there is a catch. The freebie versions are all in the form of downloads and
you will need to be able to burn a CD (possibly several) or a DVD from an ISO
file. It’s not difficult (see this weeks Top Tip) but it can be a bit daunting
if you never done it before and time consuming if you don’t have a lighting
fast broadband connection. Alternatively you can use a ready-made copy of
Linux, they are widely available from PC stores, on the web and ebay from
around £5 upwards so it’s not going to break the bank, but the big question is
which one to use?
Every Linux
expert and aficionado will have their own favourite and the currently trendy
and topical Ubuntu was high on my
list of candidates but in the end I’ve plumped for a tried and tested
distribution called Mandriva
(formerly Mandrake).
There’s
nothing to stop you using one of the others -- and many of the steps involved
in the installation are exactly the same -- but you will be on your own when it
comes to crucial things like disc partitioning. Mandriva scores highly with the
simplicity and reliability of its partitioning tools. It’s also been around for
a while, so it’s well housetrained. It’s very easy to use, ideal for beginners
and if you want to take the plunge, it’s a very credible alternative to
Windows.
NEXT WEEK – Installing Linux,
part 2
JARGON FILTER
DISTRIBUTION
A
complete Linux package containing the main operating software, a ‘shell’ or
desktop program plus a selection of popular applications
ISO FILE
International Standards
Organisation Image file (aka ISO 9660) a representation or ‘image’ of the
contents and filing structure of a program installation disc
OPEN
SOURCE
Software
with minimal licensing and broad, often free distribution, which users are
encouraged to help develop
TOP TIP
If you want to download
and burn your own copy of Mandriva make sure that you have sufficient space on
your hard drive to store the file, which is around 4.3Gb. For the sake of
simplicity I suggest using the DVD version (assuming your have a DVD writer) if
not you will have to use the CD version and burn 4 discs.
The download is in the
form of an ISO file and although you can use applications like Roxio Media
Creator and Nero Burning to make a disc the quick and simple method is a
freeware utility like ImgBurn.
Once installed open
ImgBurn, make sure your CD/DVD burner is showing in the Destination box, select
the Mandriva download as the Source File and Burn Speed of x2 or x4 (the slower
the better) and click the Record button.
---end---
© R. Maybury 2006, 0410
Part 2 3 4
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