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Before you can install Linux, you need to decide on one of the
"distributions" or flavors of Linux you wish to use. There are many
different distributions available. All are freely available for
download from DistroWatch. For the sake
of brevity we will cover how to install Ubuntu.
First go to Ubuntu.com and download the current
release.
All distributions are basically the same since they run on the same code
base. There are differences that all users should be aware of. Some
distributions focus on security through obscurity and make it hard for
users to get software working. Other distributions like
Debian focus on both security and
ease of use. Ubuntu is based on
Debian Linux.
Once you have downloaded the ISO file you can open it in your CD or DVD
burning software and write it onto a blank CD or DVD. Now it is time to
decide how you want to install the software. Your options are to
completely erase windows and install Linux as your only operating
system, install it alongside your current OS (dual boot), or install it
inside a virtual machine. One note on MicroSoft virtual machine.
Do NOT Use IT! It is not really a VM and it may actually harm your
windows installation. There is a better, open source solution, available
from Oracle called
VirtualBox. I have chosen to run
Ubuntu as my only host operating system on my computer, and run Windows
inside VirtualBox to test different versions of Internet Explorer, but I digress.
After you decide how you will use the software, launch the installation
disk by rebooting your computer and hit the F12 key repeatedly during the
initial boot sequence if you want to replace Windows or dual boot your
computer. Look for our section on
"
How to install Linux in VirtualBox
" for a quick tutoral on how to create a new virtual machine using
VirtualBox.
The rest is simple, follow the on screen instructions and you will be
up & running in no time.