[Locke]

If I download Linux, let's say Ubuntu. I download it, then what happens to my old OS? What happens to all my stuff? My files? Applications? Etc.?

The reason I want to do this is because my University uses Linux(not Ubuntu...Fedora) for their systems, and they only take submitted homework in the form of .tar.gz files. As you know, Windows cannot make these (to my knowledge). So I want to download Linux to be able to make these files anywhere, and submit them to my professor, and not have to frantically try to find a Linux machine somewhere if I don't have access to the Linux Lab in my Engineering building?

I heard that PsychoCoder has a dual-boot. Meaning...that he can choose which system to boot when he starts his computer?

So, if I do this, can I still access all of my files that I have currently on my Linux system? Basically, does the computer just ask me when I start it up "Which OS would you like to boot?" (or something to that effect)?

I'm kinda skeptical about actually doing this, since I don't know what would happen to all my stuff...

So whadya think? Can ya help me out?

[no2pencil]

Locke37, on 1 Oct, 2008 - 03:35 PM, said:

If I download Linux, let's say Ubuntu. I download it, then what happens to my old OS? What happens to all my stuff? My files? Applications? Etc.?

If you install Linux (or any OS) over your existing OS, you will format the drive, therefor erasing all of your data.

If you download & burn a bootable "live" distrobution, then nothing will happen to your existing OS or data. You will simply use the systems memory (if you are familiar w/ Ram Disk) as your operating space. When you shut down the PC nothing is saved.

You can setup a dual Boot, as you mentioned. The setup for this will be OS & boot loader specific.

A simpler solution for your exact situation might be to run Cygwin or another type of Bash Shell within Windows. This way you can create your tar ball (tar.gz) on the Windows OS.

[Locke]

no2pencil, on 1 Oct, 2008 - 12:44 PM, said:

Locke37, on 1 Oct, 2008 - 03:35 PM, said:

If I download Linux, let's say Ubuntu. I download it, then what happens to my old OS? What happens to all my stuff? My files? Applications? Etc.?

If you install Linux (or any OS) over your existing OS, you will format the drive, therefor erasing all of your data.

If you download & burn a bootable "live" distrobution, then nothing will happen to your existing OS or data. You will simply use the systems memory (if you are familiar w/ Ram Disk) as your operating space. When you shut down the PC nothing is saved.

You can setup a dual Boot, as you mentioned. The setup for this will be OS & boot loader specific.

A simpler solution for your exact situation might be to run Cygwin or another type of Bash Shell within Windows. This way you can create your tar ball (tar.gz) on the Windows OS.

Well crap.

This Cygwin you speak of, where can I...acquire...it?

[no2pencil]

Why from Cygwin.com of course!

[Locke]

no2pencil, on 1 Oct, 2008 - 12:50 PM, said:

Why from Cygwin.com of course!

Shoulda guessed.

[baavgai]

Tar for Windows, first google hit. There is a flag in newer versions of tar to use gzip (-z) or even bzip2 (-j).

Something like "tar zvcf foo.tar.gz folderName" should do it for you.

Still, Cygwin is fun to play with; it's just kind of massive.

[Locke]

Correct me if I'm wrong...but you said...

tar zvcf ...

Shouldn't there be a '-' before the zvcf?

[baavgai]

Locke37, on 1 Oct, 2008 - 04:11 PM, said:

Shouldn't there be a '-' before the zvcf?

Never underestimate the power of really old commands; arguments are basically arbitrary, after all. The Windows version may have a '-', but for many *nix versions it's optional. For real command line pain, there's always dd...

[Locke]

Oh, well in our Linux Lab, they just told us to use the '-'. So that's the way I learned.

[MorphiusFaydal]

On *nix, it's optional. Half the time, I put it there out of habit, and the other half, I just drop it. The hyphen isn't optional on all programs, either.

If you want to give Linux a try on your computer, I'd say download Ubuntu, and run it in LiveCD mode for a while, and if you like it, look up a tutorial on repartitioning your hard drive to make some room.

You will probably be able to get at your Windows files from Linux, but almost certainly not the other way around.

[Locke]

That tar for Windows thing isn't working. It comes up with an error saying...

Error: Function not defined
Error non-recoverable: terminating now

Or something to those effects...*sigh*

MorphiusFaydal, on 1 Oct, 2008 - 01:59 PM, said:

On *nix, it's optional. Half the time, I put it there out of habit, and the other half, I just drop it. The hyphen isn't optional on all programs, either.

If you want to give Linux a try on your computer, I'd say download Ubuntu, and run it in LiveCD mode for a while, and if you like it, look up a tutorial on repartitioning your hard drive to make some room.

You will probably be able to get at your Windows files from Linux, but almost certainly not the other way around.

Also, how would I go about running it in LiveCD mode?

This post has been edited by Locke37: 01 October 2008 - 08:41 PM

[GWatt]

burn the iso image to a cd,
put the cd in your cd drive,
reboot,
make sure the computer is set to boot from cd.

[MorphiusFaydal]

GWatt, on 1 Oct, 2008 - 10:48 PM, said:

burn the iso image to a cd,
put the cd in your cd drive,
reboot,
make sure the computer is set to boot from cd.

And when the menu comes up; hit "enter". It'll say something like "start or install ubuntu". You can't actually install ubuntu until you click an icon on the desktop, so.... No worries about accidentally installing it.

[homemade-jam]

Is it possible to detect the usage of a livecd on a machine?

i.e. Does it leave any lasting marks of it having been booted?

[no2pencil]

homemade-jam, on 2 Oct, 2008 - 05:35 AM, said:

Does it leave any lasting marks of it having been booted?

No, it boots off the DVD/CDRom as a boot device & creates a Ram Disk. A section in Ram where it acts as storage.

The hard drive, just happens to be a device attached to the system.

In a *nix world a drive does not have to be in use. You can mount it & read from it, as well as unmount it & leave it there as a device not being used.