how do i make the jump from microsoft to linux without losing information?

Question

i've tried downloading ubuntu from the internet but it doesn't install itself. it is only a demo style application. how can i become fully linux / ubuntu operated

Answer 1

Ubuntu is a Live CD and a full installer. You should be able to install it. You can run Windows and Linux on one computer, as long as you install Windows first. (Windows must be the fist thing on the hard drive. (It's stupid.)) You shouldn't even need to reformat as long as you have an extra partition on your drive.

Answer 2

As others have said, you've downloaded the LiveCD which is fine. You did right.

Make sure you have a free partition on your hard drive to install Linux to. Go into your BIOS, make it boot from the CD, reboot the computer with the CD in the drive and the CD will boot up and show you Linux fully working, it won't touch your Windows stuff so don't worry there. Make sure all your hardware is working fine before you install it to your spare partition.

And don't worry about Windows, the Linux CD will install a multi-boot menu that will let you boot either one of the two.

Once your in Linux you will be able to set up a link to your Windows partition where you can copy over any Windows files you might need.

Answer 3

The only downloads I see on Ubuntu's site appear to be ISO images which you burn to a cd, then boot your computer from this cd to do the install. Instructions are here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto

Maybe you downloaded some preview application?
An ISO image would be about 700MB.

You need to have a disk partition (or another hard drive) available for installing ubuntu onto.

If you don't need to run windows anymore, you could backup any data you want from windows and wipe it out completely. Though a dual boot setup is probably safer, especially if you have the drive space. I believe the ubuntu installer has a partitioning section to allow you to repartition your drive.

Answer 4

Novell suse linux has a live dvd version which is the best I have used you can do all most everything with it, if your using it on a home system. it finds all your hardware. I have downloaded it and use it for the internet, Yes you can set it up and go on the internet with Novell Suse Live DVD
Best ever. brought out to date
and You can use all the software on the dvd as if it was installed on your hard disk drive, it needs minimum of 256 meg of ram to run cause it all runs from memory,
and while i'm on the net I can do everything, read my mail. surf and know if a hacker gets on my system they can't access my hard drives go to
www,novell.com/suse

Love it