Can you install Ubuntu 7.4 (linux) on a windows PC?

Question

I have been looking on Ebay trying to find an installation cd for Linux I found would that would be good but im not sure that I will be able to install it on my Windows PC?, and if I can, what if I wanted to change back to windows can I do that?

Answer 1

Yes, but you'd need a some free space to create partition(s).

You can download Ubuntu for free, btw.

Answer 2

From Ubuntu's site you can either request a free CD by post (up to 4 weeks wait) or download a CD image which you burn to a CD-R via a standard burning program (it's a large file, so I'd only recommend it on broadband).
Also make sure your computer meets the min. requirements.

Ubuntu is a live CD, so you can boot from the CD to try it and see if you like it without installing (it will be slow in this mode).
I strongly recommend trying first.

Ubuntu can be installed so as to dual boot with Windows (i.e. when your computer starts you'll be asked what OS to boot into) - one nice, if slightly fiddly way to install, is to buy a 2nd hard drive, temporarily remove your Windows drive, and then install Ubuntu to this new drive. Then, put your Windows drive back as slave/secondary and with a bit of text editing you can
have 2 OS's on 2 different drives. If you don't like Ubuntu you can just replace the Windows drive back as master, Ubuntu as slave, and format the Ubuntu drive.

Or format Windows if you like it so much! I can guide you if you need more advice.

From a security, freedom and clutter stand point, Ubuntu wins. Commercially, Windows still caters for most from a hardware/software standpoint. But this may change with incremental development.

Answer 3

You can actually run Ubuntu from a LiveCD without installing it. It will give you a general idea of what it is like but it is much slower to run an operating system from a CD rather than a hard drive. It's up to you whether you want to install it.

If you do install Linux then it will create a dual boot (GRUB). If you want to uninstall it at a later stage then it is not straight forward as you have to alter the MBR (master boot record) and reformat your disk if you want Windows to recognise your former Linux partition.

Answer 4

It's possible to have both on your computer. If you want to just have one Operating system, then just don't lose your Windows CD. If you just want one operation system, then just put in the Linux CD and install it. Then if you want to get rid of it, put your Windows CD in format your harddrive and reinstall it.

If you want both you'll have to partition your hard drive, One for windows and one for Linux, the Linux hard drive should be a FAT 32, you can do this with a program called Partition Magic. The trial version is free I think. You then have to delete the partition you made for Linux, from Windows (you can do that in the Control Panel). Then put the linux CD in and when your installing tell it to install to that one Partition. Then when you boot your computer you'll be asked which operation system you want to run, Ubuntu or Windows. Hope this helped

Answer 5

every Linux is designed to co-exist with anything else that could be on a PC, Windows included. This is "dual-boot".

Ubuntu is free completely, so I second others' comment to get a burn disc yourself. But I think Ubuntu is one of the few that assumes totally wiped HD as default, so be careful in installation.

Answer 6

Yes, you can. I have both Windows XP Home and Ubuntu running on my desktop right now. I chose to dual boot because I like the functionality and feeling of Linux, but still have some programs I have to switch to XP for (Desktop publishing files, etc.).
It is kinda tricky, if you haven't played around with Linux before.
Search the internet for dual booting and find a site with a good step-by-step process you can print out (key here: print out...)
I'll copy a link below, but you may be able to find a better solution.
You can download ISOs (files to burn your own installation CD) from websites (www.ubuntu.com)
Lastly, backup. backup backup.

Answer 7

a: you dont need to look on ebay to find an installation CD. Ubunntu is free, download the CD FROM their website (here is the link in case you cannot find it)
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

download and burn viola.. you just saved yourself 9.95 in shipping and handling..

b: yes you can "dual-boot" linux and windows on the same PC. Just be careful and not wipe out your harddrive when you set up your harddrive to do this..

there are lots of documents online on how to setup a dual boot system on your pC and to revert it if you get tired of it.

Answer 8

you may deploy 32 bit OS on hardware outfitted for 32 or sixty 4 bit processing. you may in easy terms deploy sixty 4 bit OS on sixty 4 bit shape. Your hardware in all possibilities are high no longer sufficient sufficient for homestead windows 7 you may purely track up your XP and have it run like a appealing returned - run a disk cleanup, disk verify (scandisk) and a disk defrag additionally delete each little thing interior the folder C:WindowsPrefectch - heavily do no longer understand what's the factor of that folder yet I delete it all the time) additionally delete any old consumer data in C:information and Settings Like if "Steve" used that laptop 5 years in the past yet under no circumstances touches it now you may delete the Steve itemizing and it might unencumber some area additionally you may spend a pair of greenbacks on getting 2GB entire RAM and that ingredient would be smokin quickly!