Linux & Unix installation on Windows!

[DaYiM]

Hello,
i don't no if this the right forum or not, but i wanted to ask:-
1. What is the major Difference between the two?
2. I read that Linux came from Unix, but why?
is it better? or is it the developed version of Unix?
& the important question:-
3. Can i install both of them while keeping my W.7 SAFE?
or i can only install one of them with Windows 7?
Thanks & Best REGARDS

Why i put this thread:
i know that there is all kind of questions & there answer for this matter,
but the thing is i want it simple; because many of the concepts & description is way
beyond my simple knowledge in PC, which is restricted in Windows.

[arespi]

Well maybe this belongs to the newbie forum but here are some quick answers:
* windows is an operating system (OS), it is what makes you computer work
* "Riding" on top of the OS there are applications (think word, excel, iexplore) that make the computer do a spacific thing.
* Unix and linux are operating systems , you dont install unix or linux over windows as an application (except as a virtual machine but thats another whole history).
* Unix was developed basically as a mainframe (big computer) OS, for having a copy of it you would have to pay big $$$ in software licenses.
* Linux started as a project of a student (Linus Torvalds) to have an OS that could be similar to unix , have similar commands, etc. but all from scratch, he released it to anybody who would like to add things to it and it grow to be what we know today.
* I am not aware of any UNIX that can be installed on a PC, there are unix-like derivatives like linux and BSD, those you can install in your PC.
* In your computer hard disk you can have windows and linux and when you install linux it will add a "boot manager" that will let you choose at boot time what do you want to use, linux or windows but there are many threads already about installing linux on a windows computer , just know it can be safely done.

[hazel]

There is a program called cygwin that you can install in Windows which gives you a Linux-like application interface. You can then run native Linux applications under it, provided that you build them from source.

[DaYiM]

Thanks alot guys, two questions please:-
1. is BSD like Linux uses or different?
2. about cygwin is it safe to run this program &
start original/full Linux system above the windows?
( while the windows is still running, on the W & the hardware )
thanks again

[arespi]

Yes, BSD is very similar to linux, (as both are unix derivatives, like cousins )somehow it didnt get the attention linux have and there are less developers working on it. But still it is very stable and secure.

Yes cygwin is safe, I only used it a few times a long time ago, not really sure if it can run a full linux.

What you could do is use a live-cd. There are many linux distributions you can get on a CD or USB and boot your computer from them and everithing runs in RAM, without installing on the hard drive, this way your windows is untouched.

Other option is to use a Virtul Machine, if you have enough hardware (lets say a dual core, 2gb ram or more) you can download Vmware player for free (there are others but i like vmware) and also you can download linux virtual machines from the vmware site and then you can run linux over windows. Thats ok for testing it, but if you really want to use it, i would recommend install linux and use dual boot instead.

Good luck

[DaYiM]

thanks alot