running linux on windows xp home edition?

[drmoore1]

Is there anyway to do this? The Microsoft virtual PC says I do not have a required OS since I do not have pro. Is there any alternative? I know nothing about linux yet but hope to start learning if I can get past this. Thank you.

[thesimplecreator]

Qemu is a very good emulator
i have windows xp home edition and i installed debian linux on it.

here is the website. if you need help or questions about it just ask
QEMU on Windows

[scm]

Use a Live CD until you're hooked (which you will be!) and then either dump XP or set your machine up to dual boot.

[drmoore1]

I think I'm going to try this emulator until I get a live cd worked out. Where can I find out how to get one/make one and where can I get information of a dual-boot? Thanks.

Edit: qemu is more complicated than I expected even after reading the read me not sure how to make anything work. Any ideas or advice or can someone explain how to set up in a simpler way? Thanks

[Jonathan183]

I think I'm going to try this emulator until I get a live cd worked out. Where can I find out how to get one/make one and where can I get information of a dual-boot? Thanks.

You will find links to the download pages from the forums, you can also use distrowatch to find the distro you want and either download or order a cd online.

If you decide to download yourself make sure you check the burning CD info to avoid common problems.

Most distro installers will setup dual boot for you automatically.

[drmoore1]

Hmm alright I have already downloaded ubuntu. Now what? I can not click on it and make it run. None of the files from qemu seem to make it run either? What am I doing wrong?

Also let me note it is only an iso image. Does that mean burning it on a cd is my only option and I need something else to actually use the emulator on?

[Manchunian]

To get Ubuntu to work as a live cd, you need first to go into the BIOS (by pressing F2, or F12, or esc...) and set the computer to boot from the CD/DVD drive. This will only work if you have burned Ubuntu as an iso - ie a bootable disk.

[i92guboj]

I'd start by reading the docs:

http://calamari.reverse-dns.net:980/.../QemuOnWindows

I don't remember if qemu can boot directly an ISO image. If it can't you have to options: use something like daemon-tools to mount the iso image on a virtual drive, or burn the iso into a cdrom and use it.

[techieMoe]

I prefer Innotek VirtualBox on Windows. There's an open-source edition and a full edition, and both are free of charge to non-commercial users.

VirtualBox

[dxqcanada]

I like techieMoe's suggestion.

I run Linux on Windows XP with VirtualBox ... and I run Windows and Solaris 10 on Linux with VirtualBox ...

Very easy to use.