Installing Linux next to Vista Ultimate x64? Any problems?

[kaisellgren]

Hi,

I need to use Linux for developing testing... and I am big fan of Vista, because of its built-in DirectX 10, .NET Framework and Visual Studio. But I need to have a linux distro installed, too... so I am wondering what kind of problems may occur? Like file system problems... ? I absolutely do not want to replace Vista with a Linux, instead I want to be able to run these two separately (not at the same time).

I'm also considering using those USB Linuxes, no installation needed? Can anyone tell me what distro should I get? And what other problems to consider/fix?

[techieMoe]

I would recommend you install Ubuntu inside of Vista using the Wubi installer. You can either download Wubi by itself or install it from any Ubuntu CD.

Wubi - Ubuntu Installer for Windows

It doesn't require any partitioning, and it's quicker than running in a Live environment (Live CD or USB stick). When you're done with it, you can uninstall Linux just like you would any other Windows program.

[thorkelljarl]

A first question is:
what is the system you have, a PC, a laptop, what components or model
how well will linux work on it
How readily, surely, and frequently do you need to switch between Vista and linux.

The alternatives for you could be:

1. A "dual boot", making room for a linux partition on your harddisk and installing linux. When startup begins it is then possible to choose which will boot. "GRUB" "chainloads" either Vista or linux. There are howtos for this for linux and probably for the linux distribution you have in mind.

2. Linux on a USB device, an external hard drive or USB stick. The first of these will give the same funtionality as a dualboot, but can be trickier to install so that Vista will boot without the USB present. You can do a search for "boot loaders", "chain loading" , "MBR" "linux USB boot" to get some idea of the process. The second is the installation of a linux live-cd on a USB stick. This makes linux more an adjunct to the system, and while easy to set up in some distos, you might be limited in what you could do with it and within it while it runs your system. Ubuntu (or Kubuntu) 8.10 has a dead simple setup for a USB stick that allows for storing any changes and product of the session

3. Using a linux live-cd, that is the same method as on a USB stick, but from a disk drive. With a live-cd it is possible to store work product files elsewhere, but how large these files may be before being stored depends on how you system handles a live-cd and the files it creates while operating.

What is your level of expertise and experience with linux and linux installation?

I would think that the most practical and easiest to use is a straight dual boot, assuming that you have room on your harddisk. It looks more endangering than putting linux on an external hard disk, but many have done it, and any problems booting seem easier to fix than with linux on an external hard disk.

Remember to back everything up before you start, and find, borrow, or make a Vista installation disk. You should have Vista service pack 1 installed, and you should use it to make a recovery disk.

I use openSUSE 11.0 with the older KDE 3.5 and am satisfied. Others use for example Ubuntu 8.10 wih Gnome. The major distros tend to have better formal and informal support, and automated package installation features that ease the problems with "dependencies in linux" The distro with the most scope is probably Debian. One doesn't know what to suggest as you didn't specify what you ment by development.

You can get an idea of what KDE and Gnome look like and what a distro can do on your hardware by downloading live-cd versions and trying them. Remember, the looks of the desktops can be changed and more packages added. Burn the downloaded file slowly on a good quality cd as an ISO image file . If you need it download CDburnerXP. Set your BIOS to boot from the CD-ROM before the HDD or use the key for a one time boot at your startup and it will boot linux. There should be a media check on the boot to list to verify the files. The live-cd will not change anything if you do not use it to, but some may boot as "root" with write and change permissions on the files they access. Look up "live-cd" A linux-live-cd can be useful as a general or rescue tool with a Microsoft files, as it will bypass the Microsoft OS and recognize the files.

Some links
Software.openSUSE.org
Multimedia - openSUSE-Community
http://software.opensuse.org/http://suse.linuxin.dk/
Download Ubuntu | Ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/down...ntudanmark.dk/
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2008/11...usb-installer/

Held og lykke.

[rokytnji]

thorkelljarls post should be made a sticky or something. Nice post there thorkelljarl.

[kaisellgren]

Hehe, yeah. It should be a sticky :P

Thanks for the information. I decided to first give a try for that WUBI

[thorkelljarl]

I am flattered. Tak