For EXPERTS to Answer - Getting the Best of Linux (and Windows)

[hanzellean]

Hi, I have the following situation and proposed solution:

SITUATION

I have a notebook computer. The manufacturer ships the hardware with a Windows OS (either XP Pro, Vista or Windows 7). They provide support only for a Windows OS.

Also, I am not sure how fuss-free it is to use any Linux distro on this notebook hardware, whether due to switchable graphics, device drivers, or trackball / trackpoint / trackpad issues/complications.

Also, I have software such as MS Office 2007 and Adobe Acrobat which is meant for installation on Windows OS.

But, a Windows OS is vulnerable to virus/spy-ware/mal-ware/trojans/worms and other malicious code. (Is this true for Windows 7 too? I am presuming so). Also, the Windows registry degrades and corrupts over time, and coupled with the need for strong anti-virus software, would mean that the performance I get will deteriorate rapidly.


PROPOSED SOLUTION

Therefore, to get the best of Linux (and Windows), I propose the following solution:

(1) have the Windows OS run as the base/host OS on the notebook hardware. So I don't have to deal with device drivers and other hardware issues, including support from manufacturer.

(2) Install virtualization software. (Not sure if Windows Virtual PC is good enough? Which is the best virtual machine software? (Classify into free and non-free virtualization software))

(3) Install a Linux distro within this virtual environment. (Which is the best Linux distro for installation within a virtual environment? Does Windows Virtual PC support such Linux guest OS installation? If no, which virtualization software should I use to be able to install a Linux guest OS)

(4) Work within the Windows OS ONLY when using MS Office 2007 or Adobe Acrobat (since they have to be installed in a Windows OS environment)

(5) ALWAYS work within the Linux OS when connecting to the Internet.

(6) Work within the Linux OS for other purposes.


QUESTION:

(A) Because I ONLY connect to the Internet from within the virtual environment running the Linux OS distro, does it mean that any malicious code/software (virus/malware/spyware/trojan/worm) coming from the Internet WILL NOT GET TO THE HOST/BASE Windows OS?

That is - is it the case that ALL malicious stuff will be contained within/repelled by the Linux environment, and therefore I will be safe?? =) ==))

(B) Will my Windows OS Registry still degrade, given that I am only using the Windows OS minimally for either Office 2007 or Adobe Acrobat only (Everything else is within the virtual Linux OS)?

=) ==)

You should get the drift of my query from the above. So you can post any other comments relating to getting the best out of the situation I have!!

Thank you!!!!!!

[GNU-Fan]

QUESTION:

(A) Because I ONLY connect to the Internet from within the virtual environment running the Linux OS distro, does it mean that any malicious code/software (virus/malware/spyware/trojan/worm) coming from the Internet WILL NOT GET TO THE HOST/BASE Windows OS?

On an application level, yes.
But the host operating system does still accept and process the traffic and is therefore not isolated against that.
Take for example the Windows Genuine Advantage thingy. It will still connect to Microsoft on a daily basis, send some information to them and wait for the answer whether the company will allow you to use Windows one more day. Or, if you remember the first few months of WindowsXP, there were some vulnerable server tasks listening per default (RPC). So all you had to do was to get the base system online and wait a few minutes until the first trojan attack hit, without any further action from you. The introduction of the built-in firewall in SP2 helped a lot here.
Lastly, you would still like to get updates for Windows. So you see the host system is not that isolated from the Internet.

That is - is it the case that ALL malicious stuff will be contained within/repelled by the Linux environment, and therefore I will be safe?? =) ==))

Most likely it will be contained in the virtual environment, yes.
But I would not count on it being repelled. It's not impossible to catch
malicious stuff on GNU/Linux. It is just not that common because we are so few and the users in general are more conscious in operating the computer (not starting random email attachments, choosing good passwords, etc.)

[Charles4809]

IMHO you'll be better off installing Windows and Linux side by side. You can boot into linux all the time and "be safe".
But by restarting into Windows you can do the things you really need to do in Windows.
Even if you don't intent to go on the net I suggest you install an antivirus anyway because viruses and trojans can be brought to you in more ways than the net alone . Think of USB sticks p.e.
Otherwise in Linux you can use Wine to run some Windows programs, depending on your needs of course.

[Rubberman]

You can download a free personal-use copy of VirtualBox from Sun which is a nice virtual machine manager to run on a Windows XP or 7 host, then install linux in a virtual machine there which is what you indicate you want to do. The host os (XP or Win7) will handle the hardware interfacing and the virtual machine will help protect the host from malicious software. Personally, I prefer to do it the other way around - install Linux as the base/host operating system and run Windows in a virtual machine, but what you want to do is perfectly fine.