Dual boot into linux - Hep needed

fred_easey · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:47

Hi,

I'm getting sick of flakey windows on my laptop and want to try a linux distro instead, although I do want to retain a Windows install, mainly for when I'm working from home and need to remote into my work PC via remote desktop / Cisco VPN.

So I'd like to install a linux distro onto the laptop (Dell Vostro 1510) as a dual boot, ideally without having to reformat the HDD and reinstall windows.

Another important caveat is that I need to be able to remote into the laptop from my work PC (currently done via remote desktop). Is there a way I can do this from a windows PC?

Any advice on which distro to use and how to install it would be much appreciated,

Cheers,

Fred

da_mic_1530 · 20 Apr 2009 at 14:56

don't know about the 2nd bit but I tried Linux Mint, see other thread

You can run it from a CD or install it as a Windows Program, easy dual boot without partitions

Rhys · 20 Apr 2009 at 15:01

fred_easey said:
Hi,

Another important caveat is that I need to be able to remote into the laptop from my work PC (currently done via remote desktop). Is there a way I can do this from a windows PC?

LogMeIn to support Linux later this year

fred_easey · 20 Apr 2009 at 15:05

Rhys said:
LogMeIn to support Linux later this year

Is it possible to use VNC to remote into a linux PC from a windows PC?

tntcoder · 20 Apr 2009 at 15:11

fred_easey said:
Is it possible to use VNC to remote into a linux PC from a windows PC?

Yes VNC will work, other alternatives are FreeNX which is very good or SSH and X forwarding.

fred_easey · 20 Apr 2009 at 15:13

Great thanks guys

Will DL the mint4win thingy tonight and give it a bash

da_mic_1530 · 20 Apr 2009 at 15:53

fred_easey said:
Great thanks guys

Will DL the mint4win thingy tonight and give it a bash

Coming from someone who apart from a 7 week crash course on Red Hat, though more the terminal really. I LOVE mint, it's not mint, it's just how slick and quick linux is.

Come the time I can be bothered it will be on the laptop too

JC · 20 Apr 2009 at 16:11

This thread might be helpful regarding the remote access:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=272986

.walls · 20 Apr 2009 at 20:42

EDIT: never mind... that'll teach me to read the thread before posting!!

quackers · 20 Apr 2009 at 20:48

I've been doing the whole dual boot thing for a couple of months now, I went for Ubuntu in the end as it's seemed one of the easiest distros to get my head around. Try one of the ubuntu live cd's, I seem to be using it more then XP now.