I want to play!

InertProtocol · 24 Sep 2011 at 13:47

Hi all,

So i want to try Linux. But i have a few questions.

Im running a Acer Aspire running Windows7. I know i need to download a flavour of Linux, Ubuntu seems to be the clear favourite.

Once i put it onto a CD, do i simply boot from it and the install will automatically dual-boot my system?.

Just don't want to mess the laptop up! - On that not, any precautions i should do to my current setup before doing this?.

Hairybudda · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:12

Backup stuff just to be sure, if you're not sure about dual booting feel free just to grab a livecd to play with, although performance will not exactly be as good as it could be. I've not used the ubuntu installer in a while (years) but what with ubuntu being super user friendly, I don't really see some form of guided partitioning not being in there.

KIA · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:20

You could give Wubi a go.

Hairybudda · 24 Sep 2011 at 14:25

fluff said:
You could give Wubi a go.

Very good point, and if you like using wubi it's pretty trivial getting it onto its own partition!

masterluke · 24 Sep 2011 at 18:51

+1 for Wubi here. Great way to dip your toe into linux with very little disruption.

memyselfandi · 24 Sep 2011 at 22:23

If you haven't used it before and just want to play then I wouldn't be trying to dual boot at this point (and run the risk of knackering your (I assume) working Windows install).

Use VirtualBox or VMWare Player to try out a couple of Linux distributions as virtual machines first to get a feel for what you can do (and this also means that when you break it you can see the error in the VM and Google it in Windows at the same time.