Step-by-step guide on installing Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) on your Vista computer

 

A major drawback for users of the Ubuntu OS is its incompatibility with some hardware and software, such as devices like printers as well as most PC games. Many Linux users try to mitigate this problem by dual-booting their computers; that is, they have both Windows and Ubuntu on their PCs.

That way, one can fall back on Windows for the one-off use of software or hardware. So if you are going to be using a non-Linux supported device or program frequently, it is probably better to stick to Windows.

Before you can begin installing Ubuntu, you will need to download the installer from the website, www.ubuntu.com, and burn it onto a CD to make your own installation CD.

Alternatively, you can order a free CD from the Ubuntu website to save you from downloading the 700MB file, but it will take six to 10 weeks to deliver. The latest version currently available is Ubuntu 7.10, released in October (2007).

Are you ready? Let’s go.

1. In Windows Vista, open up the Start Menu and right click My Computer. Click Manage, and then Disk Management.

2. Right-click the Vista partition bar at the bottom of the screen and select “Shrink Volume”.

 

3. Here you can set how much disk space you want to allocate to your Ubuntu OS. The minimum requirement is 4GB, but it is recommended that you give it at least 10GB so that you can install additional programs on it (there are thousands of free programs to download and use in Ubuntu).

4. Once you are done, insert the Ubuntu installation CD and reboot your computer. Your computer should automatically boot off the installation CD. At the Ubuntu startup menu, select “Start or install Ubuntu”. Your computer will then boot into Ubuntu. If your computer continues booting into Windows, you will need to reconfigure the boot order of your computer in the BIOS setup menu. To access this menu, press a key (usually F12) at the startup screen, then set the computer to boot from CD-ROM.

 

5. Click the “Install” icon on the desktop to access the Welcome screen. Click next, and carry on to set your time zone and keyboard layout.

 

6. At the “Prepare disk space” section, select the “Guided – use the largest continuous free space” option. This will select the disk space that you have freed up earlier in Step 3. You will then be brought to the Migration Assistant, where you will be able to import your documents and settings over to Ubuntu. A note of warning: if you select “Guided – use entire disk”, you will erase the entire hard disk.

 

7. On the “Who are you?” screen, enter in your details and proceed to install. Once it is complete, your system will reboot. You will then see a new GRUB menu displayed on your screen. Here you can choose which OS you want to boot into, every time you use the computer. You now have the best of both worlds!

 

Advantages and disadvantages of using Linux

Why Linux?

It’s not that hard to use: Many Linux distributions use graphical interfaces that look and work much the same way as the Windows interface does. In fact, a 2003 study by Relevantive, a Berlin-based company specializing in consulting companies on the usability of software and Web services, rated Linux almost as easy to use as Windows XP.

Less viruses: Windows currently has over a hundred thousand known viruses, while Linux has less than a hundred. Linux also uses smart authorisation management , so it requires you to authorise any action that may potentially harm your computer by entering your password. That means you are less likely to be tricked into installing malware and running virus programs, simply because it won’t let you.

No crashes: Windows users will be familiar with the infamous “blue screen of death” that greets them whenever the system crashes. In contrast, Linux users have reported uptimes exceeding over a year, which means that their computers have been continuously running over a year without a single crash or reboot.

Tech support: Get round-the-clock support when using Linux. You don’t have to make any calls; simply visit any of the Linux online forums and post the problem there. The Linux community is very active and generally friendly and helpful, so expect the solution to be posted within a day or two. Or do some forum surfing; your problem will most probably have been faced by other beginners before and already solved, so Google your specific problem first to find if there are previous forum threads solving it.

Free software: Linux users can download free software from huge repositories containing thousands of free programs and applications, from games to music players to office productivity tools. Most of them serve as free alternatives to commercial software, the most popular ones being OpenOffice and Mozilla Firefox, which replace Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer respectively.

Runs on old machines: Many new computers in the market still struggle to handle the memory and capacity demands of Vista, which requires 512MB RAM and a 800MHz processor. In contrast, the latest Ubuntu version, the Feisty Fawn, needs a measly 64MB RAM and a 300MHz processor. Other versions of Linux require even less. That means you can run Linux on your ten-year-old PC without a hitch.

 

 

Why not Linux?

 

Incompatibility issues: Because many hardware and software publishers deem the market for Linux users too small, you may encounter some incompatibility issues when installing programs or devices like printers. Many devices are supported though, and, as mentioned above, there are free alternatives to proprietary programs that are available for download. As a general rule of thumb, if two or more of your devices are not supported by a particular version of Linux, install another version.

Different working mechanism: If you’re a lifelong Windows user, you may take a while to get used to the way Linux works. From installing software to running programs, things are a little different in Linux-based systems. Be prepared to type a few new commands as well. However, there are programs within some versions of Linux, such as Ubuntu, which help you to download and install programs with just a few clicks. Most people take about a week to familiarise themselves to the new virtual surroundings.

 

Convinced about using Linux? Click here to see a step by step guide of installing the most popular version of Linux, Ubuntu.

Why Linux?

Disappointed by Windows Vista, and don’t have the dough to buy a new Mac? As the battle to take over the world’s computers heats up between the Windows and Mac operating systems, many people forget about the availability of a third, entirely free, option: Linux.

Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need a degree in computer programming to use a Linux-based OS. Nor do you need any money, for that matter. The big draw of Linux is that it is entirely free for use, and some distributions even promise that their releases will always be free of charge.

Currently, there are three hundred different Linux versions in circulation. If you are a beginner at Linux, start off with a user friendly one, such as Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, or Linspire. These versions have a similar point-and-click interface with Windows, such as a Start Menu and desktop icons, and are able to recognise and install drivers for most common hardware.

If you are still afraid to take the leap of faith from the (expensive) security of Microsoft into the unfamiliar regions of Linux, some versions allow you to get a taste of the software first without installing them into your computer.

If you do decide to install Linux onto your computer, but are still unsure of totally abandoning Windows, you can choose to have both operating systems installed on your computer, known as dual-booting. So when you turn on your PC, you will be given a choice of which system in which to boot in.

You have nothing to lose, but stand to gain a spanking new operating system that allows you to use thousands of useful applications at absolutely no cost. So why not give Linux a try today – if all fails, you get to brag about being able to use Linux to your friends

Click here to move on to a brief summary of the pros and cons of Linux.

 

 

 

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