Must install Linux

[std10093]

I am obliged to install Linux on my laptop (which is just an average latop, an average person (not programmer) would have).

I have win7 (downloaded from msdnaa).

I guess I have to go for a dual boot.

People suggested Linux mint.

I am good only in the terminal in Linux (I am accessing the Linux Lab of my uni, via Putty and winscp). That's it. I do not know anything else on Linux. NOTHING!

If someone has to suggest something, please let me know. Moreover, if someone knows links in how to install and configure the dual boot, please let me know. I am looking for my "Hello world\n" in Linux!

[Salem]

Do you need dual boot?

Or can you get away with running Linux in say virtualbox or vmware?

The advantage of a virtualised solution is that you can run both at the same time, and even set up folder sharing and networking between the two machines.

[phantomotap]

O_o

I've never used the "Linux Mint" distribution, and with so many distributions, I think making a specific recommendation is odd, but I do have a recommendation of sorts as a "sort-a" newbie: don't go for "Arch", "Slackware", or "Ubuntu".

Now, I see nothing wrong with those distributions. (I use "Arch", used to be "Slackware", and usually install "Ubuntu" for the "Windows" crowd.) However, I'd recommend something more "middle of the ground" difficulty wise for a programmer who is just new to an own "Linux".

As for "dual boot", with "Windows 7" and a decently modern "Linux" distribution, "dual boot" should basically "just work", but even if not, it looks like "Mint" installs "Grub 2" so you'll be looking at editing a couple of text files.

The only difficult, more annoying really, part of "dual boot" will come if your "Windows 7" partition lives on the entire drive of a single disc system. If so, you'll be happy to follow my advice: backup everything before trying to repartition.

Soma

[Elkvis]

I'd recommend ubuntu server, because it skips a lot of the desktop-ish packages on install, and is a lot leaner. all of the packages for the desktop version are still available, and you can install any desktop environment you choose, but it's done manually, instead of automatically. ubuntu is probably the best supported distro out there, so that's a huge advantage. if you need to know how to do something, chances are someone out there knows how.

[cfanatic]

I'd recommend ubuntu server, because it skips a lot of the desktop-ish packages on install, and is a lot leaner.

But the inverse is that you'd have to know exactly what package you need to install, and manually installing many packages that are default in the desktop version is time consuming.

[Elkvis]

But the inverse is that you'd have to know exactly what package you need to install, and manually installing many packages that are default in the desktop version is time consuming.

but if you don't like any of the desktops that come with the standard ubuntu distributions (which is my situation), then installing the one of your choice requires this anyway. my preference is to start with a cleaner slate. I don't want the any of other desktops hanging around taking up space.

[phantomotap]

if you need to know how to do something, chances are someone out there knows how.

^_^

Well, yeah, but that's true for every operating system.

Even "Plan 9", the best OS, has a rabid following.

Soma

[Codeplug]

>> I am obliged to install Linux on my laptop
Do you really need a full OS? You could install Cygwin or MSYS and do most things that you'd probably do at school - editing, compiling etc.

At least you don't have to download and sneaker-net twenty-something floppies, like I had to do for my first Linux box (Slackware).

gg

[oogabooga]

Looks like mint is quite popular these days:
DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

[std10093]

So, the question right know is: dual boot or vm? Salem used the term sandbox, so sandbox or vm?

Some people said to me that the vm may not be supported my laptop. Is there anyone that can say more on that based on the facts in the image? Which is THE hot question for me at this moment. I am afraid about disk issues with dual boot very² much! I do not care if the vm makes Linux to run a bit slower, in comparison with the hypothesis that I did install Linux on my laptop(dual boot).


Do you really need a full OS? You could install Cygwin or MSYS and do most things that you'd probably do at school - editing, compiling etc.
My intention is that I can use libraries easily. There are certain cases so far, that people suggested me several libraries and avoided testing them, because the installation would require much more effort than the one in Linux (whenever the library was supported in windows too). Now, I have forgotten most of the libraries, but future has a lot to give.

Right now, I have to use cgal. When in Switzerland, I had installed cgal in mac Os and it was just fine. The windows case seems to much and many people said to me (relevant with cgal) said to me, that it is better to use Linux (for the installation of cgal).

In conclusion, I feel that I need Linux, in order to be flexible in using libraries (like cgal, boost, etc.).
// I remember floppies a little. ;p

[Mario F.]

Some people said to me that the vm may not be supported my laptop. Is there anyone that can say more on that based on the facts in the image?

The only point that can be made about the hardware is that it may not support virtualization, which is simply the lack of processor support of hardware virtualization. It is also known as Hardware Assisted Virtualization. It's technologies like Intel's VT-x and VT-d or AMD's AMD-V and AMD-Vi. Specifically, these are processor extensions that provide virtual machines with direct hardware access for faster performance.

But whether your processor supports these technologies or not, is irrelevant when it comes to your ability to run virtualbox. It should run just fine regardless. It's just that without processor assistance you won't be benefiting from a performance increase given by direct hardware access.

In any case, your processor does indeed support VT-x and Extended VT-x. But it lacks support for VT-d because... because... because no one really understands Intel erratic virtualization support along its product line. I'm sure not even people working at Intel.

[cfanatic]

When did you start using Windows? I thought that you had a Mac?

[std10093]

When did you start using Windows? I thought that you had a Mac?

The Mac was kindly offered at me, when on scholarship in Switzerland.
I had windows, from the first time I intered DIT.

By the way, I am done with this thread, so if admins want to close it, it's ok.

Thank you all for your answers.

[Codeplug]

You can do all that in Cygwin.

Give it a try. Only need to uninstall to remove

gg

[Epy]

I use Lubuntu, it's very minimalist and has most keyboard shortcuts from Windows. It's basically Ubuntu but with all the bull........ cut out and a leaner window manager and desktop environment