Linux Newbie

[McGrandpa]

So is there some install of Linux that can run from the CD/DVD while IN Windows?

[rrkknight3]

I'm at work, McG, and so will not be able to respond much until tonight. 

So is there some install of Linux that can run from the CD/DVD while IN Windows?

Not exactly.  You can run from a Live DVD which, unless you tell it to do so, will leave your hard disk (and Windows) alone.

[McGrandpa]

Ok thanks for that Sir Knight.  I do have a bootable DVD with a Linux that runs entirely from that disk.  I have used it a couple times to get files off those NAT drives I mentioned before.  Now I have an external I need to check cause I think it is a Linux system.    M$ really has no idea what a mess they've made of their own bed by being so snobby.  I hope to live long enough to see them pay for it.
IF I can get Linux to do the stuff I want to do I'd just switch to it.   But, I bet it won't run most of the stuff I want to do.  So, it will end up being just a toy, a learning thing.

[McGrandpa]

Oh man careful on that wishing stuff!   Anything can happen!  And I'm working on the new DVD stuff.   Like to boot from.  Got to be DVD, the ISO files are 1.8 gigs minimum.  Mmm!

[McGrandpa]

USB.  Like, a thumb drive?  I must have some old 4 gig USB thumbs around here someplace to experiment with!

[parkdalegardener]

McG the link I provided you originally was to live versions of Linux that can be run from DVD, USB, CD and so on. Reiterating my previous comment, try them all out till you find one you like. No changes to your Windoze system and you can chuck it if you don't like it.

Take one of those spare hard drives you were saying you have and put it into your Windoze box. When you find a flavour you like install to that extra drive and dual boot your system between Win and whatever.

[MilosGulan]

I used to have Ubuntu 10 beside Windows before two years, but decided that I need one laptop only for it but still din't get one.

I remember that I installed Gnome shell and it worked so good and it was really nice to work with it. I am missing it a lot but started to work with android tablets and phones as cheaper variant.

Here is something about it, I remember that I could minimize my icons and do all sort of nice things https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/04/ubuntu-gnome

[McGrandpa]

McG the link I provided you originally was to live versions of Linux that can be run from DVD, USB, CD and so on. Reiterating my previous comment, try them all out till you find one you like. No changes to your Windoze system and you can chuck it if you don't like it.

Take one of those spare hard drives you were saying you have and put it into your Windoze box. When you find a flavour you like install to that extra drive and dual boot your system between Win and whatever.

Those links are where I got both versions of the Linux I downloaded .iso files for.   Mint v. 19 Cinnamon and Ubuntu v. 18.04.1  At 1.8 gigs and 1.9 gigs respectively.   These are .iso's to burn to bootable DVD's that my motherboards BIOS will respect.   This being an older Gigabyte GA EP45 DS3L (rev. 1.0) socket LG775 mobo, the thing offers BRAND NEW features usable then, abandoned in current issues.   Will be creating using NERO Burning ROM 9 on good ol DVD-R's.   Heh!   I plan to see this up and going during this, Thanksgiving Week!   It's a one man, two cat PARTY!    :winks:

Whoa that was interesting.   SPARE hd's?  You'd be talking about the aged spotty spinners I have replaced.  Being as there are no spinner drives I have left I deem usable.  Fit for the bin.   Except for a pair of 80 gig IDE drives.  Might use those to resurrect an old A6 64 bit system, if if if if.   

Too many of those two letter words there to suit the foreseeable future.
 
So   One of the LIVE! builds it is!   IT's decided.   

[rrkknight3]

Some systems (BIOS's, motherboards) can boot from USB disk drives.  Those can usually be made to think they're booting from a USB drive with a USB stick / thumb drive.  This will allow you to test the various versions without creating a pile of coasters, but is harrier (like  harrier) than just burning a DVD if you haven't done it.

[McGrandpa]

The last version of linux I created a bootable disk for was in 2012.     And I'd noticed that it was better at picking up my hardware than earlier versions.   So, my venerable old war horse and all its accouterments should be recognized handily by these new distros.  That is my thinking going in now, 6 years later on 11 year old hardware mixed with newer stuff like the 3 SSD's. 
I'll finish this new render and go for Nero 9.