Introducing UNIX and Linux

Installing Linux

Overview
Starting out
Preliminaries
      Collecting information about your system
      Installation options
Single boot
Dual boot
      Booting from CD/floppy
      Booting from your hard disk
      A partitionless install
      A dedicated Linux partition
Emulators
      VMware
      WINE
Installing Linux
      Installer software
      Linux partitioning
            Typical partitions
            User accounts
      LILO
The window manager
KDE
      Desktop help
      Applications
      The KDE Control Center
      File access and the command prompt
Summary

Installation options

A second issue likely to affect the type of Linux distribution you choose is the way in which you intend to use Linux on a day-to-day basis. You might want to install the Linux operating system as the sole operating system on your computer. If this is the case then you should probably install Linux as a 'single boot'. This means that when you turn your computer on it only recognises the one operating system.

If, however, you want to retain the use of your existing operating system, for example, you would like to be able to run Linux or Windows, then you should choose a 'dual boot' option. This means that the computer is aware of two different operating systems when it is turned on. It is also possible to run one operating system inside another with the aid of an emulator.

The next sections provide some of the detail which you will need to be able to choose between installation options. Note the pros (+) and cons (-) of each method; you should also be aware that the installations have very different hardware requirements and that your choice may to some extent be determined by the capabilities of your computer.