3 Easy Ways to Try Out Linux OS
Posted in Linux | By AhTim @ November 9th, 2009
Do you want to try out Linux OS but worry on the risk? Yes, me too. That’s why we come out these 3 easy ways to test drive your machine on Linux.
1. Live CD/ DVD/USB Stick
This is the safest way to test drive Linux. You download image file (.iso) of the Linux, burn into CD or DVD. Then reboot your computer and boot from optical drive (CD or DVD). If it is not set yet, press setup key (F2/ F8/DEL) once Power On. Look for Boot Device Priority, set the first device to your CD/DVD drive.
Don’t want to burn CD? Ok, you can “burn” into USB thumb drive too. Use UnetBootIn to create bootable Live USB drive. Of course your motherboard must be able to support boot from USB drive.
2. Virtual Machine
Virtual machine is an Emulator. It creates virtual computer environment inside your computer. Means you can have two, three or more computers in a physical computer. VirtualBox is a FREE yet good emulator.
Setup virtual machine and install Linux from the image. To run smoother, I recommend at least 1GB memory. You can delete it anytime if you don’t want anymore, without changes on current OS.
3. WUBI Installer
No more partitioning. If you don’t burn CD, don’t want setup virtual machine, then use WUBI to install Linux in your Windows directly. WUBI or Windows Ubuntu Installer install Ubuntu as a program. You may remove it later by using Add/Remove programs. You need Ubuntu live CD ready or else it takes time to download. Don’t expect it run as fast as real Linux!
Hope you enjoy Linux and do let me know if you have more ways to test drive. Nobody should have excuse to not try out Linux. 
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Tags: Linux live CD, USB live boot, virtual machine, virtualbox, WUBI installer
November 12th, 2009 at 8:42 am
LiveCDs are great to try the operating system without hassels of installing the OS. I got a free CD from Ubuntu which I first I checked as liveCD before finally installing it.