Part 1 of 4. Linux for the supernewbie

So you have heard of Linux, you read somewhere that it is more secure, and runs a lot of the web services using something called LAMP (or something like that). You are curious, but you have a working system now (you know it's quirks, and how to workaround what doesn't work or to get it working) and are nowhere near ready to take the plunge.

If the above describes you, then you are in the right place. This is the first of a four part series that will, if you decide you WANT TO, and only if you want to, introduce you to Linux, and by they end, you might just find yourself with Linux installed on your computer beside windows. That's getting ahead of the game.

Before we even begin, you need to know the following.

1) I assume you know how to download a file using a torrent and have high speed internet.
2) Linux is not Windows. It works similar (Menu and Mouse Driven) but is not windows. If you are looking for a better windows experience, petition Microsoft.
3) Because of 2) Windows programs you have don't run on it (yes, you can, but it is not trivial, so for your sake, I am saying they won't work). Now, Linux has a replacement for most every windows program, and virtually all are free. From finance to web surfing to media to movies, we have it all, BUT, you have to use different programs (it's OK, they usually are pre-installed).
4) You can't buy DRMed content (Plays for Sure, ITunes, etc) with Linux (again, yes you can, but it is not trivial, so again, for your sake, I am saying you can't).
4) Not all hardware works in Linux. For example, most All-in-One printers are actually just shells run by Windows, and since Linux isn't Windows, they don't work well. The printer part, probably, the scanner part, maybe, the rest, well you get the idea. The good part of all of this, you will be out $0 for trying it, and worst case, you RULE OUT Linux for you, which is better than being frustrated.

So, if you are still curious about Linux, if you do the following you will have Linux running on your Windows box. You don't have to twiddle settings, this is purely a mouse ONLY procedure.

A couple of things to remember. You are going to be running Linux virtually, and as a security feature, Windows can't talk to Linux, Linux can't talk to windows, so what is on your hard drive won't be accessible. This is a feature. I do recommend though that you grab a few MP3s, a few .doc files, a .xls file and drag them to a flash drive if you have one. These you can access, and it helps with the dry run. Oh yeah, if you have less than 3 gigabytes of free space on your computer, you may run into problems, however, your disk is getting pretty full anyway, this procedure or not, time to clean up some unused files?

Step 1: Get VMPlayer for Windows.
This is the same experience you have done a hundred times. Download an executable to the desktop and then double click on it. Use all the defaults as you install it. This link is a direct link to the windows version, clicking HERE with your mouse will open the "Run/Save to disk option"

Step 2: Install VMPlayer.
Double click on the file, leave the defaults, let er rip. Go grab a coffee, you are 1/2 way there, seriously.

Step 3: Download a Virtual Appliance. Don't worry, that is just a fancy name for a large file that VMPlayer can play. Winamp plays MP3, VMPlayer plays virtual machines. There are lots of Linux Virtual Appliances, but I am going to point you to PCLinuxOS because a) I like it and b) I want to walk you through everything, including filenames when you get there. Here is the torrent. Download THIS TORRENT and use it to get PCLinuxOS.

NOTE: This is a big file (800+ MBytes) so it may take overnight to download.

Step 4) OK, you now have a file called pclinuxos-0.93-bigdaddy-vm-1.0.0.zip on your desktop. Right click your mouse on it and select "Extract Here".

Step 5) This is it, you are 90% there. OK, if you followed the defaults you have a VLPlayer button on your desktop. Double click on it.

NOTE: All images are clickable to see a larger version.



It will a file selection box. Navigate to your Desktop, then navigate to the pclinuxos folder. You will see a file called pclinxos.vmx. Select it.



You are done. Let VMPlayer do it's thing, it will boot up Linux inside. You don't have to do a thing except wait. Is your coffee getting low, grab a refill. This is what you will see on your desktop.



CONGRATULATIONS, You are running linux.

OK, so you have Linux running in a blue box on your desktop, now what?

Part 2 of 4: Lets play with Linux in VMPlayer

TripleII