How do I boot my PC with Linux without installing it? it already has windows on it.?

Question

Hi, I was wondering how do I boot my PC with Linux without actually installing it because it's not just my computwer it's the family computer and as such I really want to try Linux out but I need to know how to boot it up and run it without installing it. I know on a Mac Book all you do is put the disc in, turn off the Mac, hold down C key, and turn the mac back on so is it the same way with PC's?

Answer 1

You need a LiveCD. (Try Ubuntu's)



Boot Windows, Insert CD and Reboot.

It should load Linux from the CD automatically, if it doesn't check your BIOS is set to boot off CD before Hard Disk.

Answer 2

What you are talking about is called a Linux "Live CD". Two good Linux distributions with live CDs are Ubuntu and Fedora, but if you have never used Linux before, I recommend Ubuntu; it is aimed for people who know less about computers/less advanced users.



To burn a Ubuntu "live CD" go to http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download and choose the option that says "Ubuntu 7.10 - Supported to 2009". Make sure you have a burnable cd with 700 mb of space free! Burn the .iso file onto a cd (Don't worry about any special options, just burn it.) Put it in your cd drive and when you start your PC, press F12 for boot options (It can vary). Tell it to boot from the cd rom and then I think there's an option to use the live cd. Actually, according to some official Ubuntu documentation, this is how you do it:



"After you burn the cd (See BurningIsoHowto for help if needed), pop it into any computer and reboot the computer. Ubuntu will load. After you are done, shut the computer down and remove the cd."

so maybe it's simpler than that. It's been a while for me.



Hope you find this useful.



Note that I didn't see the additional details until after I posted this.

Answer 3

Ubuntu Linux is a fake distro. It is legal to still open source software and rename it since it's open source. But doesn't not mean that it's a good thing. Ubuntu is packages taken from Debian Linux and renamed with the Ubuntu name at the end. Of course most Ubuntu people are newbies and will deny this but all patches, bug reports and so on from Ubuntu are lifted directly from Debian. Even the change logs are Debian. You should keep this in mind. If you use a clone or hack you will get second hand support. If you want to use a Debian based distro I would suggest that you use Debian and give them the credit they deserve.



Mint Linux is a bit better then Ubuntu as they are not trying to take Debian packages and rename them to take the credit. Mint actually says it's based on Debian. However again if you want Debian just get Debian.



I myself Have created my own Original Linux Distro called Myah OS. You can try it out at http://myah.org But I will try and give you some unbiased help here not just push my own. So here is a list of Real distros that I would suggest for a Linux newbie that look good and work well to.



You can use any LiveCD you just need to tell you PC to boot off the CD usually something like pressing F10 or F12 during bootup. Also newer computers can also boot off of USB if you have this option then you can do LiveUSB and is much better then the CD one since it leaves your CD drive open so you can use it later. And it also runs much faster since you don't have that CD lag where you klick and wait for the CD to spin up. A USB 2.0 is usually much much faster almost harddrive speeds but still live.

Answer 4

base line: once you position in linux you're taking duty on your pc in a fashion that you're literally not once you take advantage of Windoze. in reality, fairly some the time you're voiding your assure with the help of installation Linux -- and in reality the former head of pc acquaintances went to detention center for installation OpenSuse, i trust, on a pc he were warned replaced into in all probability to be subpoenaed (did not even get it decrease back after forensics replaced into unable to salvage any of the windoze information). i do not care even if you're utilizing a technical distro like Slackware, Gentoo, Debian or a UserFriendly (tm and copyright J. D. "illiad" Frazier) distribution like Ubuntu or Linux Mint. at the same time as the computer would not boot up you tell it what card or video reveal you take advantage of utilizing xorgcfg, xorgconfig or dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg. Windoze received't ask you. you're only the person. There are good and undesirable sides to that -- the former funny tale between Slackware consumers replaced into "in case you visit our on-line world as root you should besides be utilizing Windoze". nonetheless some people HATE that. they don't CARE WHY they might want to take duty for what's on their difficult drives, they do no longer have time. we are able to not lead them to.

Answer 5

just put the cd into the drive and start the computer , it should start from the cd. if it does not then you have to make some changes in the bios but that is a tad more complex.

Answer 6

get pclinux livecd... boots off the cd and you dont need to install it if you dont want to.