I need help with running Linux software?

Question

I am currently downloading a free 5-CD installation of Linux from Suse Technologies to replace my old Windows-XP Operating System. The reason why is because our Windows-XP Serial Number was activated (in a two-year period) 12 times. 12 TIMES. There is also a reason to that as well. The person who custom-built the computer had not realized that the memory was not compatible with the hardware, but he did not realize that GOING TO COLLEGE TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD COMPUTERS IS NECESSARY. So he re-did the OS 7 times to fix it. So Microsoft, being nice as they were, decided to give us "special perimission" to activate our OS, but from now on, the serial number will be rejected. We sure as hell don't want to spend $100 on a new copy of XP, so we are getting Linux. My questions are: (1). Can Linux be booted from CD like XP?, (2). Can Linux run exe., zip., and other Windows-based applications?, and (3). Can I install my old Windows games on a Linux OS? I greatly appreciate it

-Kyle Moore

Answer 1

(1) The install process can. Some versions can run entirely from CD. (e.g. Ubuntu)



(2) exe - sometimes. WINE is an emulation layer (ish) that will run some Windows programs.



zip - isn't an application format, its a compression format. There are plenty of tools that run under Linux that can decompress zip files.



(3) As for exe files. Sometimes. The version of WINE from Transgaming can handle more then regular WINE.



http://www.transgaming.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&file=index&ceid=29

Answer 2

Well, here's your answers:



(1) Yes, Linux installer Disks are bootable. Infact, there are Linus distros designed to be only booted from the CD.



(2) They cannot run Windows programs, EXEs... however, depending on the Distro (version) of Linux you choose, software is even more available than with Windows. There are programs that handle .ZIP archives no problem, aswell as pretty much every other archive/media/document file format.



There IS a linux program called wine (http://www.winehq.com/ ) that attempts to run Windows EXE programs. It's NOT an emulator or virtual machine, but an actual reprogramming of the Windows interface. It works quite well with simple programs.



(3) See (2). Wine does include some DirectX support, although I've found it very buggy so far.



I always recommend ubuntu Linux (http://www.ubuntu.com/ ) to new users, it's a very easy switchover. Also, here's a great site to learn about Linux... it links to and reviews all the most popular Distros. (http://www.distrowatch.com/ )

Answer 3

Yes, however you dont need the 5 cd set from Suse to accomplish an installable system.



Ubunntu uses a live CD system that is really nothing more then a 50mb image etc..

You dont want to use "prebuilt" packages anyway b/c they are built using the least common/most compatible compiler options vs CPU specific options in the compiler (it really does help to turn on CPU specific compile options for some applications instead of just the bland default x86 compile options that cross platform Intel and AMD etc..



4 of those 5 cd's are "applications" and source code all of which are downloading via whatever package/tool system comes w/ that particular distribution..

To your Point "Going to college to learn how to build computers is neccesary" That is a misconception. Building computers is easy, go read www.tomshardware.com, any teenager w/ a bit of common sense and smarts can build a computer (most of them do etc..). Sounds like your guy did'nt do his homework, that's just laziness and has litttle to do w/ going to college. In fact I dont think i've ever seen a "college" course that goes to "building a computer" etc...



Building a computer is just like building a puzzle so long as you understand the components involved..





1. Yes I spoke to that above

2. Yes via emulation (www.winehq.com)

3. Yes (see 2)

Answer 4

Linux utility is made for linux and could no longer run on domicile windows as such yet linux utility is termed open source; meaning that any you could actually get this technique code and revise it and distribute it for unfastened. you could google for open source utility and detect a great style of unfastened stable utility. Sourceforge is an extremely stable secure source. indexed under are another hyperlinks.

Answer 5

1. Yes

2. No.

3. No. (You can run some, but they suck)