Looking at Linux! - i have some questions

Ok I've read a fair bit about linux and I've got quite interested!

I have some questions:

1. I'm running windows xp on my pc, and I have a seperate external hard drive that I wish to install linux on. Once I've installed this I would like to start up windows, and then run Linux on top of this (within a window or something). Is this possible?

2. What is the best variation of linux? (i'm quite confused but it seems people have made different versions of it)

3. What are the essential applications for linux? - any good ones, i.e. video editing?

Hopefully some of you guys run linux on tf; so I'm interested to see what you say!

cheers, Stillt

1. I'm running windows xp on my pc, and I have a seperate external hard drive that I wish to install linux on. Once I've installed this I would like to start up windows, and then run Linux on top of this (within a window or something). Is this possible?

Not as far as I know.

2. What is the best variation of linux? (i'm quite confused but it seems people have made different versions of it)

If you are just starting out use Ubuntu, it's very easy to install and use.

3. What are the essential applications for linux? - any good ones, i.e. video editing?

All of the applications which are essential are pre-installed but all others which you might need can be installed easily with their premade application installer.

The only way you can run Linux as a process in Windows is if you use emulation software, such as Virtual PC, but you need a fast processor and a fair bit of RAM if you want it to run smoothly. You could always partition your HD and then install Linux on a partiition so you can boot either Windows or Linux when you start up your computer.

Originally Posted by joe The only way you can run Linux as a process in Windows is if you use emulation software, such as Virtual PC, but you need a fast processor and a fair bit of RAM if you want it to run smoothly. You could always partition your HD and then install Linux on a partiition so you can boot either Windows or Linux when you start up your computer.

How do you select between the 2?

Originally Posted by stillt 1. I'm running windows xp on my pc, and I have a seperate external hard drive that I wish to install linux on. Once I've installed this I would like to start up windows, and then run Linux on top of this (within a window or something). Is this possible?

This is possible actually, I read it in a Mag I bought, let me go find it but you do need a x64 processor (64bit)

EDIT**
Magazine is in back of dads car (hes on business trip) so I cant get it, sorry. But search it, its defo possible, it runs from what I remember in a normal window in luinux

Alex.

slackware......

Originally Posted by halotree06 This is possible actually, I read it in a Mag I bought, let me go find it but you do need a x64 processor (64bit) EDIT** Magazine is in back of dads car (hes on business trip) so I cant get it, sorry. But search it, its defo possible, it runs from what I remember in a normal window in luinux Alex.

I have a x64 processor, guess i'm in luck

2. I've tried Ubuntu, suse, and fedora, I like Suse the best.
http://opensuse.com

3. Wine is a must have, lets you run windows apps.

Alright you can use VMWare which is a Virtual PC software or do a dual boot on your computer which allows you to select the os you want to boot up into.

As far as i know there is no full linux system that can run on top of windows, but there is always cygwin

Not sure there is a best flavour of linux, my preference is Debian, but thats just me.