Dual booting Linux and Windows 7 - Computing and Networks

callum9999 · 29-11-2009, 16:50

Hi, I have a Windows 7 laptop and a while ago I remember reading about either a laptop or a netbook that came with a basic version of linux that loaded in seconds.

I was thinking about installing this so if I want to just browse the web I can load that, or load Windows 7 for anything more. Is this version freely available, and if so, is it possible to dual-boot it with Windows?

Thanks

chiller15 · 29-11-2009, 16:55

Linux variations are all free.

Ubuntu is the most common version of Linux at the moment, for distribution on laptops, imo. It is much lighter on resources than Windows operating systems.

It can be dual booted, it's been done for years.

You can use a spare partition or shrink an existing one (On Windows 7, go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Disk Management and shrink the current one, leaving say, 10GB free)

Just download say Ubuntu, and put it on a disc, and boot it up. Install it, and Bob's your uncle. Quite often, Linux variations, and I know Ubuntu does this, they have what's called a LiveCD. This allows you to put it on a disc, and load the disc and try Ubuntu, without having to install anything.

callum9999 · 29-11-2009, 17:11

Thanks. It was specifically the almost-instant on version I was after (I didn't know whether that was free like normal linux variations, or whether its just based on Linux but is propiertary?).

I'm sure Ubuntu etc. would load faster than Windows 7, but if I'm going to have to wait for it to load anyway, I might as well stick with Windows.

EDIT: I found it, I think its called Splashtop and is propiertary to certain manufacturers, not including Dell.

1saintly · 29-11-2009, 17:12

Going off your OP, it sounds like you have limited or no experience of Linux. If this is the case i would strongly recommend, as chiller has also mentioned, you use a live cd\dvd of linux before you just jump in and load a version of Linux on your system.

Personaly i would advise
http://www.ubuntu.com/
or http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

as a good start to Linux, but as already mentioned as its free you have loads to choose from http://distrowatch.com/ and in different formats Gnome or KDE as well as others.
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/kdegnome

The live cd may be a bit slower than a full install of the OS but it will give you a risk free insight into Linux, and it will leave your present setup unaffected should you wish to try another, or not use it at all.

1saintly · 29-11-2009, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by callum9999

Thanks. It was specifically the almost-instant on version I was after (I didn't know whether that was free like normal linux variations, or whether its just based on Linux but is propiertary?).

I'm sure Ubuntu etc. would load faster than Windows 7, but if I'm going to have to wait for it to load anyway, I might as well stick with Windows.

EDIT: I found it, I think its called Splashtop and is propiertary to certain manufacturers, not including Dell.

http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/s...sktop-2007109/

How long is your win7 taking to boot, it shouldnt be taking ages

callum9999 · 29-11-2009, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1saintly

http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/s...sktop-2007109/

How long is your win7 taking to boot, it shouldnt be taking ages

It doesn't take ages, it would just be a lot more convenient to just turn it on and be on the internet in a few seconds if I want to send an email etc., instead of waiting for Windows to load.

1saintly · 29-11-2009, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by callum9999

It doesn't take ages, it would just be a lot more convenient to just turn it on and be on the internet in a few seconds if I want to send an email etc., instead of waiting for Windows to load.

Ah ok, a sad sign of society of today, not enough hours in the day

callum9999 · 29-11-2009, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1saintly

Ah ok, a sad sign of society of today, not enough hours in the day

Yeah! It's fine generally, but if I want to quickly look something up waiting just over a whole minute is a bit tedious!

Guess the easy solution would be to just keep it in hibernation.

cursed-reiver · 29-11-2009, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by callum9999

Hi, I have a Windows 7 laptop and a while ago I remember reading about either a laptop or a netbook that came with a basic version of linux that loaded in seconds.

Could it be that you are talking about splashtop? In which case, it requires a motherboard with splashtop (or part of) embedded in the BIOS.

callum9999 · 29-11-2009, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by cursed-reiver

Could it be that you are talking about splashtop? In which case, it requires a motherboard with splashtop (or part of) embedded in the BIOS.

Yeah it was splashtop.

craggers · 29-11-2009, 18:39

Ubuntu has a very good partition manager when installing, so if you go down that route, you should have to worry about partition woes.

TheBigM · 29-11-2009, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by callum9999

It doesn't take ages, it would just be a lot more convenient to just turn it on and be on the internet in a few seconds if I want to send an email etc., instead of waiting for Windows to load.

I do that everyday in Windows 7. Put my lappy to sleep rather than shut down. It's ready in about one second.

29-11-2009, 16:50	#1
callum9999 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,728	Dual booting Linux and Windows 7 Hi, I have a Windows 7 laptop and a while ago I remember reading about either a laptop or a netbook that came with a basic version of linux that loaded in seconds. I was thinking about installing this so if I want to just browse the web I can load that, or load Windows 7 for anything more. Is this version freely available, and if so, is it possible to dual-boot it with Windows? Thanks

29-11-2009, 16:55	#2
chiller15 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Gender: Male Location: Liverpool Services: Sky+, VM 10Mb, Q6600, 4GB DDR2, 74GB Raptor, 8800GTX, X-FI Posts: 934	Linux variations are all free. Ubuntu is the most common version of Linux at the moment, for distribution on laptops, imo. It is much lighter on resources than Windows operating systems. It can be dual booted, it's been done for years. You can use a spare partition or shrink an existing one (On Windows 7, go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Disk Management and shrink the current one, leaving say, 10GB free) Just download say Ubuntu, and put it on a disc, and boot it up. Install it, and Bob's your uncle. Quite often, Linux variations, and I know Ubuntu does this, they have what's called a LiveCD. This allows you to put it on a disc, and load the disc and try Ubuntu, without having to install anything.

29-11-2009, 17:11	#3
callum9999 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,728	Thanks. It was specifically the almost-instant on version I was after (I didn't know whether that was free like normal linux variations, or whether its just based on Linux but is propiertary?). I'm sure Ubuntu etc. would load faster than Windows 7, but if I'm going to have to wait for it to load anyway, I might as well stick with Windows. EDIT: I found it, I think its called Splashtop and is propiertary to certain manufacturers, not including Dell.

29-11-2009, 17:12	#4
1saintly Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lancashire Services: Sky+, Linux as main, Win 7 for gaming, 02 Broadband Posts: 1,069	Going off your OP, it sounds like you have limited or no experience of Linux. If this is the case i would strongly recommend, as chiller has also mentioned, you use a live cd\dvd of linux before you just jump in and load a version of Linux on your system. Personaly i would advise http://www.ubuntu.com/ or http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php as a good start to Linux, but as already mentioned as its free you have loads to choose from http://distrowatch.com/ and in different formats Gnome or KDE as well as others. http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/kdegnome The live cd may be a bit slower than a full install of the OS but it will give you a risk free insight into Linux, and it will leave your present setup unaffected should you wish to try another, or not use it at all.

29-11-2009, 18:39	#11
craggers Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Preston Services: 10mb vm, lenovo/Acer laptops, Windows 7,SE C902 Posts: 3,230	Ubuntu has a very good partition manager when installing, so if you go down that route, you should have to worry about partition woes.