Difference between revisions of "Getting Started With Linux"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
==Installation== | ==Installation== | ||
| + | ==32-bit vs. 64-bit== | ||
| + | Processors in new computers are "64-bit". This has to do with how the processor processes instructions, so programs that have been compiled for 64-bit processors will not run on old 32-bit processors. However, the new processors are "backward compatible", meaning they can run programs compiled for 32-bit processors. Even though 64-bit processors have been available for several years now, many computers come with a 32-bit version of Microsoft Windows installed. When a 32-bit OS is installed on a 64-bit processor, the computer will only be able to run 32-bit programs, even though the processor is cable of running 64-bit programs. So, there are three parts when considering 32-bit vs 64-bit | ||
| + | * The computer's processor (hardware) | ||
| + | * The computer's operating system (software) | ||
| + | * The program to run (software) | ||
| + | |||
===Installing on a Virtual Machine=== | ===Installing on a Virtual Machine=== | ||
This is the simplest way to start using Linux without losing anything on your current computer setup. A VirtualBox is a program that emulates a PC (i.e. a virtual machine), which you can then install an operating system on. To Install Linux on a virtual machine, you need to | This is the simplest way to start using Linux without losing anything on your current computer setup. A VirtualBox is a program that emulates a PC (i.e. a virtual machine), which you can then install an operating system on. To Install Linux on a virtual machine, you need to | ||
| Line 5: | Line 11: | ||
# create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox | # create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox | ||
# install Linux on the new virtual machine | # install Linux on the new virtual machine | ||
| + | ====Installing VirtualBox==== | ||
Revision as of 11:33, 1 January 2013
Contents
Installation
32-bit vs. 64-bit
Processors in new computers are "64-bit". This has to do with how the processor processes instructions, so programs that have been compiled for 64-bit processors will not run on old 32-bit processors. However, the new processors are "backward compatible", meaning they can run programs compiled for 32-bit processors. Even though 64-bit processors have been available for several years now, many computers come with a 32-bit version of Microsoft Windows installed. When a 32-bit OS is installed on a 64-bit processor, the computer will only be able to run 32-bit programs, even though the processor is cable of running 64-bit programs. So, there are three parts when considering 32-bit vs 64-bit
- The computer's processor (hardware)
- The computer's operating system (software)
- The program to run (software)
Installing on a Virtual Machine
This is the simplest way to start using Linux without losing anything on your current computer setup. A VirtualBox is a program that emulates a PC (i.e. a virtual machine), which you can then install an operating system on. To Install Linux on a virtual machine, you need to
- install VirtualBox on your computer
- create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox
- install Linux on the new virtual machine
