how to install linux on windows

Introduction:

                                      There are many reasons people are hesitant to try Linux. The biggest of these reasons is that installing Linux generally requires people to do a list of difficult and unfamiliar tasks. However, I am going to introduce “virtualization” which is a fancy term for running Linux like any other program in Windows. The following article will guide you through the process of setting up Linux so you can run it like any other program in Windows. Don’t be intimated, these directions are designed for the absolute beginner and will not require you to do anything unfamiliar, threatening, or permanent to your computer. When you are finished you will be able to run Linux like any other program in Windows and share files between Linux and Windows

Step1:

• Download VM ware player from its home site freely.
• You need to register in the site https://www.vmware.com/account/customerRegistration.do?
• After registration a confirmatory mail will be send to tour mail id.
• Now login to the site with username and password.
• Now start downloading and the size is near to 90 MB.
• After downloading start installing it in your P.C.

Step2:

• Download Linux from its home page.
• It will be an “iso” file.
• Save it on your P.C.

Step3:

• Now VMware has to communicate with Linux.
• For that you have to download an “OS.zip” file from http://web.archive.org/web/20070706060253/http://linux.wolphination.com/data/OS.zip
• After downloading the OS.zip file just extract it in any drive for e.g. C-Drive.
• It will be having two folders namely “OS.vmdk” and “OS.vmx”.
• Copy the Linux “.iso” file to the OS folder.
• Now the OS folder will be as shown below:

• 

• ·         Right click OS.vmx and open it with notepad.
• ·         Just make changes as shown below:

 

• 
  
    Line 3: memsize = "512 " This represents the amount of RAM you want to dedicate to running your virtual machine. I would recommend leaving at least 128 MB to run Windows XP. On a system with 1GB of RAM I think the default of 512 will work just fine. 
  
  

    Line 9: ide1:0.fileName = """c:\image.iso" This represents the location of your disk image for the virtual machine. You want to change this line to represent the location of the Ubuntu disk image. Change this line to read as follows: ide1:0.fileName = "C:\OS\Ubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386.iso" .You can specify the name of linux ".iso" for e.g. "Drive:\OS\LInux os name.iso".
  
                         Now when you click OS.vmx, VMware Player will launch and will prompt you to create a new identifier. This dialog is shown below. Choose " Create " and VMware start booting linux.

  Congratulations, you can now run Linux like any other program in Windows! In order to create a shortcut to put on your desktop, right click OS.VMX and choose Create Shortcut. Drag the shortcut to your desktop (or the location of your choice) and Linux will launch when you click it.