Introduction to Linux distros - Using Virtual Machines (VM) in virtual box in windows.

Hi guys! Now, this will be the fourth tutorial in the Linux distros field. Now, some of you might want to install the distro itself into the Hard Drive (HD for short), however, some of you might not want to risk losing windows and going through the harrowing process of reinstalling it should that happen. Virtual machines (VM) are solutions to your problems. It can also be used to test out an OS before installing it to your hard drive. So, let's get started.

What you need:
1) Oracle VM virtual box. (Click here to download)

2) Your distro's iso file


Steps:

1)Click on the virtual box installer and go through the steps to install Virtual box. I'll call it VB for short.

2)After installation, open up virtual box. Make sure that you have the iso file somewhere in the account you are using.

3)Click on new and a window should pop up.

4)Click 'Next'

5)Type a name for your os, it can be anything, it is for you to remember for e.g Linux Mint 11 'Katya'. Then choose other linux in the dropdown menu, if your os is not listed. Then click next

6) Drag the slider to the middle of the bar. This will be the RAM assigned to your guest os, the more the better, but whatever you do, NEVER assign all the memory to your guest os. Click next.

7) Continue clicking next until you reach the end.

8)Now, you should be done and you will be brought back to the VM management screen.

9)Click on start at the top of the VM management window.

10) After waiting for a while, a new window should pop up asking you to specify the cd location. Click on image file, browse and then find your iso file. then click ok and wait for your distro to boot!

Introduction to Linux - How to boot up and use your distro

Hi everyone! Today will be the 3rd part of the Linux tutorial. This tutorial are for those who have already downloaded and installed their distro's iso file to their thumbdrive. So, let's get started....

1)If your computer is on, turn it off.

2) While the com is off, stick your pendrive/ thumbdrive/USB key (Whatever you call your USB pendrive) into the USB port on your com.

3) Boot it up...and get your hands ready on the keyboard.

4) Just before Windows (or whatever your OS is) boots up, you should see for a few seconds a screen with some keyboard shortcuts which also say something like "BIOS setup", "Setup", "Boot device", something like that. Press the keyboard shortcut that will bring you into the setup menu. Then, enter the BIOS or boot menu. In it you should see the name of your USB device. Put it as your top priority boot device, followed by your hard drive. Finally, save changes and exit.

5) If you have done this correctly, the com should reboot and you will end up at the Linux distro's menu, where you can select whether to boot from the hard drive or your thumbdrive. If I'm not wrong, it is usually the first option.

6) Navigate to the option you want to choose and press enter. For those who want to try out Linux Mint 11 'Katya', it IS the first option. For those not trying out Mint, I don't use them, so I won't help you. OK, OK, I'm just lazy. Shoot me.

7) As to how to use the OS, I guess that anyone with a couple of brain cells can figure it out. If you're talking about the advanced options, I won't blame you, just comment and I'll help you, but if you're gonna ask me where the start button is, then.....yeah.

Introduction to Linux distributions- Live USBs

Ok, now that you know what are Linux distros (Distributions), you might be wondering,"Ok, so what the hell am I gonna do with that info? I don't know how to install any distros, so what the hell." In this post, I will be teaching you how to create/use a Live USB. The materials you need:

-A 4GB or more thumbdrive/pen drive/USB key what ever you prefer to call it. (IMPORTANT:Move your information to the desktop or else your data will be deleted when we format the thumbdrive.)

-Universal USB installer (Click here for download)

-A computer with an OK processor.

-Your selected distro's ISO file. (when you download the file from the website it is in an ISO image file format.)

Creating a Live USB:

1) Plug in your thumbdrive.

2) Open up universal USB installer.

 3) Select your Linux Distro from the first dropdown menu. (Mine will be Linux Mint 11 DVD 32 bit)

4) Select your ISO file in the second menu.

5) Select your USB drive letter CORRECTLY! (Mine is E:\, so I'll choose E.)
 Then click "format E drive (Erases Content)".

6) Select a persistent file size. This wil be the amt of data Linux will store on your thumbdrive, this option is good if you plan to use Linux as an addition to your windows OS and you would like to save data on it. I'll choose 1634mb.

7) Click create and wait till its done! Read my next post to learn how to boot it up!