So I want to start learning Linux..

[chargerjake]

Hello people of LTT Forum!

 

I got a Raspberry Pi for Christmas and, well, as much as I do know about computers, I know NOTHING about Linux, which is virtually the only operating system that can be run on an RPi. I also have no idea how to use the Linux Command Line. So I want to start learning Linux. I'm awaiting my 32gb MicroSD card to come in, so I basically can't do anything on it. I have a spare laptop that has Win7 Professional on it, and I was wondering:

 

Could I run Linux(ubuntu or fedora or something) on a hard drive partition on the computer? I need to keep the data from it currently, because it is a borrowed laptop. Or, any other alternatives that you guys have could be posted here as well, it'd be greatly appreciated. I don't know how different Raspbian is from Ubuntu or Fedora, but I should be able to figure it out sometime soon.

 

Thank you guys.

[Guest]

Linux isn't an operating system.

[Godlygamer23]

Linux isn't an operating system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux

[Guest]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux

That's wrong. It's a kernel.

[spartaman64]

fedora is bleeding edge but it might have bugs, debian is super stable but very little updates, ubuntu is a middle ground

[chargerjake]

That's wrong. It's a kernel.

What the hell ever, just tell me how I can get it on a partition, or IF I can.

[Godlygamer23]

That's wrong. It's a kernel.

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/what-is-linux

 

Linux is, in simplest terms, an operating system. It is the software on a computer that enables applications and the computer operator to access the devices on the computer to perform desired functions. The operating system (OS) relays instructions from an application to, for instance, the computer's processor. The processor performs the instructed task, then sends the results back to the application via the operating system.

[mansoor_]

That's wrong. It's a kernel.

RMS would be proud.

[spartaman64]

What the hell ever, just tell me how I can get it on a partition, or IF I can.

you can run it on a partition i would recommend getting a separate drive if possible to avoid the risk of messing with data

[Guest]

What the hell ever, just tell me how I can get it on a partition, or IF I can.

Most popular distros have an installer you can on a disk or flash drive. In the installer, you can create the partitions necessary to install.

[Guest]

That's wrong. It's a kernel.

GNU/Linux. Better?

 

OP, if you have a fairly fast USB stick you can install a lightweight linux distro on there without a problem. That should definitely get you started and is usually "enough" if you just want to try it out and play around with it.

[FizzyFantom]

For you Raspberry Pi I suggest you check out Raspbian. It runs well on the Pi and should get you a start in Linux based systems. Ubuntu and all the forks of it (Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Lubuntu, etc.) are all based on Debian, and outside of servers (and certain specific things like programming) you will mostly be seeing Debian based systems.

Here are a couple of links to get you started:

http://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/linux/usage/users.md

http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/

http://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/installation/installing-images/windows.md

https://frustrateditengineer.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/raspberry-pi-first-login-starting-the-gui-and-installing-applications/

And some links for loading Ubuntu on a desktop/laptop if you want to try it out (or you could play with LiveCD):

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

https://rufus.akeo.ie/

 

I hope this helps a little