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Live CD

How to use Linux without reading the book

by Louis Vitale

At the last few meetings I have been asking “Is anybody using Linux?” and the consistent answer is no. A couple of members have tried it, but no one is using it as their main operating system. The reason for the Question is the existence of “ Vista ,” the Microsoft replacement for XP. When it is released into the wild, Microsoft hopes it will quickly suck up all the oxygen and continue their 90% dominance of the operating system market. Maybe not this time.

First there is the cost, at least $100 or more for the most basic version. From what I have read, most of the improvements are in the networking and graphics area, not critical for most general users. The overdue upgrade to Internet Explorer and additional security features may sweeten the deal. On the other hand the new and improved anti-piracy features may prevent you from even making copies of your own files on your own computer. Not a good thing!

I don't see Vista as an immediate MUST HAVE — therefore XP may be around for a long time. No one is going to create software that won't work with XP for the next couple of years at least. There are still a number of happy 98 users in our club.

At some point we will have to upgrade. If that were today what would be our other alternatives? Buy a Mac or run Linux, that's just about it. For the purpose of this article I will ignore Mackintosh, as I have for the last 15 years.

I have a friend who just took the class at SCC on Linux. He has now installed it on two of his computers. He is very satisfied and will continue to use it as his primary operating system. In general he likes the desk top interface and the feel of system. As far as software, everything he needs either came with the version he bought or is available on the net as open source. (Free)

That's the problem. I don't have the time or the ambition to go to school to learn a new operating system. There has to be an easier way, and there is. It is called “Live CD.” Put the disk in, Boot from your CD drive, and you are running Linux. That I can do, and I did.

Jim Alvord, a good friend lent me two versions of Linux on Live CD's. Both worked the first time and both immediately found my DSL connection and connected me to the net. I was very impressed.

I did a little preparation before I started. First I made sure that my computer would boot from a CD drive. If yours does not, a simple BIOS change will make it so. Then I cleaned up my computer, CCleaner, Defrag, at a minimum. The CD will create a Virtual drive so there needs to be enough room on your C drive for it.

The first one I tried was Linspire V5. It took about 3 minuets to load and it was done, I never touched a key. The desktop looked very familiar, and everything was where I expected it to be. I entered hotsheet.com in the “Konqueror” all in one file and web browser, and I was on the net. Since the screen resolution was way too small, I changed it. I did not have to research on how to do it, it was very intuitive.

Next I opened “Open Office” V1.1 which is included. I was able to access my documents and opened this article. The default file format is .doc. I created a new document and tried to print it. No Printer. In less than 2 minutes set up my Samsung 1710 as the default printer and I was in business. I had yet to read the first “instruction”.

Knoppix-Linux V3.9 was my next Live CD. The experience was about the same. It did not look quite as sophisticated as Linspire but it worked just as well. It came with Open Office V2.2. Knoppix came with the option of installing, as well as running Linux from the CD.

The best part of the experience was when I shut the systems down. Both turned off my computer in 10 seconds or less. When I rebooted to XP there was no trace of either program. I had the odd feeling I had just done something behind Bill's back, and he would never know.

There is so much information available that I can't possibly give you even an overview. Here is one site to start, www.livecdlist.com .   My thanks again to Jim for the CD, which I have now copied.

If this is what is available now, I can only imagine what will be available when the time comes to say goodbye to XP.