You can run Ubuntu from the live CD without having any effect at all on your HD. Just boot from your Live CD. Ubunbtu only installs itself if you tell it to.
If you’re going to install a new operating system, it’ll probably erase your data. Your best bet is to back everything up in your current operating system (windows I’m assuming), and then go ahead with the install. Sometimes compatibility between windows and linux can be a bit weird, so back everything up first. There is a way to partition your drive, or make it divided into two sections, and then install Ubuntu as a dual boot. That way you can have the choice of booting linux or Windows…Except to partition the drive, you also have to format it, losing information.
Bottom line-when you install a new operating system, you’ll probably lose information if you don’t back it up, either onto a different hard drive, or onto DVD’s/CD’s.
Try Wubi, it installs it into a folder with a “virtual system” and there’s no partitioning involved. Easy install, nice menus, and you can uninstall it through add/remove programs in windows. Worked well for me, give it a try. It’s supported by Cnet!
August 30th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
You can run Ubuntu from the live CD without having any effect at all on your HD. Just boot from your Live CD. Ubunbtu only installs itself if you tell it to.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
If you’re going to install a new operating system, it’ll probably erase your data. Your best bet is to back everything up in your current operating system (windows I’m assuming), and then go ahead with the install. Sometimes compatibility between windows and linux can be a bit weird, so back everything up first. There is a way to partition your drive, or make it divided into two sections, and then install Ubuntu as a dual boot. That way you can have the choice of booting linux or Windows…Except to partition the drive, you also have to format it, losing information.
Bottom line-when you install a new operating system, you’ll probably lose information if you don’t back it up, either onto a different hard drive, or onto DVD’s/CD’s.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Try Wubi, it installs it into a folder with a “virtual system” and there’s no partitioning involved. Easy install, nice menus, and you can uninstall it through add/remove programs in windows. Worked well for me, give it a try. It’s supported by Cnet!