Linux help

[BrownTown]

So, I have a programming class and for whatever reason the programs only work on linux. So, we all got a KNOPPIX CD which is some linux version that jsut runs off a CD, but the problem is now I'm back at my parents house and the CD wont work. So, I need to put linux on this computer. I thought it would be simple since there is a second Hard Drive on this computer with nothing on it, but I cannot for the life of me find a linux distribution that will jsut let me install it on the second hard drive. They all want to come as CD images, and want a CD burner, but I don't frikin have a CD burner here so thats useless. Where can I just download a basic linux version that I can jsut put on a second hard drive and boot it up? I really need to write this program over the break since I have a sh|t ton of other work due after Thanksgiving.

Conclusion: where can I downlaod the linux, install it on my computer, and be ready to work without having to know anything about linux?

 

[drag]

got a USB key?

You can try DSL linux.

 

[BrownTown]

k, ill try that and see.

Also, I don't understand, why do I always have to use a CD or a USB key and such, why can't I jsut put it on my dang hard drive like Windows?

EDIT: so, when I did this on KNOPPIX I could just type "make <filename>" to compile my code and make the exe, but when I tried that on DSL it didn't recognize the command, what do I need to do to fix this?

 

[n0cmonkey]

You can put linux on a hard drive, or even in a vmware image. It's just harder for newbies, especially if they don't have a good backup strategy...

The make command and probably other build utilities need to be installed for "make whatever" to work.

 

[phisrow]

If you have no CD burner and need linux fast:

Download and install VMware player: http://www.vmware.com/download/player/

Download and run a linux VM:

Redhat: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/626
Fedora Core: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/618
Ubuntu 6.06: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/ubuntu.html
SUSE: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/594

 

[Nothinman]

Also, I don't understand, why do I always have to use a CD or a USB key and such, why can't I jsut put it on my dang hard drive like Windows?

You can and usually you do, it's just that since Linux is itself a complete OS it's not designed to be installed from Windows.

EDIT: so, when I did this on KNOPPIX I could just type "make <filename>" to compile my code and make the exe, but when I tried that on DSL it didn't recognize the command, what do I need to do to fix this?

DSL is based on Debian so you should be able to install the build-essential package to get make, gcc and the standard C libarary headers.

 

[drag]

Yes.

If you go to DSL's website they hae instructions for installing Debian packages.

Also I forgot about this also...

They have a version of DSL that will run completely inside of Windows using the Qemu system emulator. It'll take a lot longer to compile stuff, but it'll work without having to install anything.


Also it shows how you can install Linux to a qemu image just by using the ISO image.
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Qemu

I never used

 

[drag]

Another option is to use Vmware player.
http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

There are numerious images for running Linux inside the player and these would run faster then what you can get with Qemu.

http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/cat/45

Pick your posion.

http://www.thoughtpolice.co.uk/vmware/

Hope that helps.

 

[drag]

Also if you want to install Debian directly to your harddrive from DSL there is Debootstrap.

I suggest trying out Debian Testing (Debian Etch).
http://www.debian.org/releases/testing/i386/apds03.html.en

Debootstrap is a program you install inside of a existing linux system that downloads and begins the installation directly to your harddrive. However it requires more manual steps to get it going that may not be easy for somebody new to Debian.