Having
two operating systems on one computer hurts nothing. Today's hard drives have
more than enough storage capacity to handle all of the files from both systems
and then some. The trick is to access your data whether you run Windows or
Linux. You could solve this problem by storing your data in the cloud or on a
USB drive. Read on to learn how to keep
your files in one location without maintaining duplicate sets of files for Windows and for Linux.
your files in one location without maintaining duplicate sets of files for Windows and for Linux.
One
of the stumbling blocks in migrating to the Linux desktop is the mistaken view
that you can't take it with you. Your data must remain captive to the Microsoft
operating system. Not true at all.
A
related misconception that stalls many Windows users from adopting the Linux OS
is the belief that when you buy a new computer or install Linux to an existing
computer, you must give up one operating system for the other. Again, not true
at all.
Like
an evangelist, I frequently tell people about a free Windows-like alternative
that is faster and more secure than Microsoft's OS. The most common response I
get is, "Linux, what's that?"
Often
I also hear, "I can't switch systems. I am too busy to start from scratch
with all my files." Or, "I'm too busy to go back and forth between
two sets of files, one on my Windows computer and the other in my new Linux set
up."
But
you do not have to suffer either of those inconveniences to migrate to Linux.
You can eliminate keeping duplicate files in both operating systems or the need
to choose one OS over the other.
The
solution is to install the Linux OS as a dual boot on the existing computer and
continue to store and access all of your data on the Windows side of the hard
drive. This lets you learn Linux in stages as you wean yourself from Microsoft
Windows.
This
approach works well on home computers and at worker's desks in an office
setting. Using cross-platform applications when running the Windows OS makes
switching to Linux even more painless.
For
example, OpenOffice and LibreOffice are free clones of the
Microsoft Office Suite. So you can save and read Word, Excel and PowerPoint
files in the same look-alike apps in both Windows and Linux. Plus, Linux has a
complete array of text editors and apps to view, create and save your existing
and new movie, music and photo files that are compatible in Windows.
Two For One
This
strategy works whether you apply it to a new off-the-shelf computer purchase or
an existing older Windows PC. Whether desktop or laptop, you get two operating
system choices for the cost of one computer. Remember that you pay for the
Windows OS in the price of the computer. You also pay for upgrades to newer
Windows releases and much of the software you run on Windows. The Linux OS is
always free, even new releases. And Linux runs Open Source software, which is
also free, so you always have a huge arsenal of great applications to meet your
every need.
Whether
you buy a Windows PC off the shelf or use your existing aging hardware, install
a Linux distro in a separate partition on the hard drive yourself. The Linux
installer will automatically create a dual boot GRUB startup screen. Turn on
the computer -- or restart it -- to see the selection window. It's that simple!
Since
the Linux OS is free, why not have both available even if you never need to
boot into Windows? Newer computers will run any version of Linux faster than it
runs Microsoft Windows. Some Linux distros specialize in running well on legacy
gear.
Windows Plus Linux
Having
two operating systems on one computer hurts nothing. Today's hard drives have
more than enough storage capacity to handle all of the files from both systems
and then some.
Some
Linux versions, such as Damn
Small Linux and Puppy Linux, run on low-powered older computers. Most Linux
distros run from a CD or DVD in a live session without making any changes to
the hard drive.
The
trick is to access your data whether you run Windows or Linux. You could solve
this problem by storing your data in the cloud or on a USB drive. Read on to
learn how to keep your files in one location without maintaining duplicate sets
of files for Windows and for Linux.
Installing
Linux to run on the same computer that runs the Windows OS is not difficult to
do, even for novice users. In fact, Linux installation disks automate the
process for you.
GRUB Me an OS
When
you set up your computer to run multiple operating systems from one hard drive,
the start up process involves dualbooting. To do this, you must partition the
hard drive.
The
Linux installation process does all of the heavy lifting for you. It shrinks
the large Windows partition into a smaller one. It creates a new partition and
installs the Linux distribution you selected.
Most
Linux installation disks include a process that installs GRUB, the Grand
Unified Bootloader. GRUB lets you preselect the default OS to run if you do not
make a selection in the allotted time.
Windows Is Antisocial
The
Windows OS does not recognize the existence of other operating systems. Windows
does not provide any way for you to access your other operating systems or
files installed alongside it on the hard drive.
But
Linux makes up for that Windows personality complex. Nearly all Linux distros
recognize Windows on a hard drive. Knowing that Linux sees the Windows
partition even when Windows does not reciprocate lets you store all of your
documents, videos, music and whatever just where you would put them when using
the Windows OS.
This
lets you access everything when you run the Linux OS. It eliminates wasted
storage space from having duplicate files on two partitions. It also eliminates
the troubles associates with not opening the most recent document if you
alternate between Windows and Linux often.
The
soon-to-be-released Windows 8 OS makes an even more compelling case for
migrating to Linux and keeping Windows 7 available in reserve, at least until
you work in Linux full time. Windows 8, thanks to Microsoft's pressure tactics
against PC makers, will have a mechanism that blocks any other OS from booting.
Finding Your Files
There
is only one really tricky part in storing your files on the Windows partition.
You must find where your Windows files are located and how to see them using
the Linux file directories.
Finding
your file storage location is largely a function of how the desktop environment
of the distro you use displays the storage locations. For example, you might
see icons on the desktop itself showing the Windows and the Linux volumes of
the hard drive. Your system might display icons for each volume as well as
icons for each plugged in USB drive.
Or
your system may not place drive icons on the desktop. But it will let you
select all available storage devices as part of the Nautilus or Dolphin or
other Linux file manager apps.
Click
on the various icons and file manager entries to find where the Windows
partition of the hard drive is displayed. You will know you found the right
location when you see folders labeled: Program Files, Program Files (x86) and
Documents and Settings. The Linux OS does not use these types of folders. Most
file manager apps let you bookmark locations for easy return visits.
Getting There
Unlike
Microsoft Windows, Linux does not designate hard drive contents with letters
(C:, D:. E:, etc.) Instead, Linux uses word labels or a multi-digit numbers for
each storage device. The K Desktop Environment, for example, labels the Windows
volume after the name of the computer maker in the Devices section of the file
listing. It shows The Linux portion as Home in the Computer file listing.
Once
you find the volume designation for the Windows OS file side of the hard drive,
click on the Documents and Settings folder. Then drill down to the User folder.
It will show whatever name you set up when you first ran the Windows OS. Click
on this folder to open its content listing.
Now
you will see all of the folders that the Windows menu and the Windows File
Manager displays when you run that OS. You can click on the various folders that
hold your stored data: My Documents, My Pictures, Downloads, Videos, etc.
You
can bookmark each of these sub folders in the Linux file manager app or just
bookmark the main Windows location. Some Linux distros let you place shortcuts
to locations right on the desktop. Then you merely point the file picker dialog
box to the appropriate area when you want to open a file in your Linux
applications. You can also create new documents and save them to the same
Windows OS location.
Safer and Better
Most
computer users see a choice between hardware that runs either Apple's or
Microsoft's operating system. They usually settle for what they learned to use
in school or at work or at home. They are surprised to find out that a third
choice -- Linux -- is free and easy to use.
Linux
is a mature,stable and reliable operating system. It needs no resource-hogging
anti-virus and anti-maleware applications to bog down the computer's
performance.
Dual
booting into Windows or Linux is easy to set up. Storing all your data files in
one place accessible to both OSes makes migrating to Linux a no-brainer.
