Linux on Windoze?

[tamaranth]

For reasons too laborious to go into here, I want to be able to run a Linux app on a Windows laptop. (Yes, there's a Windows version but we'd have to purchase a whole new license.)

I understand there are Ways and Means (TopologiLinux, CoLinux) but no one here has actually used any of 'em.

Any advice?

Comments

[andrewducker]

This month's PC Pro has an article on doing just that - so long as you're happy to run it inside a VM. It has a free version of VirtualBox and a copy of Ubuntu on the DVD, so you should be up and running within an hour...

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

that was quick! And it seems to be installing ok ...

(I lose track with 'this month', PC Pro-wise: though admittedly from the weather outside it is October ...)

[andrewducker]

:->

Let us know how it works out!

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

so far I have a VirtualBox but Ubuntu install hangs with GNOME Settings Daemon failling to get replies from anything

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

GRRRRRRRR.

Installation of Ubuntu 7.10 fails (http://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/369) (ticket 3 months old and not fixed).

[andrewducker]

Sounds like it needs lots of memory allocated - I take it you don't have enough spare.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

have allocated massive memory: still no good. Too much is never enough. Today, I am mostly going with perlmonger's suggestion, below.

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

I was just going to suggest cygwin (http://www.cygwin.com/), but the cygwin page specifically says "Cygwin is not a way to run native linux apps on Windows". Which makes this comment rather silly. (Unless rebuilding the app from source is an option.)

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

rebuild? bleeeeurgh. Let's not!

Once I have Linux running on my little laptop, I will be able to werk wherever I like (empty meeting rooms, HOME, even at my desk) and the world will be my mollusc of choice.

(Did you see the BBC News article on Plague of Slugs?)

[perlmonger.livejournal.com]

I'd go for a VMware Player (http://www.vmware.com/products/player/) virtual appliance - it's all free-as-in-beer, and you can take your pick of pre-installed Linuxen to download (http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/cat/45).

[tea-cantata.livejournal.com]

Otherwise I'd have said running a live cd on your windows machine so that you're effectively running Linux. No idea if that actually works or if I'm just talking bollocks, though...