How to install linux?
 

Hello
This is the first time i want to use Linux and i want to install linux to my laptop for writing parallel codes and parallel programing, could anybody help me where i can get Linux installations files and how i should install linux in my laptop?
which distribution of linux is the best for programming with C++ and Fortran (especially parallel programming) and working with CFD softwares like Fluent and Gambit or Tecplot?

Thanks

hi friend
if you want to install linux first you should look for which brand of it you like you can choose among different linux distributions from fedora to ubuntu and so on, its free so you can go and downloaded through their website (http://www.ubuntu.com/)
for installation you have 2 or 3 options
1. you can install linux individually in unallocated part of ur hard!!!!!! (like you have two windows together!!!)
2.you can use an simulator program such as VMmaker to install linux inside windows
3. if you download ubuntu you can install it as a program!!!!! :D with some restriction
now which linux distributions is the best? actually i dont know as linux kernel is the same among all distributions so i think you dont feel many difference between them i have experience both ubuntu and fedora and both were well-enough in working :D
but ubuntu however some how more convenient in dealing with package managment

welcome to linux :D

If you are a first time Linux user you may consider using Linux in a virtual machine until you are comfortable with it.

Linux is a great operating system for CFD, but it is not so easy to use for a Windows user. Also installing Linux on a laptop could be (from time to time) a complex task.

My advice is to find a Linux user that leaves near your area and ask him to give you a hand.

If you don't have important stuff on your laptop and you like to experiment just download the last version of Ubuntu, burn it on a dvd and give it a try.

On the other hand if this laptop is your only computer, better play safe - if you are not careful you risk to lose all your data.

Best wishes,

Do

Yes, that is good advice, call in a friend. Also, there are some very good step-by-step instructions on the web. For a laptop, one "safe" option is to install to an external USB hard drive. Just make sure, when it gets to the partitioning stage, that you are using the external drive, and not the internal one. This way you can be pretty sure of not clobbering your existing Windows installation.