Is it possible to run Linux or Unix and Vista on my computer without partitioning the hard drive?

Running Linux or Unix from within Vista would be ideal, but I realise this is probably not possible because they are separate OSs. I've just started a course in IT and they've told me to put Unix, or failing that Linux on my computer, but I don't want to partition my hard drive because it wipes it and I want all my programs and data in one place, plus it seems like a lot of hassle I can't be arsed with. They've also told me about Cigywn but I've had a look and it looks too different from Linux/Unix to be useful. So if there's any possible chance I'm able to run Linux/Unix without partitioning my hard drive please let me know...

Is it possible to run Linux or Unix and Vista on my computer without partitioning the hard drive?
One option not mentioned so far and for me the easiest is similar to the option of an external drive. Install a second hard drive, it only needs to be a smallish one 20gig or above would be adequate. Install your Linux onto this and it is then completely independent of your Windows drive. Try the Micro Mart forum at www.micromart.co.uk where I am sure some of the guys will help you. You have to join up but it's completely free and they have some Linux wizards there. Hope this helps.
Reply:It is possible though - just use VMWare, or any other Virtual Machine software.





Additionally, partitioning your disk drive doesn't wipe out all your old data and programs. Just re-size your current partition using software like QParted -





http://qtparted.sourceforge.net/index.en...





On top of that, you can also run Linux as a LiveCD - no need to install anything.





Wow! Open Source and Free software fives you such choice, doesn't it? Welcome to freedom :)
Reply:yes you can and both ways are mentioned above either using virtual machine. or d/ling a live cd. most of the linux distros can be d/led as live cds which can be ran directly from the cdrom.
Reply:No, you MUST partition your hard drive to run both.
Reply:Seconding VMWare. That's what I use at work. Let's you easily switch between Linux and Windows, something you'll want to do a lot as a student.





Live CD would be my second choice.





You can also try to find a copy of a software called Partition Magic that lets you dynamically resize partition with wiping it. Then you could go for multiboot.





I prefer VMWare, although you need about 2x the amount of RAM you would otherwise.
Reply:liveCD is one possibility.





I would try installing it to an external drive. You would either have to install grub (and may have problems if the external drive were not plugged in - I am not sure), or come up with another boot option. You could always restore the MBR if you had grub problems.
Reply:You can only run an OS within an OS with a virtual machine. Unless you use Putty or something.
Reply:Running Linux in "emulation" is slowwwwwwww


and is no good for a speed freak like me!


Running Linux from the CD/DVD is equally slow because of the seek time.


I agree with the separate hard drive option to put Linux onto.


Just change the boot drive in the BIOS to the OS you want.


PS


Yes I have tried them too!
Reply:i don't know if Vista will work with this solution, but for xp it works:





http://wubi-installer.org/





it installs linux into a virtual disk file within your existing partition...


Good Luck!
Reply:Of course! Just add another hard drive!





Sorry, but this is the only way. It isn't that hard, though. Just buy another hard drive (or salvage an old one), pop it in, boot to a Unix/Linux distro installation CD, and overwrite the new hard drive's partitions.





You will have to keep your Vista hard drive as master because Vista sucks that way. As a result, you will have to make one tinsy little ajustment to the Master Boot Record on your Vista hard drive (you modify the mount point). Honestly, I do not know how to do this on distros other than OpenSUSE 10.2, but it should be self explanatory.





I hope this answers your question.
Reply:Linux offers a version that operates as a bootable disk. It is not installed on the hard drive.


Maybe you could consider adding a separate hard drive to run Linux or Unix on. These are even available as external drives.


--------


Like Petwanel says, and I think the disk can be downloaded from the Linux pages for free and burned to your own CD.
Reply:Virtual Machine free from Microsoft could be an answer but here is what I have done.


I have a SATA drive with SUSe 10.2 on fully loaded, I've even got my scanner working.


I then have a IDE drive which plugs into a drive bay.


Now for reasons known to some when I plug the the Ide drive in the bay and switch on, that drive takes over the booting and on that drive I have XP. without that drive it boots from SUSe.


Best of both worlds eh.
Reply:Yes. You need a Linux Distro in the form of A Live CD or Live DVD. The book Linux for Dummies All In One Desk Reference is one source that has the Live CD.
Reply:The best way I have found is to download vmware player which is free. You could then download any of the 100s of virtual appliances which include many different linux and unix distros. This way you could run many different linux distros at the same time from Vista without having to go through the linux installation process. These will run at near native speed, but you may have some problems viewing video or listening to audio from linux.
Reply:It is possible to install Linux/Unix on Vista without partitioning the hard drive.





Just install Microsoft's Virtual PC 2007 and install it through there.





Your base system will be Vista. Every time you want use Linux, Vista has to be running.

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