How to Install GNU/Linux from Windows
Instlux is a Windows application that allows you to start a GNU/Linux installation by downloading and running this small program, which reboots the computer into an installation system for one of several distributions, and then removes itself when you next use Windows.
I chose my current laptop, an IBM X31, because IBM are a large supporter of Free Software and their hardware tends to work well with free software drivers (Although they have not supported the Free BIOS campaign…) This laptop has no CD or DVD drive, so installing GNU/Linux in the usual way is not possible.
Instlux was just the thing!
I’ve just seen that it a funding drive on at the moment, which I’ve donated to.
This was with some reservations though, as the drive is to fund an Instlux for the latest version of Ubuntu.
While gNewSense is a version of Ubuntu 6.06 with all non-free software removed, it lacks the polish of Fedora, which only ships non-free firmware as part of the Linux kernel. I’m also concerned about the sustainability of a distribution with only 2 developers, but I am contributing to the Artwork team to improve this situation.
Until this is resolved, I’m happiest recommending Fedora.
As part of my donation, I wrote this to the Instlux developer:
Hi, I would love to see a Fedora Instlux instead of an Ubuntu 6.10 because 6.06 can be upgraded seamlessly to 6.10 if required, and 6.06 is the ‘stable’ version. I’ll donate $100 to a Fedora Instlux fund if/when one happens. I’m about to donate $5 to say thanks for the Ubuntu 6.06 Instlux I’ve used on this IBM X31 which has no CD/DVD drive. However, Ubuntu ships many proprietary, non-free, closed source components and even applications such as Opera and Realplayer. I believe that the ends does not justify the means, so I can no longer support Ubuntu. Many thanks and kind regards, Dave Crossland dave@lab6.com
The How to Install GNU/Linux from Windows by David Crossland, except the quotations and unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Comments
One Response to “How to Install GNU/Linux from Windows”
Leave a Reply
The Instlux developer got back to me: “thank you very much for your email. Implementing instlux-fedora could be very interesting. I will start a donation fund very early.” :-)