Ubuntu Linux is one of the biggest success stories in the history of Linux. Standing on the shoulders of Debian Linux, the original basis of Ubuntu, Ubuntu’s regular and frequent releases and expanding set of features have pushed the distribution to the top of the download charts in just a short time. (The first release of Ubuntu dates way back to 2004.) If you haven’t tried Ubuntu Linux, give it a whirl. If you already run Ubuntu, chances are it has features you have yet to discover. Here are a few shortcuts, tips, and pointers sure to please newbies and experts alike.
When first moving to Linux, many users set up their systems to dual-boot Linux and the previous operating system. Others opt to run both operating systems concurrently using virtualization software such as Xen, VirtualBox, Parallels, or VMWare. Still other users choose to simply test-drive Linux using a “Live CD.”
Live CDs have been a truly revolutionary advance for Linux and similar operating systems, because you can experiment on existing hardware, without the risk of losing your data, applications, and operating system. Better yet, you can test drive Linux and access your existing files, which makes for a better evaluation. Reading those files is simple, because that data is readily available on a part of your hard disk that Linux cannot “see” by default.
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS and earlier provided an application named disk-admin (available in the System > Administration > Disks menu)….
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