Windows | Linux Journal

How to Download and Install Linux (on Windows)

Now that users have a general idea of what Linux is, this article will explain how it can be installed on a computer, along with the type of Distribution that should be used. The following topics will be covered in this tutorial:

Five Trends Influencing Linux's Growth at the Endpoint

A recent IDC InfoBrief identified Linux as the only endpoint operating system growing globally. While Windows market share remains flat, at 39% in 2015 and 2017, Linux has grown from 30% in 2015 to 35% in 2017, worldwide. And the trend is accelerating.

How to Make Windows Better? Make It Chocolatey!

Once again, my friend and fellow Linux Journal club member Kris Occhipinti introduced me to an awesome bit of software. This time, it's an open-source project that brings Linux-like package management to Windows! Don't get me wrong; installing software on Windows isn't difficult, but it's definitely more cumbersome than with Linux.

Non-Linux FOSS: File Spelunking with WinDirStat

With Linux, it's fairy easy to find the large files on your system by doing something like this: du -ahx / | sort -rh | head -20

Non-Linux FOSS: Install Windows? Yeah, Open Source Can Do That.

For my day job, I occasionally have to demonstrate concepts in a Windows environment. The most time-consuming part of the process is almost always the installation. Don't get me wrong; Linux takes a long time to install, but in order to set up a multi-system lab of Windows computers, it can take days!

Non-Linux FOSS: Don't Type All Those Words!

We've mentioned Autokey as a great tool for text replacement in real time on Linux. Thankfully, there's an option for Windows users that actually is even more powerful than Autokey! AutoHotkey is a similarly named application that runs strictly under Windows.

Non-Linux FOSS: XAMP

One of my career iterations put me in charge of a Windows server that had Apache and PHP installed on it to serve as a Web server for the corporate intranet. Although I was happy to see Apache used as the Web server dæmon, the installation on the Windows server was the most confusing and horrifying mess I've ever seen.

Non-Linux FOSS: AutoHotkey

Text expansion and hotkey automation are the sort of things you don't realize you need until you try them. Those of you who ever have played with system settings in order to change the function of a keystroke on you system understand the value of custom hotkeys.

Non-Linux FOSS: Notepad++ Is Better Better

If anyone understands the importance of a good text editor, it's a Linux user stuck on Windows. Sure, Microsoft supplies Notepad and Wordpad, but neither really feels like the powerful sort of text editor a Linux user expects. Enter Notepad++.

Non-Linux FOSS: Rearrange Your Furniture, Not Your Spine

My family is in the middle of moving from one house to another. Part of that move involves arranging furniture. I'll be honest, I can move a couch across a room only so many times before I start to think perhaps there's a better way. Thankfully, there is.

Non-Linux FOSS: Classic Shell

Even those of us on the Linux side of the fence have been watching Microsoft's Windows 8 roll-out—albeit for us, it has been with morbid fascination. Granted, we're not without our drastic changes (ahem, Unity), but the new interface Microsoft has chosen for version 8 is seemingly unusable for most people. The iconic Start menu has been taken away without a clear replacement.

andLinux: Seamlessly Run Linux Applications on Windows

andLinux is a Linux distro with a difference. It’s based on a port of the the Linux kernel to Windows coupled with an X server and other software. In short, it allows you to run Linux software seamlessly on the Windows desktop without recompiling it or using a virtual machine.

Virus Scan A Windows Machine

How often do we all hear the phrase, “Could you take a look at it for me?” Whether you are checking out a machine for a friend or colleague or looking after one of your own machines, it's handy to have the ability to virus check a Windows setup from the safety of a Linux boot CD or USB stick. This short guide shows you how to scan for infected files by booting into SystemRescueCD and running ClamAV, a virus checker.