Installing
VectorLinux
VectorLinux is a unique distribution in that it will run on a very wide range of computers from old to new because of a very intelligent use of system resources. Any system using an Intel or AMD processor.
VectorLinux Standard (6.0 is current) is the bases for most tutorials on this site.
Download the VectorLinux .iso from here.
Installing a Linux operating system is easy once you know how. No matter what Linux OS you choose the operation is always the same. First you will need to download an .iso. This is an image of the cd in a compressed form. Then the image has to be burnt to an actual cd (in some cases when larger .iso's are used they need to be burnt to a dvd.) Then you need to prepare your computer to boot from the cd rather than the hard drive. Sound complicated! Don't worry, it's not. To prove it I'll walk you through it on the two sceencasts below.
Partitioning and the Graphical
Installer.
When you first install Linux you may choose to keep your Windows OS as well and dual boot. (Choose to boot one or the other at start-up). You may also choose to make your computer a dedicated Linux machine or even dual boot with other Linux's. These are all, just a matter of correctly setting up the partitions. Follow the tutorials below and you will get a better idea of how it works.
When you first install Linux you may choose to keep your Windows OS as well and dual boot. (Choose to boot one or the other at start-up). You may also choose to make your computer a dedicated Linux machine or even dual boot with other Linux's. These are all, just a matter of correctly setting up the partitions. Follow the tutorials below and you will get a better idea of how it works.
Linux video tutorial: Gparted Modify partitions for a dual boot with windows.
As of version 6.0, Vector has introduced a graphical installer. This method, besides being graphical, offers better recognition of other linux operating systems when dual booting, the ability to import previous user settings and adding a personalized image to your login screen. Since this is the first release of the graphical installer, try it first, but it you are not happy with the installation results, then use the tried and true text installer.
Vectorlinux
light is the only VL version to offer a live cd. This cd will
boot and run VL right from the optical drive. This is a great
way to test VL's detection of your hardware and give it's functionality
a try. If light works you will also know that the other VL's
will work as they share the same base. If you find you like
VL light, then here is how to install it.
The Text Installer:
The
text installer is still preferred by many.
It is still the default installer for the Vectorlinux Light (non-live)
version. It is still available as an alternative to the graphical
installer on the Vectorlinux Std version (gold). It also has
been the solution for some when the new graphical
installer does not work for their system.
Video
Tutorial...Using the text installer with VectorLinux.Video Tutorial...Repairing / configuring Lilo with the vliloconf option of the install cd.
While unable to resize ntfs partitions like the Graphical Partitioning tool Gparted can, the text tool, cfdisk can still occomplish what needs to be done for a number of partitioning situations.
One of the real time savers in VectorLinux is that it installs proprietory graphic card drivers automatically with the built in tool vxconf. The walkthrough of vxconf is pretty straight forward, but we will cover it here. Also we will cover how to download and install updated drivers from official websites.
Sound is set-up with the alsaconf utility during installation in both the text and graphical installations
of Vectorlinux. For more on working with sound on Vectorlinux see the tutorials below.
VirtualBox is a way you can run a
complete OS on top of another OS. You may choose to run
Windows this way, keeping Linux as your primary OS and running Windows
as needed from within the Virtual Machine. The opposite is also true.
You can try out Linux (in this case VectorLinux) on Windows
without having to partition the actual harddrive.
Linux
video tutorial. Running Microsoft
XP in
Virtualbox on
VectorLinux.
Linux video tutorial. Installing VirtualBox and running Linux on Microsoft Windows.
Coming soon. Running VectorLinux in VirtualBox on Microsoft Windows.
Linux video tutorial. Installing VirtualBox and running Linux on Microsoft Windows.
Coming soon. Running VectorLinux in VirtualBox on Microsoft Windows.
There are exceptions to everything and by that rule alone you can conclude that there will be times that booting and installing from a CD is just not going to be an option. Netbooks are an example where installing VectorLinux by cd could only be done if the owner also had purchased an external cd/dvd drive. (VectorLinux runs amazingly well on netbooks, without the need for a specialized version by the way)
Creating
a
bootable usb drive.Here is a tutorial that will walk you through the creating of a bootable usb-drive version of the VectorLinux install cd for use where a cd just is not practical.
Creating
a
Live CD/DVD or even a live bootable flash drive..VectorLinux has a tool that will take your customized VectorLinux install and make it into a iso that can be burnt to a live cd or dvd. You can then use unetbootin to create a usb-drive version.
Linux video tutorial: Using vmklive to create a bootable .iso
Coming soon: Turning your vmklive .iso into a bootable usb-drive with unetbootin.
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