Having fun with Zorin

[whs]

No, Zorin is not my dog or my Russian girlfriend, it is a Linux Operating System. And a very nice OS that will not discombobulate a Windows user because the user interface is very much like Windows.

I am running Zorin (and Windows 8) from an external SSD attached via USB3 in a virtual partition under VMware Player. That allows me to run those systems on any PC in- and outside the house. If you are interested in that setup, consult my little tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/276540-portable-os-carry-your-os-external-drive.html

And for the installation of Zorin in VMware Player (or as direct install) refer to this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/278957-vmware-player-install-setup-zorin.html


Little recording problem:
Note: If the audio of this video is too low, do the following:
Right click on the speaker icon in the task tray (bottom right) > Playback devices > double click on your output device > Enhancement tab > check the 'Loudness Equalizer' box

 

[Kari]

Chillout Room, can't rep you here Wolfgang.

Very nice and handy tutorial, thanks for sharing.

Kari

 

[whs]

When I have time, I'll post it in the tutorial section - the VMware part.

 

[Layback Bear]

Thank you Wolfgang. Very interesting. I noticed you said you didn't need a anti virus. Is that because you are using a VM or the new operating system?

 

[whs]

Nah, It is a combination of Linux and the virtual machine. It is very easy to backup the virtual machine - you just copy the VMware folder to another disk. And there are not that many Linux viruses around anyhow.

 

[whs]

I have updated this Demo.

1. I have completely redone the video. The old version was sub-standard and that has always bothered me. This new version is a lot more informative and should be more fun.

2. I have edited the text and added a link to the tutorial explaining the installation of Zorin. This should make it easy for you to try it out.

Your feedback would be appreciated. There is always room for improvement.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum this sounds real cool Wolfgang now my query's are if I take this OS on an external drive and say plug this into a friends computer for whatever reason is it going to mess with whatever the OS is already on their machine, say for example on a XP or Vista machine? Or does the other machine have to be running that VM ware?

Are there going to be any problems with the other machines anti virus picking it up as malware?



Ok saw the doco on them building that bridge it was some engineering feat eh?

 

[whs]

If you use the external to run it on another PC, there is absolutely no interference with whatever is on that PC. It runs as 'guest'. The only requirement is that you have VMware Player installed on that system (as the driver so to speak). That is why I always also carry the VMware Player program installation .exe (like the one from the linked site) on that external disk. Installatiuon is a matter of a couple of minutes.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks Wolfgang am going to try it as soon as I can and by the way a very nice video

 

[whs]

Thanks, I have redone the video. The original verion was not so good. The worst was the upload to YouTube. The video is about 500MBs and it took forever.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

No, Zorin is not my dog or my Russian girlfriend...

So, you have a dog and a Russian girlfriend?

 

[whs]

:roflmao:

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks, I have redone the video. The original verion was not so good. The worst was the upload to YouTube. The video is about 500MBs and it took forever.

Ok mate I didn't think that video was that bad really it had good graphic quality and the sound I could hear and I am half deaf

 

[whs]

What you saw was actually already the remake. The one before that was not so good. I am glad you have no audio problems. Some guys had this problem but with the Equalizer setting it worked OK.

 

[Layback Bear]

Is their a reason one couldn't install this new operating system on a internal hard drive partition and tinker with it. Install a anti virus program and firewall. Just test it for the possibility that one could on the fly go back and forth with Windows 7 on one partition and Zorin on the other partition without changing boot options.
--
Here is what I'm dreaming of.
1. Start computer normally in Windows 7 partition C and Zorin installed on partition Z.
2. Have a option (kind of like starting a program) to start Zorin and use it and it's programs even if you don't have matching programs on the Windows 7 partition.
3. No VM
4. Go back and forth between both operating systems just by minimizing or closing Zorin and restart Zorin as a program when wanted.
I do dream a lot.
--
Another dream.
Installing Zoren like a program on the same partition as Windows 7 and just using it like a program that doesn't interfere with the operation or booting of Windows 7 but will complement Windows 7 just like a good program should when opened.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sort of what I was going to try only I am using a test machine with three drives hooked up each with it own OS on 7 XP and Zorin.

Just wondering if I would have to set the boot order for each or not
(The XP is purely for helping me on fixes)

 

[Golden]

Another dream.
Installing Zoren like a program on the same partition as Windows 7 and just using it like a program that doesn't interfere with the operation or booting of Windows 7 but will complement Windows 7 just like a good program should when opened.

What you are describing has already been done with Ubuntu using the WUBI installer - as far as I am aware, only Ubuntu has ever done this.

Read more:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide

Video:

 

[Layback Bear]

Thanks for the video and info Golden. Very interesting.

 

[whs]

Jack, What you are talking about is a double boot (except for Wubi which is a special case). But there is nothing easier than running in virtual.

With double boot you have to bring e.g. Win7 down and then boot Zorin which is very inconvenient. Zorin is a full operating system and has to be treated like e.g. Windows 8.

Just think of your scenario with Windows 8 - would that work ??

 

[Layback Bear]

I think I understand. Zorin is treated like another operating system not another installed program. Thank you.