Linux for everyone - again!

[mikkh]

Years ago there used to be a Windows executable file (obviously to be run inside a Windows environment) that allowed you to install Linux onto your hard drive
without partitioning or changing your hard drive in any way and was reversible if you didn't like it.

For some reason it was discontinued, but has arisen from the ashes just recently to allow you to run a Linux distro called Q4OS

Direct link here.... q4os.org/dnt8.html


Run the file, let it download a fairly large file and away you go. When you reboot your computer it will now have a second option - Windows or Q4OS

Perfect way to try Linux without comitting yourself to much more than a few GB of hard drive space and a few minutes of your time
and ideal for computers that are struggling to run Windows 10 with any kind of real speed i.e at least 70% of people.

To further ease people into Linux, there is a desktop environment called Trinity (TDE) that is quite similar to Windows XP as one of the options.
Linux unlike Windows is not fixed to one desktop, it has many different ones and while this can be confusing to Linux newcomers, it does give a lot of choice to get something you like.

It's a lot better option than trying Linux inside a virtual machine because that requires Windows running as well, whereas this is running instead of Windows and all resources are available to Linux.

What you waiting for? go and try it now and satisfy your curiosity about Linux. It won't suit everyone obviously, but it's easily uninstalled via Windows and you just might like it.
You'll definitely enjoy the speed boost on older hardware and up your geek cred at the same time!

[mikkh]

OK, so I've just tested this from Windows 10 and it works fine, but I'll throw in a few details that might have some panicking....

When you click the link it takes you to a page asking for donations and suggesting $12. I've nothing against paying a small amount to keep open source software going and regularly donate to PClinuxOS, but I think in this case it's a bit naughty asking for a donation before you've even tried it and there is a 'maybe later' option so you can press that with a clear conscience and maybe donate later if you find it genuinely useful. No pressure though, I used Linux for 10 years or more before I felt morally obliged to actually make a contribution.

So the file you'll be downloading is a zip file and strictly speaking you don't need to unzip (extract) it because it's just a single file - you can safely ignore any warnings it may give about this.

Windows security will block it from running but pressing 'more info' will give a 'run anyway' option which is safe to do

It will download the first part of the installer and then need to be rebooted

DON'T PANIC it WILL boot into Q4OS skipping Windows entirely, but this is only a one time thing while you run the second part called desktop profiler. After that is completed, you will be able to choose either at boot up time.

Desktop profiler (unique to Q4OS) gives you several choices, but only one is really relevant to first time Linux users and most experienced ones too - you want the full install option.

At this point you can also install an extra desktop along with the default Plasma one. You can ignore this option if you have a fairly up to date computer, but you should pick the Trinity one as an extra desktop if your hardware is not so modern. Personally I'd rather not have Plasma at all, but unfortunately that's not an option in this type of install from Windows version.

I did pick the extra desktop option and rebooted - now you have a Windows or Q4OS choice and if you pick Q4OS, it will reboot again to load Q4OS for real.

it comes with latest Google Chrome, so you can sign into your Google account and get immediate access to your bookmarks/extensions etc that you normally use in Windows.

[mikkh]

With an updated version since I first posted, the original link is now obsolete - and doesn't work anymore anyway.

You will now need this ....

q4os.org/dnt21.html

If that too becomes obsolete in the future you should go to the downloads section and look for 'Windows Installer.'

q4os.org/downloads1.html

I've just read a review of this distro and they didn't even mention the install from Windows option, or much else to be honest, but at least it was a positive review.

[jimmy]

Just tried this installer. During installation, returned an error and a lock-up. I waited a while, but no activity from the PC.
It was easily cleared with a reset which diverted to the OS menu.
Selecting Linux, repeated the same lock-up. But selecting Windows seems to be OK
Taken a photo image of the error screen. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to post an image on here.
The last four lines are:
Starting Network Manager Script Dispatcher Service...
Starting Update UTMP about System Runlevel Changes...
Started Network Manager Script Dispatcher Service.
Finished Update UTMP about System Runlevel Changes.

Appreciate some advice.
Running Windows 10.
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700K CPU @ 4.00GHz, 4001 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0401, 14/07/2015
SMBIOS Version 3.0
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode Legacy
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
MAXIMUS VIII HERO
Rev 1.xx
Secure Boot State Unsupported

[Lynnrose]

Hi jimmy
Hopefully mikkh will pop in to offer help soon

[mikkh]

The hardware is more than good enough to run Linux and I assume from the motherboard that it's set up as a gaming PC - not that it should alter anything unless you've dabbled in overclocking which could cause Linux to misbehave [conjecture, but could be part of it]

'Secure boot state unsupported' seems odd, that board definitely supports it and I think it just means not enabled in the BIOS.

Running late, I'll do a bit of research and answer more fully in a while.

[mikkh]

A few things to try...

1) run a disk check in Windows


Double-click on Computer (My Computer) to open it

Select the drive you want to run a check on, e.g. C:\
Right-click on the drive
Click Properties
Go to the Tools tab

Select Check, at the Error checking section
If you receive the following message, click Scan drive to begin the scan:
You don't need to scan this drive We haven't found any errors on this drive. You can still scan the drive for errors if you want. Scan Drive
You can keep using the drive during the scan. If errors are found, you can decide if you want to fix them. Depending on the results of this scan, the utility will report the results:
If no errors were found, you’ll see this message:

Your drive was successfully scanned Windows successfully scanned the drive. No errors were found.
If errors were found, you’ll see this message instead:

Restart your computer to repair file system. You can restart right away or schedule the error fixing on next restart.

2) Make sure you allocate enough drive space - the recommended amount is 20 GB, but I would use 25 or 30 myself, just to give a bit more headroom.

3) Make sure you uninstall the failed/aborted attempt first.

I can't see anyone suffering from the same sort of problem on the forum, so maybe the simple steps above will be enough to get it working on your PC.

If it's still no go, there are other ways to get a look at Linux like using a virtual machine or booting from a USB stick.

[jimmy]

OK, turned on the PC this morning. Tried the Linux option again and it worked!

I will say, I've had quite a number of failures with various Linux distros in the past. Finding this one working, even after a day or so, was, as you can imagine, quite a thrill. It may have been a file, which the server was taking its time over. 

But anyway, Thanks for the support. Really am very grateful.

Now I'm going to give Q4OS a whirl. 

I have already installed a desktop. I opted for the full feature version. It seems fine, but the file searching is incredibly slow. May try the intermediate version for comparison. 

I jumped back into Windows to check a couple of things so I can transfer all my luggage over to Q4OS! It's amazing how you forget stupid things. The slow search doesn't help or perhaps I'm just getting old! 

Mar 15, 2022 20:00:25 GMT mikkh said:

A few things to try...

1) run a disk check in Windows


Double-click on Computer (My Computer) to open it

Select the drive you want to run a check on, e.g. C:\
Right-click on the drive
Click Properties
Go to the Tools tab

Select Check, at the Error checking section
If you receive the following message, click Scan drive to begin the scan:
You don't need to scan this drive We haven't found any errors on this drive. You can still scan the drive for errors if you want. Scan Drive
You can keep using the drive during the scan. If errors are found, you can decide if you want to fix them. Depending on the results of this scan, the utility will report the results:
If no errors were found, you’ll see this message:

Your drive was successfully scanned Windows successfully scanned the drive. No errors were found.
If errors were found, you’ll see this message instead:

Restart your computer to repair file system. You can restart right away or schedule the error fixing on next restart.

2) Make sure you allocate enough drive space - the recommended amount is 20 GB, but I would use 25 or 30 myself, just to give a bit more headroom.

3) Make sure you uninstall the failed/aborted attempt first.

I can't see anyone suffering from the same sort of problem on the forum, so maybe the simple steps above will be enough to get it working on your PC.

If it's still no go, there are other ways to get a look at Linux like using a virtual machine or booting from a USB stick.

[jimmy]

OK, back in Q4OS. The file access is much faster now.

So far, so good.

After I've had a good run with this, I'll try and do a feedback for any who may be interested.

Thanks for the support!

[mikkh]

You don't need to transfer files from Windows, Linux can read and access Windows partitions/files from where they are - unlike Windows which is blind to Linux stuff.

Once you get used to how Linux names drives/partitions, you'll find it easier.

You can even delete Windows files from Linux, but be careful, there's no warnings about it breaking the (Windows) system - it will just delete them. You will also trigger a Windows file check because it will sense it's been accessed from outside Windows. No problem if it's just data files etc, so don't panic if you get the Windows needs to check your drive message. Your drive hasn't developed a fault, it's just a Windows safety precaution because it knows the number of files has changed.

[jimmy]

Understood. Bad choice of words really. I just want to set up the Linux desktop as near to what I've been used to in Windows as I can so if I need something in a hurry I can get it.

For example, I do a lot of cooking and keep a file with recipes. I keep a short cut to that file on my desktop. I've got that on my Linux desktop as well now.
Other things, a note pad on the task bar, because my hand writing is illegible.
There are some basic drawing packages, similar to paint, in Windows which I will load onto the Linux taskbar as well.
The START menu in Linux is interesting.

I have two (sd) drives at the present. One for the OS and workspace, the other to store files. (And obviously, a third, external, for backups!).

Once I've been using this for a while, I'll almost certainly adapt it to my liking. It really just a smooth transfer at this time.

[jazzazz]

It has been so long ago since I converted an old, my very first desktop, WindowsXP PC to LINUX, that I am zero help that way, but after trying a few Distros back then, I ended up on Mint 17, finding it looking and acting most like what I was used to.

[jimmy]

Mar 17, 2022 15:15:20 GMT jazzazz said:

It has been so long ago since I converted an old, my very first desktop, WindowsXP PC to LINUX, that I am zero help that way, but after trying a few Distros back then, I ended up on Mint 17, finding it looking and acting most like what I was used to.

That is really useful to know.

My PC is running quite well just now but nothing lasts forever.

I have made a definite decision to dump Windows on my next computer.

When I do need a new computer, I want to have some information so I know what I'm doing.

Q4OS ran really well and seemed to suit me perfectly. Sadly, it went into a crash, presumably because Windows and Linux were fighting over ownership of my storage.

No big problem really. Naturally, I removed the Linux. But I got a really good idea of what Q4OS does. 

[mikkh]

I recommended Q4OS solely for it's unique ability to be installed and uninstalled via Windows, thus neatly sidestepping disk partitioning which seems to frighten Linux newcomers more than anything else.

It also skips having to mess with boot loaders which can cause problems for some, but is mostly handled automatically. I dual booted Windows and Linux for many years before finally dropping Windows for good on my main machine.

Once you've decided to use Linux only (and don't forget to ask for a discount if buying a new PC which normally comes with it on) the situation gets much easier because all Linux installs have the option of using the whole disk instead of having to fit round and make allowances for Windows. A typical Linux install will take 3-10 minutes on modern hardware.

Q4OS is normally quite stable, but it's not as mature as some Linux 'distros'

Linux is full of clone versions and one based on Q4OS called Quark has just come to my attention.

sourceforge.net/projects/quark-os/files/stable/installer-for-windows/quark-winsetup-v20.04.zip/download

Might be worth a look at as it includes an install from Windows option like Q4OS.