*You have two options.*
*1) Run linux inside Windows
http://www.andlinux.org/*
andLinux is a complete Ubuntu <http://www.ubuntu.com/> Linux system running
seamlessly in Windows 2000 based systems (2000, XP, 2003, Vista; 32-bit
versions only). This project was started for
Dynamism<http://www.dynamism.com/>for the GP2X community, but its
userbase far exceeds its original design.
andLinux is free and will remain so, but donations are greatly needed.
andLinux uses coLinux <http://www.colinux.org/> as its core which is
confusing for many people. coLinux is a port of the Linux kernel to Windows.
Although this technology is a bit like running Linux in a virtual machine,
coLinux differs itself by being more of a merger of Windows and the Linux
kernel and not an emulated PC, making it more efficient.
Xming<http://www.straightrunning.com/XmingNotes/>is used as X server
and
PulseAudio <http://www.pulseaudio.org/> as sound server.
andLinux is not just for development and runs almost all Linux applications
without modification.
<andlinux.sf.net/screenshots/screenshot.png>
Screenshot (click to enlarge)
To start Linux applications, you may either use the XFCE Panel:
The XFCE Panel
Or, you may choose to use the andLinux Launcher, which ships with andLinux
since Beta 1. It consists of:
- quicklaunch icons (e.g. for the file manager or the terminal)
- a start menu in the system tray (next to the clock) which can be
adapted to your own needs
- so-called Explorer shell extensions, i.e. context menu item, with which
you can open a folder in the file manager / terminal or open a file with the
text editor
- file type associations at your choice (e.g. for KOffice files, .tex /
.dvi / .ps / .pdf files)
- andCmd.exe to run linux commands from Windows scripts
Quicklaunch icons (XFCE version)
Quicklaunch icons (KDE version)
Start menu (XFCE version)
Start menu (KDE version)
Open a folder with Konqueror or Konsole
Open a file with Kate
*1) Run Windows inside Linux
http://www.winehq.org*
Wine is a translation layer (a program loader) capable of running Windows
applications on Linux and other POSIX compatible operating systems. Windows
programs running in Wine act as native programs would, running without the
performance or memory usage penalties of an emulator, with a similar look
and feel to other applications on your desktop.
The Wine project started in 1993 as a way to support running Windows 3.1
programs on Linux. Bob Amstadt was the original coordinator, but turned it
over fairly early on to Alexandre Julliard, who has run it ever since. Over
the years, ports for other Unixes have been added, along with support for
Win32 as Win32 applications became popular.
Wine is still under development, and it is not yet suitable for general use.
Nevertheless, many people find it useful in running a growing number of
Windows programs. Please see the Application
Database<http://appdb.winehq.org/>for success and failure reports for
hundreds of Windows programs, as well as
the Bug Tracking Database <http://bugs.winehq.org/> for a list of known
issues, and the Status <http://www.winehq.org/status> page for a global view
on Wine's implementation progress.
A broad spectrum of Wine developers can be reached in the Wine
forums<http://www.winehq.org/forums>.
Comments about the winehq.org website can be emailed to
web-admin_at_winehq.org. Alexandre Julliard leads the Wine project, and may
be reached by email at julliard_at_winehq.org.
We've also assembled a short list of resources to help you understand the
project:
- Wine's History <http://www.winehq.org/history>
- Why Wine is so important <http://www.winehq.org/why>
- Debunking Wine Myths <http://www.winehq.org/myths>
- Wine's Features <http://www.winehq.org/wine_features>
- Acknowledgements <http://www.winehq.org/acknowledgement>
- World Wine News <http://www.winehq.org/wwn>
- Interviews <http://www.winehq.org/interview>
If youre thinking about something else, you'll have to reboot.