Getting started with EMC2, Linux, etc.....

[Chris D]

Hi everyone.

I am a big fan of, and user of MACH3. I love it, love the support etc., but want to try my hand at EMC2. I am downloading the manuals and the "live CD" and trying to gather up the essentials.

Like most people, I have a bunch of windows based computers laying around and nothing that runs linux. The first machine I am going to try EMC on, is a lathe that is currently running MACH3.

I am thinking that the cheapest/easiest way to get started with EMC2 is to use that machine/computer. I am not sure what happens when I do the EMC2 install from the live CD. Will it dump my Windows OS and applications and create a dual boot system?

If it does, would it seem practical to just buy another harddisk, swap my current one with the new one and then do the install?

Thanks much for any and all help and information. I am sure there will be dozens (perhaps hundreds) of follow on questions.

Chris

[Drakkn]

Get yourself a couple of hard disk caddys and just swap them about when you want to change operating systems.
If you boot from the live cd make sure you have a memory stick in a usb port - that way at least you will be able to save your data.

[dertsap]

my pc has dual harddrives ,ubuntu emc on one xp on the other ,ubuntu can create a partition so that you can go dual boot
with the new bdi configuring emc is getting easier , emc puts the configs folder directly to your home folder (my docs on xp) setting it up is a bit of a learning curve , the feed rate of emc is dependant on the base period ,the more powerfull your computer is the more you can drop the base period and squeeze more speed from emc , keep in mind if you drop the base period too much the system will freeze up

[rmacster]

The "LIVE" CD wil not automatically overwrite anything on your computer. It will run enough to show you how EMC works and if you like it THEN you can tell it to do a full install.

[cyclestart]

Originally Posted by Chris D Will it dump my Windows OS and applications and create a dual boot system?

Only if you explicitly give is permission to do so. Linux installers and bootloaders are capable of many things. A few possibilities;

1) Ask the installer to create a single hard disk dual boot. The tools to do this are all available on the ubuntu/emc cd. As long as the hard disk has not reached it's max partitions or storage this usually goes well. I've done this many times with no damage to the installed windows Of course it's a good idea to back up anything of value.

2) Physically swap the hard disk, as you seem to have extras.

3) A dual boot with 2 hard disks, one for each OS. My cnc computer is setup this way. It was originally purchased with the thought of testing out Mach3.

4) Go for the gusto and simply fdisk windows. Sorry, couldn't resist

[Drakkn]

Re the fdisk option

I once saw a statement in a magazine regarding the installation of a piece of software which read

"To use this software you must have installed windows 98 or better - so I installed linux"

Regards

Tony

[stustev]

If you are new to Linux do NOT attempt to install it on the same hard drive as Windows. Swap the hard drives. After you have performed a few installs it is safe to install on the same hard drive as other operating systems.