Linux Box

I want a fast version of linux for my 5yr old laptop. I need programming capabilities but I don’t want all the extra applications like firefox. Want to run it in a virtual pc as well. I have Windows 7 Ultimate installed currently and 1GB of RAM so I really need a lightwait version. I have a external HDD if that helps.

I would advise you not to run it in a Virtual PC many distributions aren’t happy with this arrangement and many more won’t run in a virtual PC at all.

Ubuntu has an installer called wubi which runs inside Windows it lets you install Ubuntu like a program in Windows, it will save a large file to your hard drive which will become a loop-back file system. The file is just like any other file on your hard drive just very big. Ubuntu will also be added to your ‘Programs and Features’ section in Windows and an option will be added to the windows boot-loader to boot into Ubuntu.

When you start your computer you can choose the Ubuntu option and it will then load Ubuntu natively just like if you had installed it on its own partition. When you get bored or want to get rid of it, boot into Windows go to programs and features and uninstall it, the files will be removed from the hard drive and the entry in the boot loader removed, no damage will be caused to your windows installation and very little technical knowledge if any is required. Here’s the wubi download page:

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/windows-installer

The latest version of wubi doesn’t even need to be burned to a CD

How can I recover the password to my linux server I know my username I just need password? I have a Linux server and i dont know how to accsess it any help would be appreciated.

Passwords are hashed in a one-way direction; you can’t retrieve the old password. Most Linux distros will allow you to boot in a single-user mode, meaning you are given a root shell. From here, you can change the password with this command:

passwd username

substituting in the correct user name. You will be prompted to enter a new password twice. After that, just reboot.

http://www.centos.org/docs/5/html/Installation_Guide-en-US/s1-rescuemode-booting-single.html
http://www.fedorafaq.org/basics/#resetroot
http://www.debuntu.org/recover-root-password-single-user-mode-and-grub