What is Linux? And How to Try It Free Without Removing Windows

In 1991 a 21-year-old Finnish student, Linus Torvalds, posted in comp.os.minix that he was building an operating system, "just a hobby, won't be big and professional". Today Linux runs most of the internet's servers, all of the world's top 500 supercomputers, and Android.

What is Linux? An operating system like Windows, but free and open source. It comes in many versions (distros); Ubuntu is the easiest to start with.

Option 1: WSL (inside Windows, easiest) Open PowerShell as Administrator and run: wsl --install Restart, and Ubuntu opens and asks for a username and password. You now have Linux running inside Windows without touching your disk.

Option 2: Ubuntu USB (full try without installing) Download Ubuntu from ubuntu.com and flash it to an 8 GB+ USB with Rufus or balenaEtcher. Restart, open the boot menu, pick the USB and choose Try Ubuntu. It runs from the USB only; remove it and Windows is unchanged.

Note Do not click Install Ubuntu unless you want to install it, and back up important files first.

Source Linus Torvalds' original 1991 post is linked in the card below.