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Difference between Linux and Windows



Difference between Linux and Windows

The major Difference between Linux and Windows Operating System are follows:
» Linux is an open-source Operating System. People can change codes and add programs to Linux OS which will help use your computer better. Linux evolved as a reaction to the monopoly position of windows. you can't change any code for windows OS. You can't even see which processes do what and build your onw extension. Linux wants the programmers to extend and redesign it's OS. Linux user's can edit its OS and design new OS.
» All distribution of Linux come from different companies like LIndows , Lycoris, Red Hat, SuSe, Mandrake, Knopping, Slackware while Windows come from Microsoft.
» Linux is customizable but Windows is not.NASlite is a version of Linux that runs off a single floppy disk and converts an old computer into a file server. This ultra small edition of Linux is capable of networking, file sharing and being a web server.
» Linux is freely available for desktop or home use but Windows is expensive. For server use, Linux is cheap compared to Windows. Microsoft allows a single copy of Windows to be used on one computer. You can run Linux on any number of computers.
» Linux has high security. You have to log on to Linux with a userid and password.
» Linux has a reputation for fewer bugs than Windows.

» Windows must boot from a primary partition. Linux can boot from either a primary partition or a logical partition inside an extended partition. Windows must boot from the first hard disk. Linux can boot from any hard disk in the computer.
» Windows uses a hidden file for its swap file. Typically this file resides in the same partition as the OS (advanced users can opt to put the file in another partition). Linux uses a dedicated partition for its swap file.
» Windows separates directories with a back slash while Linux uses a normal forward slash.
» Windows file names are not case sensitive. Linux file names are case sensitive.
» Windows and Linux have different concepts for their file hierarchy. Windows uses a volume-based file hierarchy while Linux uses a unified scheme.
» In Linux each user will have a home directory and all his files will be save under it while in windows the user saves his files anywhere in the drive. In Linux its easy to have backup's.