kopfhorer1
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This thread was inspired by this one.
One possible solution for going online when using an unfamiliar computer is Knoppix Linux. It runs directly from a so-called "live" CD or DVD, bypassing the hard drive of the computer that it's being used on (the host machine must be capable of booting up from a CD or DVD). It uses the Windows-like KDE desktop enviroment. I've used it myself when using friends' computers (as well as for testing computers whose operating systems have gone wacko, or for use as an emergency OS). You can surf to your heart's content without worrying about munging your friend's or relative's system (you cannot write to their hard drive) or dealing with dysfunctional Windows installations. And since the computer's RAM functions as the "hard drive" during your session, everything pretty much goes bye-bye when you shut down.
Since it is Linux and not Windows, it might take some getting used to. Since it runs from an optical drive, it's noticeably slower at times than running from a hard drive. How well it runs depends (as always) upon how much RAM the host system has. Oh, and it's not as susceptible to most malware as Windows.
Check it out here (select the "English" option): http://www.knoppix.org/
One possible solution for going online when using an unfamiliar computer is Knoppix Linux. It runs directly from a so-called "live" CD or DVD, bypassing the hard drive of the computer that it's being used on (the host machine must be capable of booting up from a CD or DVD). It uses the Windows-like KDE desktop enviroment. I've used it myself when using friends' computers (as well as for testing computers whose operating systems have gone wacko, or for use as an emergency OS). You can surf to your heart's content without worrying about munging your friend's or relative's system (you cannot write to their hard drive) or dealing with dysfunctional Windows installations. And since the computer's RAM functions as the "hard drive" during your session, everything pretty much goes bye-bye when you shut down.
Since it is Linux and not Windows, it might take some getting used to. Since it runs from an optical drive, it's noticeably slower at times than running from a hard drive. How well it runs depends (as always) upon how much RAM the host system has. Oh, and it's not as susceptible to most malware as Windows.
Check it out here (select the "English" option): http://www.knoppix.org/
