A CD-ROM that contains a working copy of an operating system or other application that is run without installing it. Used for demonstration and evaluation as well as system recovery, the software runs intact from the CD. If used for testing software, installation may be an option, but it is not the default. LiveCD functions can also be stored on a DVD or USB drive (LiveDVD or LiveUSB).
For Testing and Evaluating
LiveCDs and LiveDVDs are a popular way to test machine compatibility with a different operating system without installing it. For example, some versions of Linux come on bootable CDs and DVDs for testing hardware compatibility. Linux runs directly from the CD or DVD and is not installed unless the user chooses that option (see LiveDistro).
After years of dealing with software conflicts, many people are averse to installing a new application. However, software on a LiveCD or LiveDVD, which does not alter any files in the user's computer, is a way of trying something new before installing it. For a list of LiveCD software, visit www.livecdlist.com.
Restoring a Failed Computer
LiveCDs are widely used for troubleshooting a PC that does not boot, and most personal computers are configured to look for a bootable program on the CD or DVD before loading the OS from the hard disk. See bootable disk.
For Testing and Evaluating
LiveCDs and LiveDVDs are a popular way to test machine compatibility with a different operating system without installing it. For example, some versions of Linux come on bootable CDs and DVDs for testing hardware compatibility. Linux runs directly from the CD or DVD and is not installed unless the user chooses that option (see LiveDistro).
After years of dealing with software conflicts, many people are averse to installing a new application. However, software on a LiveCD or LiveDVD, which does not alter any files in the user's computer, is a way of trying something new before installing it. For a list of LiveCD software, visit www.livecdlist.com.
Restoring a Failed Computer
LiveCDs are widely used for troubleshooting a PC that does not boot, and most personal computers are configured to look for a bootable program on the CD or DVD before loading the OS from the hard disk. See bootable disk.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Ubuntu 9.10 launch - 29 October
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- Discussion threads 2009-10-26
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- Discussion threads 2009-10-13
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- Discussion threads 2009-09-18
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- Discussion threads 2009-08-14
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- Discussion threads 2009-06-07
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- Discussion threads 2009-04-28
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- Discussion threads 2009-01-04
- What's on my Thanksgiving/Holiday disks
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- Discussion threads 2008-11-26
- My Thanksgiving/Holiday giveaway - Ubuntu
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- Discussion threads 2008-11-25
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- Software downloads 2008-10-02
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- Discussion threads 2008-08-18
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- Download resources 2008-08-11
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- Software downloads 2008-07-25
- Encrypt File or Parent Folder (How to encrypt data on your laptop for holiday travel)
- Encrypt File or Parent Folder How to encrypt data on your laptop for holiday travelencryptionso hard to used, how about a printable form, all pages...this might have been useful.RE: Encrypt File or Parent Folder How to encrypt data on your laptop for holiday travelOR you could just right-click on the...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-03
- Fun with openSUSE 11.0
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- Discussion threads 2008-06-26
- Back to Basics #1 - Cloning a hard disk
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- Discussion threads 2008-06-06
- PCDiskClone 8.0 (Windows)
- PCDiskClone is a Linux LiveCD based boot CD that allows cloning of computer hard drives to backup data or migrating system to another PC. It copies all data on physical level with a full support of IDE, SATA, SCSI, USB, Firewire Interfaces. Besides these compatabilites, PCDiskClone clones at a high...
- Software downloads 2008-05-21
- PC Disk Clone 8 (Windows)
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- Software downloads 2008-05-19
- Proof that Linux is for geeks with too much time on their hands!
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- Discussion threads 2008-05-07
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