Quote: Original post by Alpha_ProgDes
Please no answers like: just install Linux.

Have you considered installing Linux?

Cooperative Linux features a modified Linux kernel which runs in Windows. No need to repartition or reboot.

If your problem is just installing Linux, burn a Live CD and run Linux directly from the CD. No need to install it.

Knoppix is a good one.

Personally I find Cygwin distasteful at best. The way my system is configured is that I have UnixUtils and bash set up, and the UnixUtils are in C:\bin, which has been added to my PATH. gVim and XEmacs are present too, I'm sorry to admit. This provides a complete set of minimal BSD utilities. I also have a Ubuntu Linux installation in VMWare, and it looks like I'll be making another one in QEmu or Bochs soon.

Although lately I've been sticking to MSH for my command line needs, since it appears to be rather a lot more powerful than bash.

If you can get a hold of a copy of any flavor of program like "VMWare" I sugest that.
It provides all the good sides of a seperate install, with the convience of cygwin for just having an app to open.

VMWare recently released a VMWare Player that is free to use.