QGIS installation
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Using your own laptop or PC
We prefer using Free and Open Source Software because this enables you to install the software on your own computer without paying for costly licenses to learn and continue your work at home. Here are the links to download the software from the internet and install it yourself:
Quantum GIS http://qgis.org , available for Windows XP and Vista, MacOS and Linux.
Installation Guide for Windows
To install QGIS on your Windows PC, you need to download the so called OSGeo 4W (4W is short for “for Windows”) installer.
This program will help you installing QGIS as well as GRASS.
Just follow the steps below:
- Create a folder “OSGO4W” on your Desktop.
- Go to http://www.qgis.org/wiki/Download#OSGeo4W_InstallerQGIS.
- In the table of contents, click 1.2 Osgeo4W installer.
- Download the OSGeo4W Installer and save it to the folder you created on the desktop.
- Open the folder and double-click on Setup file osgeo4w-setup.exe to start the installation.
- Choose Desktop Fast Installation
- Browse to the path where you want to have Quantum installed or take the default: C:\OSGeo4W and click For all users
- Under “Choose Packages” please unmark the checkboxes “uDig” and “OpenEV”. Go on and wait until all files are copied.
- A link with a yellow Q called "Quantum GIS 1.7.0 " should appear on the desktop. Delete the other icon links on the desktop called "Mysys", “OsGeo4W” and "Grass".
- Start Quantum GIS by double clicking on the accordant icon.
- Uninstallation is easily done by deleting the installation folder and the icon. If you get an error message caused by a previous installed plugin, please install the newest plugin version under Plugin → Fetch Python Plugin.
Trying Linux? 
If you are interested to try a Linux OS on your own Windows PC, we recommend to install the current distribution of Ubuntu. You can install Ubuntu onto a computer alongside a copy of Windows. You will be able to select whether to start Ubuntu or Windows each time your computer starts up or you can try to run Ubuntu on a CD alongside your current system.
Feel free to ask one of our tutors for guidance!
