What is the difference between having a live CD of a Linux distribution and having a setup file or installation disk of the Windows operating system in your hand? At first glance, you may feel that there is no distinction whatsoever. After all, inserting the CD is going to initiate the installation process.
Well, you have the option of using the live CD to install the Linux distro into your computer. However, this is not compulsory. If you wish, you can use the operating system on the CD itself. You can leave the hard disk completely empty but still use the flash drive or CD to open files and even connect to the internet. This should be no different than living out of a suitcase when you are in the hotel. However, when all your stuff is packed in wooden cartons, do you think you can try and live out of the same?
You will have to open everything and arrange everything before you can even think of leading a normal life. That is exactly how the Windows operating system works. The installation disk will only help you install a system on the computer. It will not help you run the operating system out of the CD itself.
This may not seem like a big deal but you never know when you may require urgent access to the computer only to find that your system has crashed. The biggest complication with reinstalling the operating system is that all the programs that you have installed in your system will also get removed.
You will have to not just install the operating system again but will have to focus on each and every software application that you use. When you make use of a live CD, you can either use the software application that is installed in the hard disk or you can make use of those programs that you have already installed in your live CD.