linux install?

[hgolden]

I just put together a new computer using all new parts.  I dont want to buy Windows XP, and i want to get linux.  What type of linux do you suggust, where do I get it, and how do I install it onto my hard drive.  (i have no OS installed yet.)

[John Wayne]

check out http://www.linux.org/docs/beginner/index.html
There is everything You need.


Sirix.

[O Evans]

When I started using Linux (~a year ago?) I  jumped right in and installed Slackware (http://www.slackware.com).

Don't be discouraged by people who tell you it's hard - with just a little reading and several googles, I have found it to be quite simple (logical), fast and very very stable.

You can download it from one of the mirrors listed here: http://www.slackware.com/getslack/. You only need the first 2 CDs for a full working system with GUI. The installer is a simple series of text-menus that make installing only what you need/want a breeze.

Do a quick google for "slackware review" and see what you think.

[smb2004]

i love linux, when i started out i went to suse 9.1, it was a very friendly install and good overall platform,

other people say the redhat/fedora core is a good starter, but i really dont like it, it just doesnt fit with me well.

mandrake is suppose to be antoher great starter distro, although i've never tried it.

there are many distros to choose from, if you dont like one, jump to another, thats what i've been doing, there is all a great support compunity for linux, there are mayn linux devoted help forums such as linuxsolved.com and linuxquestions.org, all of which people give out advice and help, linux as a whole is great with a great sommunity of people too.

[gliss]

I recently installed Mandrake 10.0 and was really impressed with how easy it was.  All you need to do is download the iso files and burn to disk (there are three and they are about 700meg each). Then make sure your bios is set to boot from the CD drive first. Put in disk1 and reboot. It is just a matter of following on screen instructions and switching disks from there.

The cool thing is if you already have an operating system on your hard drive it gives you the option of saving it and will create a seperate partition for linux. You will then have the option at bootup which one to load.

It found all my hardware, even auto detected my internet connection. The only part I am finding hard is trying to install new software. As smb mentioned though there are a lot of good sites out there to help, and with the dual boot system I can just mess with it in my spare time.

You can get the iso's here http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ftp.php3