Quick Background:

My Millenium Edition operating system works very poorly. Possibly it was infected by a virus. Dell technician advised I re-insall the Millenium software. PROBLEM: I no longer have it. My budget is extremely tight so I don't want to spend $180 for XP. SOLUTION?: Install Linux.

I know very little about computers and really don't want to learn anything. I just want a computer that works and is hassle free.

1. Is it advisable for me to hire someone to install LInux rather than install it myself?

2. Once it is installed is it user-friendly so that I can use the computer with a minimum of hassles? Or will the person that installs the program need to give me a quick run down? All I use the computer for is to surf the internet.

3. Should the current Millenium operating system be deleted from the computer?

4. Can AOL Instant Messanger be used with Linux?

Thanks very much for your help. And feel free to address any other issues I should be aware of when installing and operating Linux.

Genyes

1. Is it advisable for me to hire someone to install LInux rather than install it myself?

Only if you don't mind paying for something you can do yourself

2. Once it is installed is it user-friendly so that I can use the computer with a minimum of hassles? Or will the person that installs the program need to give me a quick run down? All I use the computer for is to surf the internet.

Get Mandrake/Redhat/Fedora/SuSE - easy set up, easy to use

3. Should the current Millenium operating system be deleted from the computer?

Definitely. ME was a horrible OS, even Microsoft admitted that. Get all the data off it that you want to keep and lose it.

4. Can AOL Instant Messanger be used with Linux?

Linux distros have many IM clients that can be used - Gaim, Jabber, Kopete, etc

Pick yourself a distro, install it (it's as easy as Windows nowadays) and stick with it. It's a lot more rewarding than Windows.

Welcome to LQ

1. Install it yourself. That's like you buying a car and paying someone to drive you around in it.. unless you have enough money to do this, I would assume you have a computer for yourself, not for someone else to drive it for you. Installling gets you familiar with your own system.

2. Depends all on what you decide or install. I say install yourself, don't be lazy and waste your money when its easily done by yourself, especially if you can read instructions, manuals, man pages and howto's readily available.

3. Dual boot to have both. Most starting out want both until they feel comfortable with just using one OS, dumping the other. Who knows, you might not like Linux and want to go back.

4. Yup, its called GAIM and supports just about every other Instant Messenger Protocol out there in internet land as well..

3. I would definatley Dual Boot at first in your situation. Normally Linux is pretty easy to use but it can sometimes be a pain from what I read on getting it to work correctly on a Dell system, or any other big name system.

4. Gaim and Kopete would both allow you to use your AIM screen name and talk to other AIM users.

genyes; all above suggestion good. however suggest acquire a text on linux basics just to acquaint you with the in & outs. direct support no except via user to user,which is very supportive but requires patience and fortitude. i`m also newbie but read everything could get my hands on to learn on linux. So i agree with others dual boot dual os before abandoning
W,s.

all above suggestions r good...wot u can do prior 2 installation is....read some ebooks on linux....tht mite help u with the commands n stuff

good luck

shantesh; thank you ah yes newbies slow down trying to go fast. read before excuting.