Hi all!

Can somebody please help me! I am a total newbie to Linux, but i need to install it for my webserver.

I heard i only needed to download the 1st cd from slackware, for a basic Linux version with no more then i need.

But i have really no clue of what to do now I have never installed Linux.

I have now Windows XP on my pc. How do i need to format and make a linux partition? ( i only want Linux on it, and i only need it for the webserver )

How do i make a boot disk? Because the first cd doesn't work at boot now. Really hope someone want to help me, i would really appriciate it!!

If you want to help, please write in newbie style lol, i am really a newbie with Linux!

Thanks a lot in advance!

Greetings,

Penelope

Welcome to LQ! Hope you enjoy your stay.

First, if you're a total Linux newbie, I would shy away from Slackware, as it is not the most user-friendly Linux distribution. If all you're looking for is a webserver, I would recommend Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com). It is quite easy to use and just recently they released a server edition that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP, which you can download from that Ubuntu website.

When you go to download a Linux distribution, you will most likely download a .iso file. This is a CD image, so you can't just copy and paste it onto a CD like you would a JPEG or an MP3. You need a program to burn it for you. Most burning programs can do this, but if you don't have one and you don't want to go buy one, I would use ISO Recorder (http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm). Install it, download the ISO, and use the program to burn it to a CD. If it burns correctly it should become bootable. Most Linux CDs will come with partitioners that can reformat your hard drive for you. Some can be a bit complicated, but Ubuntu's, for example, is wonderfully easy to use.

Anyhoo, hope this helped :-)

Is it a production webserver or are you just fiddling?

If you're just fiddling, it may be more efficient for you to just download an apache server for your windows machine.

Otherwise, I'd use Debian (download a Sarge netinstall CD) and follow this guide. Click on the "internet servers" page and scroll down to where it installs apache.

Thanks all I will try it!!

I will download the ubuntu server! Thanks for all the tips, i really appriciate it!!

I have already tried my webserver on Windows XP, but that doesn't work that quite well.

Thanks!!