I need help instaling linux on my laptop. I am leaving a link here for you to see what kind it is I barely remember the specs but i remember it had a 50-60 gigabite hd. and theram was in the megabytes. the name is Averatec not sure of the model type, sorry.

HERE:
http://www.ergonomicpoint.com/comput...tec_av3270.jpg

First off, If you want to keep windows or be able to install it (M$win)

make sure you keep the recovery partition intact,

If you only have the one OS (M$win) installed at present, on one harddrive partition

you will need to defrag win first.

Check out how much free space you have,

using your favourite GNU/Linux distribution dvd/cd-rom create new partitions in the free space.

You'll need a (arguably) swap, root and home partitions.

Make home the biggest, swap may be about the size of physical ram or more (up to 2 gig).

hope this helps, Glenn

If it can boot from cdrom drive. Try using a Live CD first.

http://www.livecdlist.com/

Being a older computer. I recommend running as a
live session


http://www.swiftlinux.org/

because it won't be on the live cd list.

To burn a live cd in Windows I recommend

http://www.imgburn.com/

After running a live session and making sure internet connects, sound works, etc......

You can worry about installing Later.

Other recommends is AntiX,Slitaz, Puppy,Lubuntu,Knoppix or Crunchbang.

Doesn't it say on the bottom or something?

Gparted-live-cd to resize windowsxp partition
Then install os to free space.

Why does he need to do it in 2 steps, if any Linux distro can do partitioning in installation process?

You can do it in 1 step on installation cd, I just choose to make it 2 so that there are less chances that a person make a mistake and just choose to install to the wrong space.

Fool-proof!
But user can still choose wrong partition when running installation. You don't know how inventive fools are!

No you don't. But usually the select free space.
Last year I made a 40gig paper weight. jan 2010.