that is my plan. I am going to bring my laptop down so I can download or burn whatever I need if I happen to fry her computer =). Ive downloaded a couple distros. We are going out to lunch on saturday and I will try to do it then. Hopefully I don't need to come back and ask 14 trillion but we shall see.

Thanks again

the distro choice is really up to her
 

There are many choices to choose from. To convert my kids I have Mint 13 Cinnamon/ Ultimate Edition 3.4 and Zorin os5 and 6 on my computer my kids tend to use Zorin or Mint for there Ease of use and Zorin comes with Gnomenu preinstalled so one can make it appear like windowsxp windows vista and windows 7 Zorin and Ultimate edition come loaded with a ton of software and eyecandy is where Ultimate rules The reason one makes linux look like windows is for transtional purposes only. If your Mom just uses for Email Net and maybe a some office any distro will work I've been trying to convert my parents for a while they are stubborn but introducing software like Libreoffice which is ported to windows and chrome to them is easing things over so they will be able to take the transition more easily. My kids are 9/10 yrs old have learned how to use terminal build software from binaries and customize to their prefs and use scripts they have only been using for 6months and are trying to start linux clubs at school. Mint 13 is a little unstable if you go with Mint use Mint 12.

... and by the way, there is NOTHING more fun than software. get your mom round to this point of view :)

I wouldn't give my mother a used computer. I would try my best to get her a new one. Hell, the way smartphones and tablets are out selling desktops these days, you can find desktops for bargain prices. But if you can't get a new PC, I suggest PClinuxOS with the KDE Desktop, LXDE Desktop, or XFCE Desktop

Second, your mother will be lost with ubuntu with the unity desktop, lens, HUD and etc. PClinuxOS KDE is as close to a windows look as it can get.

lastly, PClinuxOS has a FREE monthly magazine to get the most of there linux desktop. Of course, you do not need to be a PClinuxOS user to benefit from the HowTos/articles in there magazines.

I'd just like to add that 512MB RAM is very tight for a modern GUI (Linux or MS). If at all possible, add extra RAM.

Look at the date on the first post. Since the OP's mother is two years older now, I should think the problem has been sorted out. :)

Didn't notice that. It also shows his/her last logon was on 02-13-10, so our replies to him/her was a waste of time. :/

Hello!!!! I wanted to install Linux on my mom's laptop because it was running slow and also she had malware, but first, I let her use my home computer which had Ubuntu 9.04 at the time. She liked the speed; however, she found it a little hard to learn. So, I gave her my laptop as a gift (Dual Core) and installed windows 7 on it.
If you want to go the Linux route, I would recommend Linux Mint 13 Maya. It is simple and easy to use. Ubuntu is easy too but Unity puts more load on the CPU and ram.
Good Luck!!!!

yes yu are right... I did not even looked at the date.... lol I just replied back. He probably gave his mom Windows xp.