To Hema Jayapal,
Welcome to the "flavors"of Linux! All the above posts contained some very useful info',but i bet you are not yet confident enough to "fly"the Linux Jet,lest you may"flip"!
I will tell you a small story! Five years back, i was fed up to my gills with Win. and strangely enough i received an Ubuntu install CD from Holland! You wanna know ,what i did,come Heaven or hell, i inserted the CD and installed Ubuntu,erasing the Win.XP!The desktop(if we can call that for comparing with the Win.Desktop),sent shivers down my spine and that's the first lesson in Linux! 1) Linux needs PRIOR learning of some basics about Linux and the Distro(distribution--there are more than 350 of them) you initially want to "use to learn"

As "AnanthaP" said, the best thing going for you is ,if you have a good and reliable friend who is using a Linux flavor and is willing to help you, that should be the ideal way to START!
As "arijian", told me, do not use Linux with a Windows Mindset(he calls it the "windows syndrome and rightly so),but initially THE TRANSITION IS A BIT TAXING. The elders told us that the best way to solve a prob. is to go thru'it! No skirting around!

So, why did i come back to Ubuntu(of all the distros) after the experience i had before? Kindly visit http://www.ubuntu.com/. In the intervening 5 years, Ubuntu has evolved beyond imagination and with a little effort i can promise you that you will feel "as snug as a bug in a rug". The user-friendliness is just AMAZING!
The next step is to make your own LIVE DVD-R OR DVD-RW (always better than a CD IMO). So,kindly read this link :https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto (any doubts, please do not hesitate to ask--i asked many nonsensical questions as a newbie here and all posts were very supportive and friendly)
This post is getting too long and as the GURUs here say" you must be willing to put shoulder to the wheel", otherwise any amount of spoon-feeding will not help ( no offense). Finally, read this : http://thelinuxnewbie.blogspot.com/2...tu/OR kubuntu)

regards,
vyver.

If the last link i provided is not enough,kindly click on this : http://thelinuxnewbie.blogspot.com/2...tribution.html

There is an excellent sub-link there, a list of simple questions which if answered honestly, will suggest at the end a list of Distros for you to pick! Link : http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php

If you are from India and using BSNL/DATAONE Broadband DSL, you have free access to the net between 2 A.M-8 A.M,when you can download .iso (most are above 600MB) and others to your heart's content.Best wishes!
regards,
vyver.

+1. This is where I started and the basics it covers are a lifesaver to a new linux user. It covers a lot of useful basics quickly without leaving a newbie lost or yawning.

To Hema,
Hey, this is my third post to you already!How come? Anyway,when you embark on a new venture, it is always nice to highlight the PLUSES!

1)You have come to the right site(LQ.org).

2)Be determined in your efforts to transit to Linux,BUT keep your Windows there for a while!

3)If you have that"fire in the belly" nobody and nothing can stop you from mastering (at least) the distro you choose!

4)You will face obstacles on the way, that's where this site will lend a helping hand!

5) Remember, Windows is a mess today. Win.7 has been released. Okay, but the word's out that Win.8 will be out in 2012! So,folks have to shell out another 150 to 200$ for the new version! The succcessor to B.G, MR.Ozzie has left the Redmond setup. I am a "pro" at security issues in Windows and most people using Win. are/have to be in a "paranoid mode", to keep all the bad ones out! It's like "RUNNING TO STAY IN THE SAME PLACE"! Just not worth it. One day(mark my words), folks will have no choice but to go over to Open-Source! vittoria a Linux (That's Italian lingo for you)!Best wishes! Would appreciate a response!

To damgar,
Very impressive and helpful link!Top-notch stuff for beginners.Thanks to you and Raviteja! But, where's the @OP?

is he ever going to read this topic again? xD