Starting out with Linux... How? What version? and instructions
 

Hi!
I have a computer with Windows XP on it and I would like to dual boot my computer with Linux. I'm not sure what version to use. I was thinking RedHat 7; or should I use RH 9? I only have one hard drive so I can't do the dual boot on two. So I'm a bit apprehensive on how to do this dual boot since I've only used Windows in the past.
I've done some research for the process but i'm just finding a lot of things that led me to be confused. I'd hate to mess up during the process because I made a wrong decision.
Although I have been exposed to some of Linux free version software like Knoppix and I would like to become more familiar with Linux overall.

Can someone please give me the detailed steps and the partition decisions and info. I would like to know what you recommend as far as the version.

Thanks.

Hi alwaysasking!

You might be interested in reading some reviews:

http://www.distrowatch.com/

http://www.linuxquestions.org/reviews/index.php

Personally, I would recommend Libranet 2.7 Classic Free Edition. Redhat 7.3 is not bad (in fact, it's the best one from Redhat in my humble opinion). But you might be having difficulties in getting your hardware well supported with an older kernel.

You can download Libranet here. A review of Libranet is found here here

The installation, boot loader and stuff is pretty simple nowadays, specially with a distribution as Libranet. You might want to check Linux homepage for general info and intro into the amazing World of freedom that Linux offers...

Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org!

There is always Fedora Core. It suits me well and like a lot of people new to linux, I was pretty good with windows. So the thing was to find a reasonable middle of the road type of distro. Everybody's different, but Fedora works for me, so I'd recommend it. There are books that come with the Fedora Core cds too. Books such as the Sam's Fedora book, the Fedora Companion book from RedHat and the Red Hat and Fedora Bible (latest edition). The first and third books mentioned do a fairly decent job of walking you through a partition and an install.


Very best,
Nick

i concur with megaman

although libranet 2.7 is not the greatest it is a great place to start. Other than that I would recomend suse, it's hardware detection is top notch, although it's kernel is a little bit bloated.