Ok, I have installed Caldera Open Linux 2.2. I have no idea what to do next. Should I use a different version? If so, what version? I have an old Dell Dimension 166 with 32mb ram and a 2gb HD. I picked it up for $25 just to experiment with Linux. I have no idea how to install programs, I am just looking at KDE, wondering what I should do next. Where do I go, what do I do??? Any help and suggestions are appreciated.

Welcome to LQ.

I think the answer is "What do you want to do?"

Firstly I suggest you test everything's working correctly, as most people have problems with hardware and once they know how to solve them, subsequent installs/upgrades are a breeze.

Secondly I suggest you remove all traces of ex. SCO products from your machine and maybe try a source based distro like gentoo to get the most out of your hardware.

Well, to start, I would like an alternative to the Bill Gates empire. I would like to set up a print/file server eventually, but for now, just use the pc to run programs like icq, msn, mozilla, kmail, etc. A general all purpose home user pc.
Where do I go to find programs, what version of linux is better suited to a newbie like me, where do I start?

All seems to be working fine. I can connect to the net, and kmail is set up properly - I think.

"remove all traces of ex. SCO products " - over my head...
I am a windows user through and through. I don't even understand the linux lingo yet. I just spent the last 2 hours in a Chapters book store reading up on linux. It made me realize just how much I do NOT know...

Mandrake is an excellent 'newbie' distro, very easy to install due to great hardware detection&support and a nice gui installer. It's also got all you'll need for a desktop or server machine.

Your specs might be a little low for a few apps, try things like Fluxbox instead of KDE as a window manager.

Learning how a linux pc works usually involves fixing minor things, or once you have a working system, trying something new and breaking it a bit again.

Long story, but Caldera are now called SCO, and claim they own the rights to linux components, and are suing IBM for some stupid large figure, just to pump their share price and scare people from linux in business. There's traces of funding by Microsoft too.

If you want a newbie friendly Linux, you can try Mandrake. It's really popular and is aimed at users like you and I who are coming from the Windows environment. It's made to be simple and act as a basic Desktop computer.

It does look like you got your Linux set up and going so maybe you don't need to try another Linux distribution.

For things like ICQ/MSN/AIM, try a program called GAIM.

Yeah, Caldera is up and running. It's ver 2.2. So, am I better wiping it and installing mandrake or redhat? And if so, where do I find the dist's of these? What about Fedora?
Should I purchase more ram? I don't want to sink too much into this system until I figure out Linux. Afterwards I figure I will use this as a print server:

cbl modem
|
Linux box --- Printer
|
Router
|
Windows PC's

Lord only knows what else I will use it for once I figure it all out...

It could do with a bit more Mhz and RAM, though a 2gig harddrive should be ok. The thing with the easy distros is that they sometimes arent as lean as a simpler distro like eg. Slackware, though you can still tailor what's installed and running in all.

If you'll be using it as a print server you wont need to have a graphical system running, so you wont need to worry about X and window manager overheads, it should all be maintainable from the command line/remote.

You can get almost all major distros for free online, as cds downloads which you'll have to verify and burn correctly to boot them. Or you could buy them pre burned for a few £/$, or buy the official cds from the distro makers, which usually come with a manual, some support and maybe bonus apps and plugins.

Fantastic, I hae looked at the Mandrake site and they do not offer it for download for free. Any idea where I can get it? Same with Redhat - and which of the 2 would be better for me?

http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ftp.php3

Just click the 'I'll register soon' button and pick a mirror to begin downloading Mandrake.

N.B. You wont get the 4th (handy but not vital) disk this way.

Hey Proud,
Thanks so much. I'm d'ling it now. I really appreciate the help
I'll post after I install it.

Cool. I hope it all goes smoothly. We'll all be here to help if you have any problems or questions.