What is an ISO image
 

I'm trying to install Linux and what is an ISO image. Is that what I need to burn on a cd and put into my cd-rom to install Linux or am I incorrect? Can someone help me install? Also, i'm running windows xp home edition and its running on a Sony PCV-rx860 VAIO system.

an iso is a cd image. when you burn it properly to a cd all the files inside the image will be 'unpacked' for a lack of a better word onto the cd as it was meant to be. if you have nero start a session and click 'file -> burn from an image' or something like that. most cd writing apps can do it. but don't just plop it on a data cd layout and burn though. when you get all that done boot from the first disc.

You are absolutely right about the ISO image: it's some sort of "description" of what data is on the CD, and it's used by CD-Burning programs to put the correct data on the CD.
If you have XP, use the program Nero (or similar) to "burn from an image file" to the CD, and you're ready to go to put it in your drive and install.... Of course, you will have to download the ISO files somewhere ;)


Good luck


smokylux

Okay. I've downloaded Fedora's "FC2-x86_64-SRPMS-disc1.iso" and burned it onto a cd-rw and I put it into my DVD-rom, restarted my computer and it didn't boot the disk or anything.

Be sure to use a program similar to Nero, and burn your CD using the "Burn from image" feature.... if you put the iso file on a CD, it won't be readable on boot.... files have to be unpacked, which Nero does, before burning them.



smokylux

So I burn it as an image and not a data?

Yes.

Do you use Nero?

you can use the start smart to burn using an image, or you can simply open a file, and specify the file type (in the list there must be somewhat "All compilation images) with extensions .iso, if I remember well....

I just installed Nero went to Nero Burning Rom and I am able tro select a "CD-ROM(boot)" and I selected the ISO image "FC2-x86_64-SRPMS-disc1.iso" and I have begun to burn it.

in nero click 'file' then 'burn image' or something of the sort, it will then prompt where the image is on your hard drive. select it then write the cd.

okay, i'm trying that right now. Its currently burning...

Make sure your CD-ROM is selected as first booting device in your BIOS.

Also, the name "FC2-x86_64-SRPMS-disc1.iso" suggests you grabbed a version for AMD's Opterons (64-bit CPU). Would you need that?

BTW FC2-x86_64-SRPMS-disc1.iso is just the source RPMs for the 64 bit CPU version of FC2. It will not install linux.

Does your PC have a 64 bit CPU? If so you want this ISO file
FC2-x86_64-disc1.iso
else
FC2-i386-disc1.iso

Okay, finally got installed and its working really good. Isn't the version of this supposed to be editable though?

What do you mean 'the version of this'? And clarify 'editable'! Yes, most (if not all) aspects of linux are customisable, but get used to using it first!

I should have been more specific and I appologize for that. I meant is Fedora able to be edited? I have been doing some browsing on the operating system, but any suggestions on how to edit certain parts of the operating system, such as the menu bar, folder options etc.? I know its done using programming, but is there any documentations or scripts I could use?

Thanks