I have never used Linux and have always wanted to. I am not sure where I should start? What kind of linux to use. Is there a place here where I can read all the collective ideas for some one who is new and decide from there?

Or is there a version of Windows that is best for learning on, I really want to install and use Linux any help would be great.

LipSkidr

first you need to choose a distribution, a distro. Then you need to download the .iso files to your computer and burn them to disks to boot from.
Read the distro reviews on linuxquestions or you can go to linuxiso.org. My first distribution was mandrake i found it relatively easy to install and is easy to start with.

If your computer can boot from a CD, I'd start with Knoppix. It is a fully functional linux distro that works entirely from the CD. You don't have to install anything to your hard drive. That would let you get a taste of linux without having to hassle with an install.

http://distrowatch.com
This is the site which will be your friend and advisor. Read about distros download them, try them and choose the one of your liking!
Welcome!

You might also consider buying a book that comes with a distro on cd - this is a great way to get going, and once you learn some things, can always switch distributions later.

mgmcc's suggestion is good. I'd go further and say that the best thing you can do, long before picking a distro, is to read and read and read some more. Not forever or anything - the best learning is hands on - but I'd definitely get a strong feel for the lay of the land first. Then, yeah, a distro out of a book can be good - then you've got something specifically about what you're learning and can read the book while you play with the system.

And don't agonize over your first distro. In a sense, I don't think you *can* pick the 'right distro' until after your first. You might get lucky and never be motivated to switch but, odds are, you're going to try one, feel an itch, and move to another. That's okay. It's hard to judge what makes a good distro - what the significance of the differences between them are - until you've gotten some experience with one or two.

Once you're at that point, you can find something that lights you up and start getting into it.

So yeah - study, act, experiment, stick, dive deep.

google is your friend
linux google is also available

I'll toss in my $0.02. I read and read and then bought the book for Fedora Core with the disto. All set right. When I went to install it I had all kinds of problems with my video controller ( a piece of cripe intel 810). Searching this forum I found lots of folks who had problems with Fedora and this controller. Tried Mandrake 10.1 community and it is up an running. I would do searches on your major pieces of hardware and make sure you don't pick a distro that strugles with any. Had I just done a search for my video controller it would have saved me much grief.

I probalby could have gotten FC3 to work, but for me I needed my first one to be able to install graphically and launch to the graphical interface. Now if I can just get all the plugins working on FireFox I'll be happy.

since your from canada do this:

1. go get a manual with a distro in it
2. read the thing
3. go get a twelver of ice cold MOLSON'S
4. load that dude in the cd-rom and have joy

ps: install a different hard drive for playin around at first (new or used)

have fun, eh...


<--- read

I would start with a LiveCD Distro first get used to how linux functions and learn the basics then load a distro of your choice and have fun...

What if every distro you try crashes after the first boot/install screen? That's still my problem...

have you used MD5checksums? It is possible that your iso files are corrupted in some way. You can get the correct checksums frim the site where you downloaded the iso's from.

All those distros I have burned worked perfectly on other computers.

It's quite possible that there's something wrong with your hardware then. Linux in particular is very intolerant of bad RAM (more so than Windows, from what I've experienced). The Fedora install CDs allow you to run memtest86 when you boot (look at the boot options), and I suggest you try that.

LOL yea that sounds about the best way to handle this situation, but a two four will save me a trip .

Thanks all for the advice, I think i am just going to read the forum and research what distro will fit my needs and also research my hardware with the distros that catch my eye.

A book definitly sounds like the best plan of action.

Thanks again all and thanks for taking the time to answer, all was great advice.

cheers eh!
LipSkidr