Hi, I am still after a while stumpt on the version of linux to get.

I want a version that is

1. similar to use than what Windows XP Pro is
2. Has high compatability with windows software (or most compatability possible)
3. Comes with everything needed on the installation CD/DVD (such as all necissary software etc) (which to me seems like it will need to be a DVD linux i need to buy?)
4. Has all the drivers for my hardware on the installation CD and are installed automatically during the install process.
5. Will let me learn the fundimentals of linux (as that is why i want to use linux as i want to learn how to use linux).
6. Has a really easy installation of a dual boot partition on main C drive with windows on the other partition.
7. Is safe and secure as houses, as i want to browse the net and usually go to very dodgy sites (im a adult web site lover) but dont want to be worried on getting a virus/dialler/trojan/spyware (this is the second most important necessity on choosing my distro) and also if any security apps are needed (birus checker, firewall) they come with the installation CD.

I bought and downloaded mandriva 10.2 powerpack and was going to install it but my I.T computer tutor advised against it so i am back to square 1.

I want to install linux i.e not use a live CD.

Wich would be best for my needs. It seems either Mandriva, Xandros or Suse but i am open to linux's experts opinions.

I dont mind paying for what you recommend, to be honest i would rather pay for it as i will be sure to get a good working usefull application (as i know the paid mandriva has a load of software and drivers on it preinstalled that i definitely want in my choice of which to get)

Thank You For your help it is appreciated, as personally im stumped and i dont want to install one then have to deleate it and install another i want the best for my needs version on the first go.

Thanks
Anthony

I don't know why your IT computor tutor advised against Mandriva. Unless you have some very strange or dodgy hardware, it should do everything you asked.

(With the minor exception of Windows compatability. But then, it is as compatable as any other distro.)

he just said it was very risky to use, has been known to wipe your hard drive comepletetly and there are better versions of linux that that (he said Knoppix or slackware (sounds dodgy having a name like that) would be the one to go for instead.

I know from reading some sales sites that you can use and install Microsoft office and Adobe Photoshop with Xandros, is this the same with Mandriva.

Also does nero work with linux Mandriva, Xandros as i dont want to have to rebuy the linux version of this as it came free with my DVD drive. (its GUI looks more difficult too)

Your requirements are somewhat contradicting themselves, specifically points 1,3,4,6 vs. point #5. How do you expect to learn Linux if you want everything preinstalled?
It looks more to me that you simply want to browse X-rated sites free of worries that something bad might happen to your computer. And because of this, you probably won't have the patience to understand Linux.
Therefore, even though you want a HD install, it would be much easier and more secure to stick to Live CDs. This way (almost) nothing can happen to your computer as a CD is mounted read-only. You may use the live CD to visit whatever sites you want, and when you're done you may reboot to Windows.

Mandriva is certainly not risky to use. I have been using it since before version 6, and it has never caused me problems. I have never heard of it wiping a hard drive (unless you tell it to - but any OS can do that). It *did* break some CD drives back a year ao in version 10.0 - but that was because one CD drive manufacturer did not follow the published standard CD-Drive api - it was only a matter of time before they broke. (It was the Drive-manufacturer's fault, but Mandrake got the blame. ) You can tell your IT computor tutor that I think he is an idiot.

You can install and use MS Office and Photoshop, using wine (which comes on the CDs/DVD). They *will* be easier to install and use using the CrossOver Office version of wine, which *also* come in Powerpack, but that does cost a little moey to use beyond the 30-day trial ($35, IIRC).

Nero *does* have a free-to-existing-Windows/Nero-owners Linux version, but it has been generally panned. Much better is the K3B program, which comes (again) with the distro. If K3B was available for Windows, I would use it there in preference to Nero, myself!

Re: Slackware. Slackware is one of the very first Linux distribution, ever. It is currently in Version 10.1, and is an excellent distro. It is *NOT*, however, terribly newbie-friendly. It *will* meet your criterion #5, as it will *force* you to learn the fundamentals of Linux.

Im sorry if i gave misleading instructions. Yes i am worried about security. But i also want to learn how to use Linux too, it is a requirment of my course that i know linux. But i do not want to go head first into it, i want something with a similar GUI to windows but is linux, if you understand what i mean.

But i dont want to be typing long command prompt lines to access programs and what not, (not yet at least!) i want something that is in the middle between linux and windows.

I will once further experienced try other things such as driver installation and software upgrades, but i want to go into this easily and slowely.

When i first got my first computer with windows it took me months to figure out how to do simple tasks in windows now, i am taking cisco courses on windows.

I want to go at the same speed with linux too. So obviously i want an easy install of the application then get used to it, then try other things.

Thanks

If I were you, i'd go with Fedora or Mandriva... And no offense, but your IT guy sounds like an idiot. Yes slackware and knoppix are awesome, but they're for more advanced linux users. I would never recommend one of those distros to someone who is just trying to learn linux otherwise they'll end up frustrated and hating linux.

And in case you're not aware, you can download these distros for free and just burn them to CD instead of spending $$ on them. What you download is exactly what they'll send you on the CD.

I also recommend you purchase a linux for beginners book of some sorts.

I'm using Practical Guide to Linux by Mark Sobell. It's a little dated, but since I'm using older equipment and am trying to learn the fundamentals on up, it's pretty good. I also started using the Rute Users Guide on-line and was so impressed with it, I bought it.

As for CDs, I bought a package of about 12 distros for about $30. I have a slow connection, and it would take months for me to download them. I have downloaded a couple of the mini distros and they are helpful for my purposes.

It sounds to me like your IT guy is biased against Madrivia. I installed Mandrake (Mandrivia's previous name) and it worked great. So far the easiest version for me has been Mepis. Saw all my hardware and gave me no problems at all.

F_M

Thank you for all your suggestions, in the next few days im doing a complete hard drive format and will (attempt to) create a dual boot partition. Its a 30 gig drive, would 20gig for windows XP pro SP2 and 10gig for Mandriva powerpack 10.2 be enough and the right choice?.

I just tried Knoppix for the first time, it seems interesting and something i would like to get the hang of but to be completely honest (very embarressed now) i couldnt make much head nor tails on what to do. I wanted to firstly set up my broadband DSL connection up with my dialup modem, couldnt. Then i wanted to try burning an ISO image from the hard drive using (i believe its called) K3b, but couldnt do that either.

Is there any good Mandriva for beginners web sites instructing you on the basics such as setting up a broadband connection and DVD burning.

Thanks

Clearly you want Mepis Linux. I know a lot of people on this forum aren't big fans and think Warren is going to turn into Bill Gates any minute now, but Mepis is by far the best distro for your needs (I've tried Mandriva, Blag, Yoper, PCLinuxOS, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and others).

Mepis is a live CD, but it's also an installer CD. You try it out as live. If you like it, you can click the "Install Me" icon on the desktop, and that will bring you to an installer wizard that includes a program called QTParted, which is a partitioning and resizing tool.

Mepis is known to be a user-friendly distribution. It also has the command-line available, as do all Linux distros. Some people have complained about hardware detection, but you'll find that out during the live boot, won't you? Personally, with my eMachines computer, I've found it to be the best at hardware detection.

I don't know if you know this, but Linux cannot write successfully to NTFS, which is the default XP file system format. I would advise that you play around with the live CD for a while.

If you like it enough to install, back up your Windows data, defragment. Then, resize the Windows partition to be just big enough to fit the operating system and programs. Create a new, relatively large FAT32 partition to put your files in (both Windows and Linux can read from and write to FAT32). Then create a decent-sized partition for the root (/) directory of Linux (I'd say at least 4 GB, if not a little more). Then create a small partition for home, which will be mounted at /home from root. This should be about 2 GB. The home partition should be separate. That way, if you ever reinstall Mepis or some other Linux distribution, you can keep all your settings intact. Both the Linux partitions (home and root) should be in the EXT3 file format.

If you want a book to help you through, consider taking a look at (in the bookstore or library) Point-and-Click Linux. It has an older version of Mepis included, but the book is good for Linux novices. Definitely install and use only Mepis 3.3.1. Don't use earlier versions.

If Mepis doesn't work for you, maybe Ubuntu might.

P.S. About surfing the web safely, use Firefox 1.0.4, turn off Java and Javascript. Then uncheck the box that says "Allow websites to install software." Do not accept any cookies. Honestly, though, just using Linux should give you better protection than using Windows.