If you are migrating to linux from MS, you may want to try Mandrake ( now Mandriva) 10.0. It found all my hardware and has a fairly intuitive GUI in the KDE desktop, but you can also do CL stuff if need be. The only thing I have found slightly negative about Mandrake (MDK) is the networking wizard is squirrely.
Here's my suggestion: If you are fairly new at installing OS's then install only linux first and pay attention to the installer, how it works, what order everything is installed, and what packages(programs) are installed by default and how to custom install packages. The whole install takes about 20 minutes and if you screw it up, you haven't lost much time.
Some may disagree, but if you try a dual boot with XP and then screw up the linux install, then you're out the hour and a half for the XP install as well as the linux install. Trust me ...if you're a noob, you don't want to be messing with recovery disks and swapping boot loaders here and there although some users will tell you that it's a good way to learn linux.
Dual boot:
1. Insert Wxp bootable disk and set BIOS to boot from CD rom
2. Use XP install disk to format your HD
3. Use the XP disk utility to create three partitions
4. This is a suggestion only....others may have better rationales for dividing up the HD but I have done it in approx. thirds....eg:
60gb hd is 20gb NTFS for Wxp, 20gb using FAT 32 file system for files (so Wxp and linux can both "see" it), and leave the last 20gb alone for linux.
5. Always install Wxp..... FIRST.... on the first 20gb ( be sure to format with NTFS if that's what you want). If you install linux first and then install XP, it will very likely hoard the MBR section of your HD and will not play nice with linux.
6. Insert linux CD and repeat process installing linux the bootloader (GRUB or LILO) on to the first partition (Where Wxp is) when asked by the linux installer.
I can tell you that Mandrake 10.0 installation was unbelievably easy. It located all the partitions, automatically partitioned the remaining space on the HD, and auto loaded the bootloader, found all my hardware and had drivers for everything and went onto the HD in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Also, if you are new to linux and using dialup...........I HIGHLY recommend that you resist the temptation to use an internal PCI winmodem or even a linux compatible internal PCI hardware modem. Yes, you can get them to work ( as I have) , but it is VERY LIKELY YOU W - I - L - L spend HOURS or DAYS finding drivers. Even if you buy a US Robotics PCI hdwr modem (which is compatible), you will have to make sure that the drivers on the included CD are compatible with the kernel version you are using, and to top it off, modem drivers require kernel sources to be installed..which ARE NOT loaded in some distros. Then you have to find them, find the packageloader your distro uses....etc.
Instead, I recommend going to the local thrift shop and buy a used external serial hdwr modem generally for $5 or less. ( do not buy external USB modems - they are generally winmodems) These serial modems require NO drivers, are generally faster than some internal PCI modems, and almost all older serial port modems will work with linux with no drivers required.
Post in these forums for a howto to use them with the Kppp dialer, which most distros have.
find cheap CDs here -->
www.spidertools.com
Good luck
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