Hello LQ users,I'm a new convert to Linux and,have just download both Mandrake offical 10.1,and Ubuntu 6.06, for trialing etc
My Q's is which version is okay for a novice like myself and secondly I noticed there was no "setup.exe" file on both iso'-so how do I get the CD to boot into install mode directly from the disc
I must confess that I've a windows user for sometime now,and think I've been spoiled a little,so any info on this subject would be most helpful
Keep up the good work.

Please could you use descriptive thread titles in future.

Linux doesn't use Windows executable files. Have you burnt the ISOs to CD yet? If not, make sure when you burn them that you burn them as images and not regular data files. If you do the latter, all you'll see on the CD is that single .iso file. When you burn as an image, that file gets "expanded" into the files and folders contained within it. You'll then be able to boot from those CDs (you'll need to make sure your BIOS is set to try and boot from CD before the hard drive).

Hi rob2006 and welcome to LQ. I have edited the thread title so that it gives a description of your problem. As for whcih distro is best for a newbie, there isn't a correct answer to this question. Try a few and then stick with the one that you like. Suse, Ubuntu and Fedora Core seem to be very popular with new linux users.

Also, Mandrake 10.1 is quite old now. You'll probably want Mandriva something, though I don't know how their versioning works.

ISO is a condensed image. You download it from a site. Then you burn it to a CD using a program like Nero that can burn ISO's. You choose Burn ISO. Nero will burn it to CD. Then you take cd and insert into computer. Make sure computer is setup to see CD rom first.
Thats it. My suggestion if you have trouble connecting to internet with a modem. Try an external modem.

The following Linux Distros are fantastic and I found easy to install.

Mandriva,Xandros, PC Linux, Freespire,

I prefer PC Linux. I can print ,scan,use pda,digital camera,listen to music, burn dvd and cd's.

I suggest getting a Linux for dummies book by Dee Ann LeBlanc or similar.


Good Luck,
DropKey

Hello everyone,and thank you all kindly for the help given to me over these past few weeks,I've now started my own linux quest.I recently download "pclinux 0.93a Big Daddy" as suggested and this works like a dream.It makes my PC,which is 6yrs young run like new,and all the added features work.I will let you how the wireless networking setup goes,and I will post my results,when done.