which version of linux should I install?
 

I have a dell inspiron 5000 and I want to put linux on it. It has 128mb of RAM and I do not want to use the current operating system anymore (Windows 98). Which version of linux should i install? I need to have it done later tonight, so which would be fastest to install also??

Don't count on having it done tonight. For tonight, I would suggest a LiveCD distro like Knoppix. You don't have to install it, just boot from the cd. After that, check out the major distros, and pick one that looks interesting. None is technically superior to the others.

By rights, you may want to consider a lightweight desktop environment, or adding another 128 mb of ram.

You could also just read a few of the other 10,000 or so threads with the same title.

How long does it take to download the Live CD and can you give me a link?

you can get ubuntu or kubuntu live cd here www.ubuntu.com or www.kubuntu.org download time will vary depending on your internet but it is about 690 MB.

I just began downloading the kubuntu live cd. Thanks for the help

Base Install of Debian
 

A base install of Debian using the Net Install image which installs the OS over the net only takes about 20-40 minutes. After the install is done you can choose what packages you want to install by using "apt-get install".

I currently have 3 debian servers all doing diffrent things, setting up base was simple and not all that much time consuming, once you have it setup if you want to use the box as a linux destkop then you can just type "apt-get install kde kdm x-window-system-core" and it will install KDE. This takes depending on your connection and provided you get no errors about 45 min.

Net Install Image is Available for version codename "Sarge" here on LinuxQuestions.org under Download Linux Section or from www.debian.org

If you want to learn some cool stuff to do with Debian you can check out www.debian-administration.org or check out Distro Forum on here under Debian.

Great, more problems...I just realized that my BIOS is password protected and I don't know the password. When i install Kubuntu do I need the system to boot off the disk or is there another way?

you could unplug the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS password but I wouldn't suggest doing that

LESTEJA2,

My suggestion wouls be one of the big three; Fedora, Debian, or Slackware. I wouls choose one of these three becasue a) they have been around the longest, which leads to b) they have tomes of support and c) have the largest software archives.

iam_techno

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux Distributions and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Fedora is an awesome distro, but recommending Debian, or especially Slackware to a newbie will lead them right back to Windows in no time.

I think he made a pretty good choice with the Buntus(although I personally hate Kubuntu). If you have to ability to do a google search, you'll likely find an answer to almost any problem. There's a reason Ubuntu is number 1 on distrowatch.

Now, as for the password thing.

You could pull the battery, that would work. Everytime I've ever done this though, I broke the clip holding the batter, and would end up buying a new motherboard, so use caution.

If you have the documentation for your PC/Motherboard, you could pull the CMOS jumper, leave it off for about 5-10sec, and then put it back. I think this will have the same effect as pulling the battery, w/o the danger of breaking something (unless you're being wreckless)

Do you know what type of motherboard you have, or the Make/Model of the PC?

IGF

I found a list of backdoor passwords and figured out the password for BIOS. I installed Kubuntu because I'm a newbie and it seems to have the best tech support. Thanks to everyone for all the help!!