I am having trouble running linux on my computer. A familiar start to a thread no doubt, but this is different. I am fairly technically minded, but I have failed with so many linux distributions that I am feeling that someone wants me to stick with windows. However with the patience of Job I press on.

Fedora Core 3 wasn't too much trouble. I should have stuck with that.
Fedora Core 4 ate my hard drive. Well not really, but after making the BIG MOVE from windows, laboriously copying all my files from my NTFS partitions, my file system got completely corrupted. Cue the panicked reinstall of windows and copy back of my files.
Ubuntu 5.04 seemed nice at first, but then starting freezing up completely after 2 mins use, requiring a hard reboot. User friendly indeed.
SUSE 9.1 kernel panicked when trying to boot the install disk.
Mandrake 10.0 installed fine, but then I couldn't for the life of me find update mirrors. I don't think it is supported anymore.
Which leaves me with the first disk of SUSE 9.3 which seemed to install alright, giving me some kind of raw graphical environment so I know that it works.

This is somewhat of a rant, somewhat of a cry for help. Arrrrghh!!! Getting linux to run on my system has been absolute hell. Windows 2000 has worked without a glitch this whole time (except when I accidentally overwrite the MBR). There I said it. Help me stay the course LQers. I'm about ready to give up with linux completely.

For what it's worth I'm running an Athon XP 2200 on a Chaintech nForce 2 board, with 512 MB ram, a 120GB Hitachi Deskstar, and a Radeon 7000 card. I have tested the HD using the ultimate boot cd, I have tested the RAM several times. What else should I do?
Thank for your patience in reading this. Any words of encouragement are greatly appreciated.

Well, I don't really find a description of an error in your "rant". So please specify what SuSE does not do to your satisfaction, since she is running after a way "giving me some kind of raw graphical environment".

Hint: Starting the first CD and selecting "manual install" will find your current system and offer a repair menue...

Since you found Ubuntu somewhat working give Debian a try. It's mother of Ubuntu. And is easily upgradable. Or you could try Vector, a minimal but updatable distro based on Slackware.

One very important thing. Never say die!

Why switch back to Windows when there are around 300+ Linux distros around. They'll have different tastes. Stick with your problems. You'll get to correct them with having some fun (at least when you get something solved) and experience & knowledge.

Best thing about Linux is not that its free. It's all about freedom. Your freedom to choose, what you use and how you use. Your freedom to learn. Your freedom to mess around with your OS. Your freedom to screw up things and enjoy the joy after fixing it. Your freedom to 'do it yourself'. Your freedom to become a part of the community. Your freedom ...

Stay with LQ, post your problems more often. You'll certainly enjoy Linux. LQ is here to help.