100% newbie
 

Here I am, a windows user for the past 8 years...but am finally fed up with microsoft and windows....i've decided I wanna switch to linux, something with a user-friendly GUI (i like the looks of Lindows)...
I would like to keep win 2000 still...here are my specs:

Pentium 4 2.4 -->overclocked to 2.8
256mb DDR ram
40 gb hardrive
48x CD-R drive
windows 2000
nvidia geforce 4 mx440
asus p4pe
onboard SoundMax soundcard


How would I go about keeping Windows 2000 as an OS, yet be able to use Linux...Im going to be keeping windows for photoshop/gaming needs, and using linux for AIM and mp3 and web browsing.....

plz help

Use partitioning software (Partition Magic is good for windows) or use the one that comes with the linux installation (a little more confusing). Make a linux partition on your harddrive. (if you have a spare hard drive it is a lot easier). during the installation of whatver distrobution you chose it should allow you to chose which partition you want (obviously the one you made a linux partition).

If you use RedHat (don't know about others, I only use RedHat) it will automatically configure the boot loader for you, so that you can chose what OS you want (Win2k or Linux) every time your computer starts up..

http://redhat.com

Oh yeah, and Linux has some great imaging software, if you give it a try you might find yourself using it for graphics also.

It's fairly easy to dual-boot with Windows and Linux - most distributions will set this up for you. However, if you plan to install Linux, you will need some available space on your hard drive, preferably in a separate partition. If you have one huge C: drive in Windows that uses all 40GB, then you will probably need to use a partitioning tool like Partition Magic or GNU Parted, in order to resize it without losing data. Alternatively, you could back up anything you need to keep, and reinstall Windows after you have created new partitions.

If, however, you have mutiple drive partitions (like C, D, E) you can simply set aside one of them that you are not using at the moment, and install Linux there. If this is the case, your Linux distribution should show you which partitions are available, and you can choose which one to install Linux on. Again, most of them should offer a dual-boot option, but I do not know the specifics with Lindows. You can get a user-friendly GUI with any Linux distribution, though, so don't feel too constrained on that aspect.

Mozilla Firebird for Browsing, MP3 XMMS, AIM, GAIM the only one of those you have to download is Mozilla Firebird

What is the main difference between Mozilla and Mozilla Firebird? I looked on the site and couldn't find much comparing the 2.

I think Firebird is just another mozilla based browser, suppose to be faster cus it has emphasis on the web browsing aspect, though I don't really see much difference. Pretty much the same as epiphany, galeon etc I suppose.
BTW while we're on the suject, does anyone notice that GIF/Flash animations play much slower in mozilla(or any mozilla-based browser), while in konqueror they play much more smoothly, is there a setting somewhere that I can change this? or this is how the mozzila engine renders them so it can't be helped?

Hey tray...
Why not give up Windows altogther? What are you doing with Windows that you can't do with Linux? I used to have a dual-boot setup between Win2K and Linux and it was more trouble than it was worth. There is an ISO called Knoppix you can download and burn to a CD. It is a full Linux system you can run completely off the CD - this is great for you if you are afraid to give up Windows just yet. However, I gave up Windows altogether a year ago. The following distros would be my top picks for a former Windows user: SuSe and Debian. When you are ready for a walk on the "wild" side: Mandrake!

SuSE is GREAT for noobies...just ask me...lol. i'm STILL a noob...but learning every day :)

I am no noobie.. I just forget a.. I just.. What was the question? :)

After being away from *nix systems for a long time, and spending way too much.. ( :) see that as time/money/sleepless nights/re-installing) on/with/for Windoze, I decided to see what was out there. I wanted to keep or find some games like I had been playing (you know.. Unreal/UT2003.. Hey! it's on the CD.. cool.. sorry kewl. ;) :) ..ahem

I found Gentoo. (still didn't get it to work, but have re-DLed the ISOs and have burnt them again. :) Good ones this time.) for gaming.

I have Mandrake (Which I happen to like more then RedHat, but the latest (9.1) didn't detect everything as easily as RedHat (9.0) had so I am currently using RedHat). I have DLed Knoppix, recently, more for fun, but I like that it seems to find just about everything in one shot. I haven't used it too much yet, but it seems to have a bit of everything you will need. ( ~2Gb compressed ). And no worries of what you have on your HD or if you have one. (Just make sure you have enough RAM. .. One word - Sweet. From first few minutes with it I like it. Nice and simple.

I think I turned more from despising the cost of Windoze when I don't want it. (because I already have it on every other machine.. CAme with the computer.) .. me a rebel? naw just tired of stupid tech support that asks if it is turned on, and did I check the cord? ..almost forgot.. :) How about the reply that has nothing to do with your request, or they keep pointing you in circles.. and STILL ask, how are we serving you? No to mention it takes days.. weeks.. months.. to answer a simple question they have in their flip book. :)