I downloaded the slackware 8.1 iso from the net. I loaded it using daemon tools and then copied all the folders onto a disk (all of this is done through windows because I have no versions of linux.) I put the disk in, but I couldn't boot from it. So I read around and found that a boot disk might be helpful. So I downloaded some boot disk and when I tried to boot from it--with my slackware cd in the drive--it said that it couldn't find the bare.i kernel. So I found a boot disk on my iso that I downloaded and spent a long time trying to get that on a disk but to no avail. As you can probably tell, I have no idea what I am doing, but I just want to install linux. Oh, and I can only do it using windows so if you can tell me how to do it using only windows that would be great.

Is there any reason in particular you're using Slack? If you're falling down at this point, Slack prolly isn't right for you.

Try Redhat, SuSE, Knoppix - all these boot from the CD and are generally a lot easier. There'll still be plenty to learn of course.

You need a CD burning program like Roxio's CD Creator to know how to "make" a CD with the huge *.iso file you got. CD Creator and even Nero (two common and popular MS choices) support ISO "layouts" so check the documentation with whatever you use for burning CD's to see how to do it. Ideally, with your CD burner program installed in MSWindows you should be able to simply double-click on the *.iso file (within Windows browser or something) and launch the burner program almost to the point where the CD is created. The point is that you DON'T simply copy or move the *.iso file to a CD as you seem to have done. ISO files are used in conjunction with whatever burner program you have to "make" a CD so that you can (hopefully) boot with it. If you have a CDRW drive and a CDRW "eraseable" CD then you might try it that way (instead of making table-coasters) at least until you see how it's done. Sometimes, this isn't an option, but it might help with the learning curve anyway.

If you've already done all that, then you probably just need to change your BIOS's bootstrap sequence settings on whatever you are going to install Slackware Linux on. Most likely, you are set to boot from the A: drive, then the C: drive and then the SCSI device (not that you have a SCSI device either). Simply change the "setting" so that the CDROM is listed as the FIRST boot device followed by either the A: then C: --or-- the C: then A: (don't forget to change it back AFTER you install Linux or at least ALWAYS remember to remove CD's AND floppy disks when you boot). This may sound scarry, but it's not that bad as long as you DON'T mess with CPU timing settings (it's very likely CPU timing is in another completely different menu if you even have the option of "soft setting" the CPU's timing). Lastly, (I hope I don't need to elaborate) the BIOS settings are often referred to as the "CMOS" settings. This is where you can change things like the internal time and date, hard drive parameters, and other similar "stuff". To access the BIOS settings you are usually are given the chance shortly after you turn your computer on where there should be a message telling you to press something like the DEL-key to enter the "setup" -- THAT'S the BIOS settings! Once inside, you will probably find the boot sequence setting in the "Advanced" menu or something similarly named. If you STILL have problems booting from a CDROM, you might like to check with a MS support site like http://www.driverguide.com since this stuff is assumed to be pretty basic for a "Slackie"... Hope it helps...

ok rookie,

burning a cd in windows is easy .... if u use NeRo, do this:
click FILE;
click BURN IMAGE;
find image on the local C:\ [Nero supports all binary images!;
then click burn...;

Guess I should have posted my suggestion to try Evil Entity Linux here. www.undeadlinux.com. Slackware based and optimized for i686. easy installer, but just watch where is wants to install if you want to keep ms. it likes to default to hda which is usually ms on a dual boot.

Hey thanks a lot. I went back into nero and burned it right this time. I haven't tried it yet but I'm pretty sure it will work. thanks again.