I have just moved from Windows Vista to Ubuntu about a week ago. Ubuntu is on my old c: drive...no windows at all. Can I install a different flavor of linux such as Fedora, Mandriva, etc to a separate external hard drive so the I can evaluate different ones? If so...how?

Sure you can.

You can also let "setup" automagically re-partition the install on your (formerly) "c:" drive and dual-boot multiple OS's from a single disk.

But if you repartition, there's always the risk of losing everything.

And if you run from an external drive, it might be a slow USB drive. And you'd run the risk of poor performance reflecting badly on your trial distro.

STRONG SUGGESTION:
Try downloading and playing with some "Live CDs". That way, you can experiment with different versions, without having to install ANYthing.

ALTERNATE SUGGESTION:
Try experimenting with virtual machines (e.g. Xen, VBox or - my favorite - VMWare). You can set up an entire virtual lab inside of your one PC!

'Hope that helps .. PSM

Thanks PSM... that's exactly the info that I was looking for.

Or try virtual box if there is enough room on your hard drive

it runs multiple Linux Distro's on your orignal ubuntu.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch8X86R6d-g

the above is just an example of installing XP on ubuntu

sudo apt-get install virtualbox

enjoy

Any Questions give us a shout