I have always wanted Linux ever since I first heard of it. Can I just download Redhat or another Linux program recommended onto a windows lap top and began using it or do I have to uninstall windows first?
I have just found your site, so now maybe I can do what I have been wanting to do, with your help.

Which ever distro you choose to download, will more than likely be in a xxxx.iso format, which you will need to burn to disc using the option to make a data cd/dvd from an iso or image. After that you will need to boot from the disc and the installation wizard process will begin (Unless you download a Live CD in which case you can run GNU/Linux from the disc and install when ready using the provided desktop icon). GNU/Linux will happily co-exist alongside winblows, you will be given the opportuninty to resize your partition (or have the installation wizard do this automatically for you) to allow the installation of GNU/Linux whilst retaining your original winblows installation. In any case, backup any personal data you wish to keep before attempting installation.

Live CD is now the way to start--almost all distros have a live CD version.

My "getting started" link below might help also.

One can't normally install Linux on any windows partition. There is a gparted livecd available which can shrink your ntfs partition so that you end up with part of the space unallocated where you can install Linux. If you have multiple ntfs partitions, however, it can be as easy a simply formatting one and using that instead. Alternatively, some Linux distros come with an installer that includes the ability to shrink ntfs. I'd still recommend gparted, though. Your distro will install GRUB so that you can select the OS you want to boot into, without any limits that I'm aware off. You could easily install a hundred or more operating systems on a single computer.

I'm afraid that this part could be confusing. The one thing the OP should not do is burn the iso as a data cd/dvd. It needs to be burnt as an iso (some burning applications call it "burn image").

Thank you for your reply. I'm afraid, from what you said I am not ready to install Linux and will have to remain stuck with windows. I am a newbie and I didn't understand anything you wrote. It is all over my head.
Thank you for trying.

dont quit, heres something basic for you...

Download this http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html for knoppix or this http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download for ubuntu...(tick box for alternate, just below download button)

Knoppix is just a version of linux and ubuntu is also but a little different, if you have time to get them, then try both, one will be nicer than the other...

once you have downloaded them, open an application like nero or nti and burn them to disc as an image...you will find that in the opening section of nti or nero or what ever app you use for burning...

then once burnt to disc you can reboot your machine and set it too "boot from cdrom", these two distros are live discs, which means you dont need to install them, just run them and find if you like linux...after you have played with it for a while, then you can learn about installing, but at first just run live boot discs, saves headaches and having to learn things that most average people dont know when first exposed to linux...

By using a live boot disc, it will not touch the data or any info on your harddrive and as such will leave your existing operating system(windows) in tact and safe from damage....

some terms used here maybe a little over the top, so just ask what people mean, some just like to sound knowledgable, where i have enough problem writing the words in english, good thing i dont know anyother language, isnt it....

good luck and hope to hear how it goes...