Hi I wanna install Linux and im new to this board and uhh.. got some questions.

1. Do I always need a floppy drive when installing Linux? Cause if I do you'll don't really need to answer the rest of my questions cause Linux.... won't happen. I can't build any in there coz the metal thing is missing. I can connect it but the floppy drive will be in there just hanging.

2. Wich Linux should I use? Somebody recommended me to use Mandrake is that one good?

3. Is it OK if I keep Windows XP on my PC or can that give problems?

4. Is it hard to uninstall Linux? Cause if im getting used to it and like it I'll leave it on there till I get a new PC. But if I don't.... I wanna get it off.

I've never used Linux and i'm getting kinda scared that im gonna crash my PC or something....

1. no, you don't need a floppy drive (skip the bootdisk creation bit on install) but you will need a bootable CD-ROM drive
2. yes, Mandrake is good
3. yes, you can dual boot them
4. no, you can use fdisk to repartition the drive as FAT32 and then format it for windows to use.

It's worth reading up on the install process so you know what to expect. I would think there is some stuff on the Mandrake website, but I don't know, I use slackware.

Thanks! That helped a lot.

1) Nope

2) Mandrake Is quite good for your first distro. You might want to check out Knoppix though, which runs completely off a disk and doesnt touch your hd. Its good if you dont want to put stuff on your hd.

3) Its fine. I have both mandrake 10.0 and XP, and you just get a bootloader when you startup which asks which OS to start.

4) Nope, its quite simple.

I was the same as you a while ago. It was very scary for me moving to a whole new OS, I was nervous I would install it, get in there, have no idea what to do, and accidentally format my hard drive, lol. But really, with KDE or GNOME (Both are GUI's which basically put the icons and start menu on linux, if you didn't know), it is not too hard to use. The most difficult part to me is file management, such as not having a C: drive with things like "My Computer" and stuff like. After a while though, you will get used to it. Hope I could help, and dont be afraid

EDIT: whoops, my fingers move too slow, you already got all the info

No problem! I'm gonna check that Knoppix first.

The Knoppix if you get the newest one is good for finding out what of all your peripherals Linux will find and work with (printer etc). My knoppix 3.3 couldn't find my printer :)
Go to the library or the bookstore and get a good Linux/Dummies/Idiot's book. They usually come with a Linux distro too, and tell you everything step by step. If you're getting a new pc soon,maybe you want one to have windoze and one to have Linux so that if you crash one, you've got another computer werkin :)
gaviidae
PS listen to the guys who use Slackware and Gentoo, those are for the gurus!!!!! They should know what they're doing a little more than the rest of us :)

Or we're all still trying to find the 'ON' button

People who use LFS are not too shabby themselves