Hey,
I know the question is as noob as it can get.
I have installed many distros like Ubuntu, Fedora, Kali Linux, Backtrack and so on. But I never was able to use linux properly. I don't know anything! I find it very difficult. There are lots of commands in Terminal! Even when downloading a distro, there are many options like gnome etc I don't know what they are, which one should I get.
I want your help so that I can start from the very base! I was to move away from Windows. I will start with virtualbox and then dualboot then full retreat from Windows. I am thinking to start from Linux Mint or Elemantary, Are they good. Please help me guys, give me some links to complete tutorial of linux which are short and to the point! Help!
Regards,
Sid

If you want a complete tutorial it certainly isn't going to be short. If you want to use Linux Mint, there are user manuals at the link below for the various Desktop environments in various languages. Pick the one you want. It would be helpful if you need assistance installing to at least indicate which version of windows you are using and whether you are using UEFI/GPT or the older MBR partitioning/booting.

with Backtrack 5 rc3 ( the last) being VERY LONG DEAD you would have major problems
Kali ( like BT5rc3) is a very special purpose operating system and ALL!!! non every experienced linux users WILL have major problems with kali


and you would with the last two ( bt and kali)
fedora 23 ? is also not the best for NEW to linux users -- maybe --
if you LIKE to tinker and fix things and repair things and want to LEARN how operating systems work fedora would be a good choice


A lot of people recommend Ubuntu or Mint these are in the Debian family

i recommend OpenSUSE

suse is very GUI centric ( " point and click " VS. typing )


do a bit more reading and studying

it took you HOW MANY YEARS ??? to learn Microsoft Windows ?
it will take a bit of time to learn something different

Welcome to LQ!

What is the time frame for
A week, a month, 6 months, a year?
That answer will be the amount of time it will take you "learn how to use Linux".[1]

Have you installed Virtualbox in Windows?
Grab some 32 bit (I suggest Xfce) images overnight from LinuxMint ISOs and install Virtualbox for Windows tomorrow.
Boot an iso and create a new Virtualbox guest. Easy-peasy, mac-n-cheesy.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=install+li...tube&ia=videos
Here's a tip. You can start downloading LinuxMint ISOs now, as Virtualbox
will allow you to boot the file.iso.

Be sure to document your mistakes, err... "lessons" along the way.

See also my guides collection.

Good Luck!

You really never stop learning linux. Linux is ever changing and advancing. You have to take baby steps and read and practice. Experience is the best teacher. There are many videos on youtube.com on linux commands, linux shell scripting, linux history and etc.

Welcome to LQ!

Welcome to LQ. Linux Mint is probably as easy as it gets.

Light Distro Linux that is quite easy to learn in my opinion, Puppy Linux. install it on a cd or usb.

If you are interested in the command line, Garrels' Introduction to Linux is a good place to start. You can find it and many other references at The Linux Documentation Project.

Going Linux has excellent resources oriented to new and intermediate users, and about.com has a pretty good section on Linux.

I got a fairly new Laptop i.e less than a month old, so certainly I use UEFI Booting. Is that helpful now?

I tried BT long ago, I know they are very specialised OS :P
So whats with these families, what is SUSE and Debian, I tried to search about Linux Families but no luck. I have been using Windows for around 8 years!

I have virtual box, I basically have advanced knowledge of Windows and all its related softwares, just want to learn linux as well. That guides collections is really helpfull thanks!


Thanks all of you for your response, you guys are really helpful! I will revert back to you guys, if I face any issues in the process of learning, which will be quite frequent :P

Regards!
Sid

Hi. +1 run the "top ones" free...

Me I just started installing and installing and installing and installing until I found a Linux I liked, I used it for a bit then started installing and installing and installing until I found another Linux I liked, used it for a bit then starting installing and installing and installing, until I found a Linux I like used it for a bit, and a little more then moved on ... now I'm using Void Linux until I get tired of them... Which I don't really see happening anytime soon..

just install them and check them out, they are FREEEEEEEE!!!!! do not be scared to experiment with everything its free!!!!! Desktop window managers, different versions or distributions of Linux all of it, its free!!!! ( for the most part)

just get your hands dirty dude, and expect to screw up a few times along the way NBD, it happens to everyone, that is part of learning, as long as you've learned from it, just kept your personal data backed up so you don't lose it.

if you want to keep Windows and do not have a re-install CD/DVD or restore disk better make one before you even get started. Just in case.

Hey Sid,

Gnome is a desktop interface. Basically what you see on your screen day in day out. Windows has 1 interface which would be your start menu, your file explorer, your task bar, etc.

Linux has a bunch. Like Gnome, KDE, MATE, Cinnamon, etc. They all look different and behave differently. I personally like MATE because it's "Windows" like. I have a Applications menu which resembles your Windows start menu. And the file explorer behaves nearly identical to the Windows explorer.

To add, with every distro you can add these interfaces. So don't think that using..say Fedora that you're stuck with Gnome, you're not. You can have any interface that you'd like. I hope this helps you out.