you probably want to go with one that has a pretty good setup program

Which would be ...
Mandrake 10 has a easy setup huh?

What does this mean? Linux will not install to an NTFS partition-- Linux has its own filesystem-- and the NTFS partition is going to have to be resized to make room for Linux. Mandrake 9.2 can do this; don't know if Fedora can, but since it's based on RH 9 (which could not) I don't think it can (I think this is coming with Fedora Core 2, but that's still in test phase).

Of course you could always resize the NTFS partition in Windows, which I personally recommend (I believe in using Windows to manage Windows filesystems, and Linux to manage Linux filesystems, but then I'm old-fashioned. Of course, I also have all of my data undamaged, so being old-fashioned has its benefits ).

That 1GB partition that you're going to make is a bit of a problem, as you're going to need to use at least 256MB of it to make the /swap partition (fudoki seemed to forget about that), and I would suggest using 512MB for the /swap (you'll probably get another stick of memory someday soon, and /swap should be 2X your memory).

That would leave 500-750MB for Linux, and that is really not sufficient (especially for Mandrake or Fedora), because you won't really be able to install much at all, especially if you want graphic-interface-based apps. You definitely won't have room for both of the big Desktop Environments (GNOME and KDE), and you may not be able to install KDE at all (it will take up 350-500MB all by itself, GNOME is a bit smaller, but not that much). You could probably use blackbox, fluxbox or XFce4 and definitely IceWM, but the benefit of GNOME or KDE (KDE especially) is that they're more "Windows-like" and make the transition easier. Both Mandrake and Fedora are heavily designed around the assumption that you're using one of these two desktops, and many of their features may not be readily available if you use something else.

Not to mention that even if you do get all these apps muscled in somehow, your /home folder (for your personal data) and your /tmp folder (for installing programs) will be microscopic, thus useless.

For Mandrake (which I have a lot of experience with), the smallest "reasonably comfortable" size partition I've installed it on is 4 GB. I think the recommended minimum is 2.5 GB or so. And there's a good reason for this-- you should really consider the issue that your minimum hard drive spec is too low.

If you have or can get an old HDD, or can get a new one (it doesn't have to be 200GB, a 10 or 20 GB, or even a 5 GB will do), you should try to do so. Because even if you do get Mandrake (or Fedora) installed to that one Gig, it won't hold you for more that 5 minutes. Seriously. You're going to be wanting more space almost immediately, and so you might as well get it now, before installing, if possible.

I can make 4 GB(probably more) of room

Just have to delete a lot of useless files(I have a lot)

Don't forget to leave room for Windows' swap file (pagefile.sys). Windows itself only takes up about 1 or 2 GB (I use 2K, XP might be a bit more), not counting whatever you may have installed in C:\Program Files, but the pagefile (especially with only 128MB of memory), should probably be fairly big; I'm thinking 1.5 GB or so.

But in general, Windows ought to be comfy in about 4GB of space (my Windows partition is about that size), but I don't install my programs to C:\ (they live on a separate partition), so all that's in that 4GB is actually Windows, therefore I don't have any space issues with a relatively small partition.

Of course, I barely use Windows anymore as well, so I don't have to worry about installing many Windows programs in any case .

thanks im going with Fdeora

Prejudices ? Sorry if it offends, but I'm referring to what happened to me. I'm not about to sprinkle something on it to make it less whiffy !

No, I had an unpleasant entry into Linux myself and told the feller what had happened to me. I'm still baffled about some Linux peculiarities still, but I'll try to sort it out myself, rather than have the same cross swords again. I presume by the post you believe negative experiences should not be mentioned on here. Is that right ?

.

No, not at all. I just don't see how it's an appropriate response to the question that was asked, and furthermore is contradicted by the contents of this thread.

First, the question itself appears to be a very general system-related one, and the original poster has little or no experience with Linux (s/he's trying it) and little or no knowledge about the various advantages or disadvantages of the different distros for such a user. So lovaslane seems to be asking for general advice on what distro to try, and pointers as to what possible obstacles s/he may encounter during install or first use, given the differences between Linux and XP.

Whether or not some forum somewhere did not help you when you asked a question does not seem to be useful information at this point in lovaslane's Linux migration process. There's so much more that s/he's going to have to deal with before the general helpfulness of Linux forums come into play.

Second, you have interjected a wildly negative post, claiming that forumites like us are not helpful, in the middle of a positive thread where we were actually helping lovaslane, and are continuing to do so. We're even helping you, by not flaming you off the board even though you've 1) interrupted this discussion; 2) insulted us, but instead speaking reasonably to you.

So even if it was this forum, lovaslane's experience is already different from yours, so what good have you done him or her by posting what you did?

So that's my position, and having stated it, I'm not going to hijack this thread any further by continuing to discuss it . I'd tell you to PM me if you feel further discussion is warranted, but I'm not a Contributing Member , so I don't have that functionality here, sorry.

Isn't this some ****. My mom said I had to stick with Lindows.

I'll figure a way to get fedora

or should I just go with Knoppix?

WIll I lose anyhting goign with Knoppix?

Being a bootable CD does it have less stuff?

Its smaller than fedora, with a well fleshed out software base. Its bootable, so you dont have to worry about trashing your win partition.

thanks

but isn't it slower? running all that off a cd and all?

What's the latest version?

Of course it's slower.