so.. now im here posting again since.. I cant get Linux mandrake to start installing . i put in the first disc and then i press install Linux then it says some warning about it can damage computer and press "ok" to reboot and start instalation.. then when i press ok the computer restarts and comes back to XP!

ithen tryed to make a floppy disc to se if that would work but that dident work either since it just starts Windows XP instead

Try changing the boot order in your bios to boot from cdrom first then the hard drive.
good luck.

Can you check if your boot sequence is OK in your BIOS. I take it you're starting it in windows or something that's why it wants to reboot?

To go to your BIOS you have to enter a key when you're computer is booting. You'll see a sentence like "Press key to enter setup". Now if you press the key you'll be in. Keys that are often used are DEL, ESC or Fx keys.

Now there's in the advanced settings (IIRC) boot settings. There you'll see something like boot device 1 and further. CD should be started before the hard disk. This way it'll search for CDs on boot and find your ISO CD. I think right now it starts with your HD which it finds so it starts and doesn't check for CDs anymore.

hm.. that sounds good i'll try it out in awhile

hm.. itryed that but it still just starts XP however i did forget to check that if boot sequence is OK

Did you reset the bios to boot from cdrom first, or not? Your post is a little confusing. In your bios you should see something like boot device, or boot sequence. For that option you need set it to cdrom before hard drive, unless it's a very old machine you should have that option.

Another possiblity is the cd itself, how did you burn it, are you certain it's bootable?
good luck.

That was the whole point of the post checking if it was right and changing it if it wasn't

hm.. idid all that with Checking Bios to start CD rom before HDD but it did still just start XP

but then i fixed a floppy from the drivers on the Mandrake linux cd so i could start it that way but.. after the first screen where it says "press enter to install" i come to a screen where i see some DOS loggs.. Seemed ok i thought but i got a error saying "cant acess linux mandrake instalation cd in cd drive"

it also gave me a option to chose to Retry ; yes,no or Back

so i pressed yes and the same error come up and then i try no and it sends me back to another error message that says something about can not access linux on floppy and again it gives me the option to retry; Yes,no or back

and if i say no there it sends me back to some screen to select drivers

and to enter some parameters for those drivers

but maybe this problem is caused because of badly burned Cd? since i had a load of problem burning the iso because of "nero" which wouldent burn it at all

Sounds like you may have bad media. Try burning the iso files again. There is a guide here.

http://www.linuxiso.org/viewdoc.php/howtoburn.html

good luck.

hm.. iwonder.. if i would only burn one cd.. and the rest wouldent work.. will my computer be doomed


anyways im downloading the new nero trial and see if its better at burning

Not sure about the doomed comment, but, with the new nero, and the guide provided, you should be all good, providing the iso's aren't corrupted.
good luck.

All necessary files are on the first disk but if you really want all or a better choice of programs you need to have the rest as well. But since you install from the first CD you could try reburning only that one, if it goes right it can save you some CDs.