hello i am new to using Linux and i would like to find out what Linux program is the best to use. also i would like to know if anyone knows of any groups in the tyne and wear area in Gateshead, or even Newcastle.
any advice would be helpful and appreciated thank you in-advance for your help.

Please use the search function on this forum, or do a Google search, before asking a question -- this question has been asked and answered thousands of times.

That said -- try Ubuntu -- it's easy to configure and install. Later on, if you want to try something that is a bit more difficult, but faster and more configurable, try Gentoo.

--jrtayloriv

PS -- Also check this article out. It will be very helpful to you while you are trying to learn Linux.

Go to Disrowatch.com.
There will be a long list towards the right hand side of the screen "ranking" the various popular distro's.
Pick one.
Being new to Linux, I highly recommend picking one that has a live cd or live dvd so you can get out of a sticky wicket due to inexperience.
As for which is the best?
Well, the folks who are happy with Debian will say Debian.
Those happy with slackware will say Slackware.
Red Hat folks will say Red Hat.
It's up to the user to decide what is best for them, not be told what is best for them.

thank you. i have try a couple of times to use a live cd of linux, with out joy. i will try the linux that you have recommended. also can you tell me if it is possible to do a duel boot on my computer. i have 2 hard drives in it and was wondering if i could use one for windows and the other for linux. i think it is possible however i have never tried it. i was hopping that you could shed some light on this matter. if it can be do i will try and do it. ether way could you tell me if it can be done or not. thank you again for your help so far

Yes you can always do a dual boot ?
And there are several way to do so
Using GRUB to boot both windows and Linux .
Or if you're BIOS allow you to boot from both drives Write GRUB on the other drive and install linux on that drive too but than every time you like to change OS you have to change the boot order in you're BIOS.
Benefit you do not change anything on you're windows drive

You might like to check out http://lug.org.uk/lugs/all for Linux User Groups in your area.

Also, I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to dual boot. Just install Linux on your second hard drive, assuming there's free (i.e. unpartitioned) space. If there isn't any unpartitioned space, then you'll need to resize the existing partitions on the disk to make room for Linux partitions. I believe Ubuntu's installation procedure allows you to resize partitions, but I'm not sure.

Tyneside LUG: http://www.tyneside.lug.org.uk/news.php

thank you i was not sure if i could do that. however i will have to check if my bio will let me. wish me good luck. i dont think there will be a prob as i built the computer. well thxs for reinforcing the idea.

Best option may be to load up your usb with many distro's
play em, hack em and see what you wanna do

what distro's are you interested in running?
you can run most persistent off usb too dude

i am not sure at the min. i will look at them all before making a hard copy. i will use live dvds for now. thx

Here's some good reading to get started with:

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz

good idea.

+1 fedora live-usb.

Just in case...

If you don't have this reference, here is the standard list for live-cds.

http://www.livecdlist.com/

If you want some basic instruction, here is a starting point for the more serious minded.

http://www.linux.org/lessons/beginner/toc.html