Hello, i'm Bill and i'm new to the whole linux thing. I have a new hp laptop and was wondering if i wanted to switch to linux. i dont like windows at all, but i need it for autocad. how do i install a free linux operating system and be able to choose if i want to boot up with windows or linux? also what do you guys recomend for linux first timers? ive heard that Mandrake is good, is that true? where do i get the softwhere (can you give me a link)? Thanks

Bill

Welcome to LQ!

There are quite a few questions there, but luckily, just about every single one has been asked and answered many times on this forum. If you use the Search feature for terms such as "dual-boot" or "autocad" I am sure you will find a variety of topics. Also check out the 'Distributions' forum and the 'Laptops & Hand Helds' forum for more information.

Do a bit of reading on this site and you'll be well on your way to figuring out not just what distribution is right for you, but also how to use it to fulfill your requirements.

Hi.
First of all, welcome here to LQ! I hope you will enjoy using linux.

I answered to a similar question (about distro choice) in an other thread, here. You can also read other members' recommendations, in that same thread.

Also, Mandrake isn't Mandrake anymore. It's now Mandriva.

Welcome...

The conventional wisdom is dual-boot. However, the virtualization solutions are now quite sophisticated and the next major system that I set up will be using virtual machines for everything except the host OS. I don't know yet If Windows will completely go out of my life by then. (It is rarely used now.)

The "getting started" link below might help.

Hi,

Welcome to LQ Bill!

You could try a LiveCD to see which distribution you might like.

This link and others are available from 'Slackware-Links'

If you search LQ for some of the 'keys' of your question, you will find a lot of posts that can steer you.