Hello All, this is my first post, so bear with me, please.

I'm totally new to Linux. After installing new video/sound cards and RAM on my Windows XP machine, I decided to try to install a text-only version of Linux on an older PC as a project. (Eventually I'd like to be able to host my own web page, but for now, I'd just like to learn how to install Linux.) The older PC is a Dell, with a Pentium 500 Mhz, 128 RAM, about 8 Gig memory, running Win 95 (I think--that's what it says when it boots, but then it goes to a C:\ prompt).

I downloaded the ISO image files for Fedora 5 to my XP desktop, and tried burning the first one to CD using Nero--the "CD(Boot)" option. I'm not sure what my question should be, but basically, it won't boot on the Dell PC. I tried changing the BIOS (I think) by hitting F2 to go to setup, and switching it from Boot Hard Disk to Boot from CD, but when I put in the CD, as it is booting, it goes to a black screen with a flashing cursor and nothing else.

If I boot it without the CD, and then put in the "bootable" CD, and type D: dir, it tells me that it can't see anything on the CD other than the label.

I tried burning the first install CD without using the "CD(Boot)" option, and the Dell can see the contents of that CD as "F5 . . .ISO", but it won't boot from that CD.

Is it possible that the Dell won't boot from CD, even though it has the option in the setup of booting from CD? Or am I just not properly burning a bootable CD?

If it won't boot from CD, how do I go about creating a bootable floppy? I've read elsewhere that I can create the floppy using rawrite, but what programs need to be written onto the floppy to start the install?

THANKS very much for any help! I hope this isn't too long or complicated.

You need burn cd thru the Burn ISO Image option in NERO.

Thank You! It worked. That's step one, I guess.