Can anyone tell me a LINUX os that I can download and install on top of my XPsp3? I need something that will partition my HD and practically install itself, since I am truly new and want to start small, simple and easy with LINUX.

Hi,

you can download VMWare images of various Linux distribitions. Take a look here for example.

So you don't have to install, you can use it as you like and learn how to do. Another alternative is using live-cd distribition.

Google is your friend.

The normal advice is the try anything in the top 10 on the "hit list" at http://distrowatch.org I do not, however, recommend Arch for beginners.

I have installed andLinux, and am using it now. I have no idea how to deal with such things as a command prompt (Commodore 64 was the last time I needed such skills), so I hope you do not mind terribly if I rely on your generous collective wisdom to guide me into this exciting new (for me, anyway) world of Linux.

I attempted VMPlayer. It is installed, but the UBUNTU I downloaded did not take, nor did one other one. I followed the instructions, but no go. So I found this one, and all I know how to do with this is open Konqueror and get on the web. Which, admittedly, is tremendously more Linux skill than I had only moments ago.

To learn the command line, see the tutorials in my sig.

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To clarify: I assume you are still running "andLinux" (Ubuntu running on Windows---which I'm guessing is what the the WUBI installer was).

Keep in mind that this kind of setup can have quirks, since the guest (Ubuntu) has to work through the host (Windows). To get a complete picture of how Linux operates, I would suggest eventually installing it directly.

Regardless, please tell us any specific questions.

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You could try Wubi. It's a Windows program that installs Ubuntu so it can dual-boot with Windows. It's not a virtual machine - what it does is makes Ubuntu use a file on your Windows partition as though it were a hard drive. No partitioning needed.

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Good for learning linux too

If you have a few bucks, get a 4GB or bigger USB
do a full hard drive install of linux to usb
so, install to usb as you would to hard drive

If your Windows PC has alot of RAM, you could also
run Qemu, install a distro to qemu virtual hdd
and its like vmware but simpler for me

I can tell you how to do the full install to usb
you can also put a frugal distro on usb too

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wubi was part of that download. I will go out and grab a few 32GB memory sticks to play with more Linux products. As for the rest, I have to go on a trip, and may not be back online for quite some time. You have all been extremely helpful. THANK YOU!!!

Also I am holding off my questions while I study "ruteLinuxGuide. The information contained therein is amazing, and I am only a few pages into it. Plus, my questions I feel best reserved for when I put a partitioned or full Linux install on this or another computer. My end goal is to run Linux exclusively, as well as setup and manage servers for my brother's web solution company. Obviously, I have a huge amount of dedicated study and practice ahead of me. I shall patiently and relentlessly wade into this world. And I will have thousands of direct and clarification questions for you experts and practitioners of computing perfection.

I keep messing up command line inputs.

I have FLK and NT consoles, but I have no idea what the differences are.

Are there more distributions that install inside Windows?

What is the very best of all linux distributions for a beginner?