My only experience with Linux is to run the Knoppix LiveCD yesterday. It went well and almost everything worked out of the box. I was on the Internet with 2 minutes.

I'd now like to install Linux on to my HDD. I have an Acer Laptop with a 64 bit AMD / 1Gb RAM / 100GB HDD. The HDD is partitioned C: 45Gb with XP Home D: 45Gb with XP 64 and an hidden partition for XP restore.

Can I install Linux on either C: or D: as Windows already offers a dual boot option on start up (ie XP Home or XP 64).

What's the recommended size for a Linux partition (I can have up to 20Gb on each drive). And which distro would make it easiest! I'm considering the latest SUSE (v10.1).

Any help much appreciated.

You *cannot* install Linux (any Linux) into your Windows partitions. Whatever is in there will be overwritten, and completely lost.
You need some unallocated space (outside of those partitions). You will have to resize one (either will do) of them to free up some space - 20Gig will be plenty.

I wouldn't recommend Suse to my worst enemy. Others appear to like it.

Many thanks syg00. I will try to resize my XP 64 Partition and install there.