First of all I'd like to say how glad I am that this site exists!!!!! My question is how do I have Linux and windows on the same computer? My second is what is the best way to get Linux and if I download it how do I install it?

Thanks in advance!

Matt

Let me say at the outset that my total experience with Linux has been limited to Mandrake 7.1.All I can do for you,is recount how I did my installation.
1. From Win98,I did a hdd scan with Norton DiskDoctor(you can do the same w/scandisk).
2. I then ran Speedisk(a defrag utility)
3. I used PartitionMagic 5 to set up an ext2 and swap partition.PM will prompt you to make a linux swap file and,depending on the amount of ram you have,suggest the proper size of the swap partition.
4. I used DriveImage to make backup cd-rs of all my windows partitions,just in case.
5.Before installation,I checked all my hardware against the Mandrake Hardware Compatibility List.Go into Win98 Device Manager>highlight computer>click print and get a system summary.
6. After checking h/w I restarted the computer and went into setup and verified that my cd-rom was the first boot device and,most importantly,that Plug N Play was disabled.I exited setup,saving the changes,rebooted the computer with the Linux installation cd in the cd-rom.
7. I chose to do an automatic install and besides being asked to choose a language,a keyboard ,at the end (and this is IMPORTANT!),you must designate where to install the bootloader:install it on MBR.
Everything on my system worked and Xwindows configured itself pretty well considering the Voodoo card is iffy on any O/S. You'll want to get the dns names and mail and news server names from your ISP in order to configure kppp so you can go online but there is a good doc called the "kppp handbook" that will help alot in setting up your internet.
Hope that this helps and Im sure if I've forgotten anything, the mods and gurus on this board will say so.
Good luck.
lynch

[Edited by lynch on 11-05-2000 at 05:27 PM]

Thanks!
 

Thanks a lot! That's Great! Just one last question! Is Partition Magic free? if so where can I get it? If not have you any idea how much it costs?

PM is not free,I'm sorry to say.I got my copy at a discount when I bought a UPS. If you buy the retail version of Linux-(the Mandrake 7.1 complete can be found in boxes marked as 7.0 in walmarts for $25)-it has a limited version of PartitionMagic and BootMagic included.The full version of PM is worth having,though,if you're like me and you fool around inside your computer alot.It supports quite a few file systems and has a lot of useful utilities that come with it.
It retails for $45-$65us.Most copies of ver5.0 are discounted now to clear the shelves for ver6.0.hth
lynch

Good Morning
The advice that lynch gave was great. It is important to do a backup of important things before you begin. Another utility that comes with most distros is fips. I have used it a couple of times. It is not any where near as slick as PM is, but it does the job and is free. If you use it to just create a partition for Linux, it works well, but FOLLOW the INSTRUCTIONS. You must defrag your drive before you begin. If you are looking for something that is free, fips will work, if you have a few bucks, PM is just the ticket.

free partition software
 

Find FIPS, I think its a little old but it worked for me. It's mentioned in this document.
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/Linux+Windows-GUIDE/