Ok im really new to linux and i decided to try the mandriva distro of linux. I downloaded it from the mandriva web site and i burned it to the cd. I boot from the cd and go through all the steps and then i am at the desktop. I click the live install icon and pick erase all partitions. I just want Linux on this computer and nothing else. After it is done formatting the partitions it freezes about 25% of the way through the install. I keep restarting the computer and retrying the install but nothing seems to work. Can somebody help me out??

First we need some specs on the computer, make, model, hd size, mem, cpu. Will it work as a live cd?

Try installing with "noapic" "nolapic". I am not sure how to provide these switches in the Live installer, but they are available in the regular installer. There should be a way to do it at the very beginning of the install process. Sorry I can't be more help, but I always use the cd sets or the dvd.