I have been doing as much searching as I can on the subject but cant seem to find the right answer. I have been finally convinced to use Linux at work but I need XP also for things. I have a P-IV 3ghz HP laptop with windows xp pro on it now. I have went through all the instructions on how to create a second OS on this (disk clean up, disk defrag, backup, etc) I have loaded Partition Magic 8 on here and have started the process of adding Mandrake Linux 10. I downloaded the three iso files online and have copied them to cd. What I am worried about is the cd does not appear to be bootable. Everywhere I read says it should be, but I have tried on three different computers and it will not boot from the cd. Before I go forward I want to make sure it is bootable so I dont mess up my laptop. I just used Easy CD creator 5 to make the cd. Is there some option somewhere I am missing that will make the cd bootable? I just did a regular data cd. Any suggestions on what I am doing wrong or how to make the cd bootable? Thanks!

Welcome to LQ!

You must create a bootable cd from the iso image. There are
instructions for Easy CD Creator at LinuxISO.org

If you view the CD and all you see is a single ISO file then you did not burn it correctly.

http://www.linuxiso.org/viewdoc.php/winoncdrwin.html

Thanks guys that worked, Sorry never dealt with iso files before. Thanks again!

Something else I forgot to mention. When you get the file, there will
also be a md5sum associated with it. Download this file, too. That's
used to check your iso image to be sure it's not corrupt. You can
find instructions for checking md5sums at LinuxISO also.