Hi. First of, i have questions concerning 64 bit Kubuntu. Will I have compatibility with everything 32 Kubuntu can run? I have an ATI card, will I have to find special drivers, or will the 32 versions work too?

And installation...I tired installing (regular) Kubuntu, and when at the partitioning screen I choose manual (since I have a partition set up for it) and I highlight the partition, then click next and a message apears saying something like "No root system is selected. Please correct this at the Partitioning menu." Can anyone help on this?

If I am not mistaken, 64-bit systems will run 32-bit applications. On the other hand, there may not be any real benefit in installing the 64-bit version.

I don't think video cards care about 32 vs 64 bit.

I can't remember the details, but somewhere in the installation steps you have to specify which partition will be used for / (root). Maybe you need to select the partition and then "edit" or something similar.

Thanks for the quick response.

I don't quite understand what you mean by "specify which partition will be used for / (root)". Do I have to know where in the hard drive exactly where to put it? Sorry, I'm new to Linux and am very confused.

Linux has a filesystem which begins with "/" ( AKA "root") This is roughly analogous to the C:\ drive in Windows.

To install or use any operating system, the disk partitions must be mounted (connected) to the filesystem. In Windows, the user is protected from such details.

During installation--unless you allow the installer to do things automatically--you have to specify which partition will be used for the main filesystem---ie which partition to "mount" to /

You will read all manner of things about installing Linux on multiple partitions---when starting out, IGNORE THIS. You only need two partitions: 1 for /, and one for Swap space.

Ah ok, thats a bit clearer. So I have a new question then:

I have a 216 GB partition on this hard drive (another 10GB one for windows XP that I will not touch). And since you say that I need a Swap and a root partition, what would be the best way to resize that partition. And, how do I resize and make another partition?

*Bump

Any takers?

If you have a partition you are not using, just delete it during the install process--then create the ones you want. It sounds like you have ~250GB total. I would give 10G to Windows, 10G to Linux /, 1GB to swap, and maybe 50G to shared data. Leave the rest empty (unpartioned) for future changes.

I you want to play with partitions before installing, then get GParted--it may already be on your live CD--or you can download it and put it on a stand-alone boot CD. GParted has full capability, including resizing.

Kubuntu comes with Qtparted which is the same thing

Alright thanks guys, now to attempt to find Linux drivers for my motherboard lol.

I don't think you need to find any drivers for your motherboard (maybe wifi)- everything should be on the Linux installation disk already.

You can get Gparted, pmagic, or System Rescue CD at www.distrowatch.com. All three will do a good job of partitioning. Pmagic is just a better (IMO) version of Gparted.
Back up your Windows stuff in case you mess up on partitioning.
Have you thought about using a second harddrive for Kubuntu. This will keep you from borking your Windows stuff as you won't be messing with that drive. The installation procedure is about the same as with one drive. You just have more freedom to mess up without ruining the other OS. Keeping the OS's on two different drives is the best way to go (IMO).

not really, its not really that hard to have two operating systems on one harddrive, you just have to be careful in the paritioning, and not be an idiot

I was merely showing someone an alternate way of accomplishing the task he requested help for. A Newbie might, unintentionally, screw up something if it is on the same drive he is working with. A second OS on a second drive lessens the chance of that.
I do not consider Noobs or Newbies idiots. I am not so far above the newbie stage myself for that.