I want to change my Windows XP computer to run on linnux mint cinamon. I ordered a disk from OSdisk.com and I don't know how to make it work. I put it in the CD rom drive and I can't make it do its' thing. PLEASE what do I do now????

welcome to lq... you will probably get more eyes on this question if you post it to one of the appropriate sub-forums.

if its an install disk you probably need to reboot the machine to get it to load. there may be a need to enter the pc's bios and set the cd-rom as the first item in the boot priority list (every manufacturer and model has a different method for accessing the bios).

good luck.

Thank you very much. That was the ticket. I am typing this while using the Linux Mint 16 Cinnamon that was subsequently installed. I thought I was going to cry for a minute. (Thank you)manytimesover.

Did you install or is it running live?

Am a newbie myself & am probably just a step or two ahead of you. Are you sure your machine w/ Windows XP has a drive that can read the "disk" you ordered? You did not say if the disk you ordered was a DVD. If the disk you ordered IS a DVD and your machine is older and only reads CDs, then it won't be able to read a DVD.
I have 2 desktop P.C.s. The older P.C. (still w/ Windows XP) has a CD drive, BUT its CD drive is only able to read CDs, NOT DVDs. To run a Linux distro, I had to download the distro (PCLinuxOS)and put distro on a flash drive. I then had to go into the computer's BIOS and set the computer to boot from USB drive. I have the flash drive containing the distro plugged into a USB port on my computer. After the P.C. boots to Linux, I have the option of running the distro live or installing the distro. So far, I have only run it live.
My slightly newer P.C. (which I upgraded to Windows 7 Home Professional from Windows XP) DOES have a CD/DVD drive which CAN read an installation DVD with distro. To obtain distro, I downloaded appropriate distro ISO and it copied onto the DVD I had in the CD/DVD drive (I have Roxio CD creator for Windows which made the process slick). Or, as you did, one could order a distro on a DVD. I have not yet run this DVD on this P.C.
Doing Linux is a learning curve, for sure, but then it also took time to learn to use a computer & Windows. :-) Good luck.

Well really for hardware look to see what or if wifi is uesd and your wifi hardware. some is easier than other.

place it in your computer and reboot the computer. if it is a live CD go ahead and try it.

so now you pushed try the OS and then like windows the menu it will not say start. it will be a menu. there you will find all your programs.

If you put it in your desktop and nothing happens it will not get you to the system then make sure you have bios set to boot from cdrom. many . Most computers have a F8, F10, or F12 at the boot(thats before the windows logo) that will give you an option to boot from cdrom.

i say its neat to boot off usb that must mean you can upgrade your optical drive to dvd or hd-dvd or dvd ram something dvd

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