Hi,

If you set up URPMI correctly, which is the tool used to update your installed distro, you won't get problems.
If you are a newbie don't try at first to install programs in another way than URPM I /RPMDRAKE, which, for
the latest is a gui tool to do the same things. Then you will be able to try to install from other sources,
but there are lots of RPMs (software) for Mandrake !!

Cheers

Mandrake 10.1 Official is ideal for a newbie. Lots of available programs
and even more once u update your sources. If you want a distro that you
dont really want to think about and get up and running quickly then this it.
I tend to try a lot of distros and I must admit it was the easiest for me.
Hope this helps.

maybe you should try knoppix, gnoppix or any *noppix. they can be installed to hd if you like them (they are live cd:s, so no risk in trying).
but i´d recommend debian with non-free, non-us and some custom repositories. it is definetly the choise that cannot go wrong.
just download the debian sarge netinstaller and try it. i repeat, netinstaller, not install cd:s. one cannot stress this too much.

Why so keen on automounting a win partition?

we can show you how to do it very easily. You can't write to a NTFS (windoze) partition anyway - just read from it (okay kind of).

There are hundreds of distro's out there - there is no list.

I would maybe try Mandrake, as it's nice and easy to set up. Not my cup of tea, but a good place to start.
I'm still learning Slackware after quite a long time. But i think I've gained a lot of knowledge along the way.

Espeically of the how do I get this xxxx card working etc... Although I like editing files as I use vi all day anyway..........

SuSe personal is easy to install. Do try knoppix before anything. I love knoppix. It's not even that slow off a CD!

Don't get hung up on this windoze partition thing.........

Just install Knoppix.
Problem solved, all hardware recognized, bunch of programs, easy to get more.

East or West SimplyMEPIS is the BEST!!!
I've found the IDEAL distro!
No one recommended me that....
And Mandrake and other RPM-based distros give probs I've heard..

SimplyMEPIS is the BEST!!!! YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!

But THANKS TO ALL OF U FOR UR KIND HELP & SUGGESTIONS!!

Take care
CoolBlue

Forget about all them. Slackware, Gentoo is not for a beginner. You'll put it on get frustrated and go back to windows. Fedora core is easy but a bit slow and you'll go back to windows. I say go with Mandrake, easy, but not as fast as slack or gentoo of course but you'll get there later.

Mandrake is free. I'm not sure if it has WINE on the cd but I don't know any distro that does. Just download it from wine site and install. That's not a big deal.

One note: Linux can only read NTFS and has limited write support no matter what distro you go with. I can only write to over a file and must write exactly the same size file and name. Also, NTFS support is a kernel module and can be put into any distro.

ANY Linux distro is free. The ones you pay for may be the ones best supported by the maker. I've downloaded 'Suse 9.1 personal' and 'Mandrake 10.1' FREE. If you want ease and cutting edge try 'Fedora Core 3', I'm a n00b and nothing has swayed me to change yet....well maybe Ubunto.

I see NTFS partitions, Fedora automounted my windows partition (vfat) and I've always had WINE. In almost ANY distro you can easily add components and programs. No offense, but it sounds like you are panicking and worrying too much, take your time with the disto's you tried (FC3) and you'll see it work pretty well. Linux ain't Windows