how do i install linux I've tried using the ram.bat file from vector armed and peanut and it doesn't do anything and wot would be the best distro to use as i know NOTHING about linux what it does or anything like that i just wanna get away from Microsoft

Hi, and welcome to LQ ...

As for the choice of a distro: that's hard to say without
knowing more details. And it has been asked quite often
here, too. Maybe if you try the search-feature?



Cheers,
Tink

If you want a big full install then mandrake.

Best to try a bootable CD like knoppix and see if you like linux.

where do i get knoppix from. and ill add my comp details when i get home. is mandrake easy to use oh and ATM im usin win XP

you can find more information about linux distributions from http://www.distrowatch.com/
And you can download Knoppix here: http://www.knoppix.org/

Just my suggestion: try mandrake first to get yourself familiar with linux. Then either stay with it if you like it, or switch to other distro like Slackware, Debian, Gentoo, etc.

thanks man ima havin a look @ the 2 sites that u posted

Be ready for some pain if you intend to install Gentoo. It's not the easiest item to install if you do not want to use its default parameters, ie desktop usage. There's also the fact that you will need to install those programs that you want to use. If you don't have any idea as to what program does what, then you will have a major problem, as Gentoo requires you to install most if not all programs and applications from scratch.

Suggest that you stick to easier and GUI related distributions, such as Mandrake and Suse, or Debian (though this is actually a hardcore user distribution, it is slowly becoming much easier to use. If you use this as your first distribution you'll probably swear by it once you become familiar with it) and lastly though I really loath to say it RedHat Linux or Fedora Linux.

Lastly, be ready to spend a lot of quality time learning up on Linux and it quirks as well as reading reams and reams of online manuals, as it is not as intuitive as you might like it to be.

Cheers.

thanks for that ill keep that in mind

ack if theres one thing you should learn before installing linux it is always consult the google gods! just google knoppix to find it..... if you dont use google, linux will be even more frustrating than it is..... just a tip

cheers

thanks that has helpd out heaps

I asked that same question, no one will answer it. It is all a matter of opinion. You could go to http://www.distrowatch.com or http://www.linuxiso.org . What kind of distro do you want? Live CD, Source based, desktop, minimalist...

Live CDs:----------------Source based:-----------Desktop:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Knoppix -----------------Gentoo--------------------Mandrake
Morphix -----------------Sorcerer-------------------Slackware
Jollix---------------------Source Mage--------------Lycoris
PLD Live--------------------------------------------Suse
Mandrake Move-------------------------------------RedHat
XoL ------------------------------------------------Fedora
NavynOS
Slax


It just goes on there are over a thousand linux distros. It all comes down to what you like...