Regarding Linux...

Normally you would want to put Linux on a different partion than windows. This can be a partition on the same or different drive. In some earlier versions of Linux you could actually put it on the same partion as windows but I never tried it and it may not be a good idea. If you don't have any free space (non-partitioned to put Linux on you can use a patition resizer like Partiton Magic to make the space

Oh, and on your switching question, Mandrake will install a boot loader to allow you to choose which OS to boot. But don't skip making a boot disk!

What you will download will most likely be a disk image. You burn it as a CD, make yourself a boot disk, and install it just like windows. If you do a bit of research, you might find that you can install over a network if your network card is supported.

It doesn't work the same way as windows, so there is no way to leave your filesystem intact like upgrading from one windows Flavor to another. Consider it a clean format and install. If you decide to, make sure you go through and list all the hardware you have installed, and make sure it is compatable, and that there are no 'issues' with the Linux drivers that you might find annoying.

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as was said, you can install it on a separate partition than windows and make a dual boot machine. If you don't have the partition already made, I would strongly advise a clean format and install for *both* partitions. I know people who have tried to partition a system while keeping the original partition's information intact, and they have often been disappointed with the result.

Oh, and it was also mentioned on another thread that some ISPs require connection software that isn't made for Linux. You might wanna check that too if you run such stuff.

I don't know if it is in the newer versions, but in 8.0, they had a system included that would let you run Mandrake from the Windows partition. It was called "lnx4win". Easy to set up, but a little slower than a Linux native partition. Might want to check it out.

MotoHota... you are the fellow who does not know how to edit his system.ini file from a Dos prompt... I would strongly urge you to stay away from linux. I quote "Does it automaticly replace Windows?" no the ISO must be burned to cd then you can boot from the cd to begin the install... a floppy boot is only required if your bios does not support booting from CD. Mandrake is a good choose for beginners but not fool proof... it has PPPOE built into it so you can connect to DSL right from setup (bakerstreet this feature was in linux b4 XP). It also supports cable internet and endless amounts of generic modems...

Litestep is easier to run Moto, tread carefully or you may find yourself with an empty harddrive... remember rtfm.

§tatic: "bakerstreet this feature was in linux b4 XP"

...

actually, like I was saying about the floppy, if your network card is supported you don't necessarily have to burn it. You can do a network install. Did I say anything about XP? *boggle*

I hope I haven't given the impression I am some kind of XP freak... I use win2000

No I wasn't picking just pointing out that linux has what it needs to connect to most ISP I mentioned XP because it support PPPOE as well ... was just letting you in on that. "Oh, and it was also mentioned on another thread that some ISPs require connection software that isn't made for Linux. "

sorry for the wrong impression...

LMAO I'm sorry. it has been an odd couple of days here... My fault.

The idea I got from the guy was that you could only connect to that ISP with their own proprietary software. It would be odd, but that was what he seemed to be saying. Like it had to handshake or or something. I had never heard of needing any kind of special software to connect. I haven't needed it for dialup or dsl, but I guess if they say he needs it...

Well anything is possible. I've yet to hear of some proprietary protocal for a consumer ISP connection. DSL uses the PPP OE and most ppl don't realize you could use any PPP OE connection software... all you need is your user info and in some cases the domain name.

MotoHota, when you download linux from a linux site, it dasn't replace windows. You should be able to start it from you pc, and only if YOU say install it will replace windows.
Its also possible to run 2 os on your comp, but that gets more complicated.
If I was you I should switch to linux imediatly, its really nice and you can build it up from the kernel (if you wish ofcourse )

What was mentionned in another thread is that certain free or cheap ISPs such as Juno require that you run their software in order to connect to the Internet. That software sits on your desktop and serves your nice little ads for your viewing pleasure (*cough*). Anyway, those proprietory software don't work on Linux, therefore ISPs such as Juno do not support Linux.

Juno was one of the names I heard of too as far as being propritary(sp) on their connection sw. To be honest tho so many decent inexpensive ISP's that do provide good service/cost ratio out there that I truly dont understand why Ad serving ISP's are still so popular. Think I'd go insain if I was force fed ads all day while online hehe.

MSN and AOL also require proprietary software. I hate MSN and AOL equally because the software they force on you is designed for the dumb.

Speaking of GUIs for the dumb, after I got past the ooh and awe of XP's new interface when I first switched from ME to XP, I started to see how dumbed down the new GUI was. I like Stardock products and other skinning apps because I can make XP's appearance less insulting to my intelligence.

I was never able to get comfortable with the 'new and improved' interface in XP either, jj. I don't know if it's because it's been 'dumberized', but I will likely never use it (Win2000 --> Longhorn, for me). I recently bought a Dell laptop that supports nothing but XP and had to void my warranty just to get 2000 on it.

I wonder if I voided my eMachines warrenty when I repartitioned my hard drive and added Linux to the new partition I created for it. I still use the OEM version of XP that was included with my system for my Windows OS.

Dell, use to make Linux Workstations for their business customers, but they stopped doing that and have been Windows only ever since.

i suggest if u zare going to try linux on ur main computer, u might wanna try it on an old system u may have sitting around, mainyl because, linux isnt exactly easy to get used too, they have made alot of improvements from years ago, but u still need to get familiar witht he way it works. It works ina way different way than windows.

SHC...that's a horrid bit of English....

Was that really English?

Nah, I think it was Canadian, though there was no 'eh?' at the end.

Nah, he's been corrupted by American English since he exiled himself to the south, huh?