[janlafata]

Problem is I don't know yet what I want to dual boot with. I'm thinking about the Windows Vista Beta because that's hot right now, but after that expires I'd like to try a nice Linux version. Here again though, I don't know which version is best. Awhile back, on another machine I installed Red Hat Linux but I couldnt figure out how to get on the internet. I also tried unsuccessfully, Linspire. So besides needing to know which would be a good linux for me to run (and also where to download it) I also would need to know just how to setup a dual boot. I've never done it before!

[lynch]

I don't know which version is best.

That's really up to you to decide. Everybody here has a favorite (or two) that they think is best.

[saikee]

Don't think it matters at all.

Linux has two main boot loaders of Lilo and Grub.

Laterst Lilo can boot 27 images while sky is the limit for Grub.

Generally Grub is easier becuase Lilo needs a revalidation (by just running lilo command again) every time its configuration file /etc/lilo.conf is altered. Grub's configuration file is always /boot/grub/menu.lst.

Both boot loaders need 2 to 3 lines of text for booting an additional system.

[Uth233]

As Lynch says everybody has a fave distro mine is Ubuntu u can get info & d/l's here http://www.ubuntu.com/
As to dual booting if u have WXP now do this in this order
1) select a distro download 1st the live disc if they have 1 on Ubuntu the live cd has an install option
2)burn it to a disk, it must be an iso!
3)try it out on the live 1st if u don't like it leave that distro if u like it goto 4
4)download the install disc if u hadn't already
5)Defrag Windows! that's important!
6)start>restart
7)place the install disk into ur PC before WXP boots
8)follow the prompts write down your username & password then the distro,
Ubuntu in my case, will show it self & be ready to use.

After that you'll see the grub screen where you'll have a choice of which OS u want Linux distro or WXP if u let run it'll always take the linux 1st just use the arrow keys to select WXP. Hope this is what u were after.

[JStergis]

or you can go to shipit.ubuntu.com and they will send you a CD or 10 for free.

Kubuntu is a KDE based Ubuntu,instead of Gnome. (kubuntu.com) For CDs on that it's shipit.kubuntu.com

My favorite is Kubuntu, but Ubuntu is great too. That's what I'm running on my server.