[blh102444]

If I run Linux from a disk will it mess up my WinXP in any way? I don't want to mess it up until I get used to Linux.

[Elvandil]

Are you talking about running Linux from a Live CD? If so, if you don't write anything to the drives, it won't hurt XP.

But there are 2 other alternatives. You could install VirtualBox and run Linux right inside XP. Make it full screen and you would not even know the difference.

Or, you could use WUBI which is a fantastic app that lets you install Linux inside XP just like it was another program. You can actually run both at the same time with either one of these methods.

Ubuntu running inside Vista:

[littlekira]

You can also boot off of a Knoppix CD and you will have a functional Linux OS while leaving your Windows intact.

[littlekira]

Here's where you can get a Knoppix Live CD to boot from:
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html