Newbie needs HELP

[Uncle Bob]

Is there an instruction manual for the Mandrake install? Some thing that would lead me by the hand through the steps one-by-one? I've tried once
to install Mandrake 10. My SATA controller apparently isn't compatible. I
will go back to IDE. There was a lot of info I was to type in, but I had no
idea of what was being asked. I'm an old cout, and some times we learn
a little slower, but I am able to learn. At the present I'm using XP. Will
Win 98 SE or Win 2k duel boot with Mandrake? My goal is to have an OS
I can use to go "on line" to get help with Linux until I can learn enough
to dump Windows all-together.

[jrmontg]

I have installed WinXP and Mandrake 10.1 on the same SATA Drive with no problems.

What questions are throwing you off?

[Uncle Bob]

Mostly the stuff about my internet. My host, IP address. I'm on cable. I've
not had to know this before. I just hook up the modem and router, fill in
my E-Mail and I'm there. The hand-holding manual is one way I find I can
learn the most from. Remember I'm a dumb-ol' fa&t. This is how I
learned Win 98SE. I was able to build enough knowledge to do just about
any thing I needed to do. The move to XP was easy. Now I would like to
move to fulltime Linux.

[Uncle Bob]

I have installed WinXP and Mandrake 10.1 on the same SATA Drive with no problems.

What questions are throwing you off?

Which would you install first? Does XP require "C" drive?
I don't think the SATA drive was the fault. I do not have onboard SATA.
I have a controller card for SATA (not a raid)

[jrmontg]

For the internet it souds like you use dhcp. Select that option. Of if you are in windows, do a ipconfig to find your Ip info.

With windows installed you will have to partition your hard drive.