Lunix Newb Here

[Tfast500]

Just wanted to say hello and I will be getting to know a lot of you and these forums starting today ...

Currently I am downloading Linux fedora i386

* Hope that’s a good one?
* Also hope that’s the right thing?
* i386 is Intel compatible I think? I have Intel Duo Core CPU
* got to figure out how to install it still and work with it. I never have seen Linux before and have no clue on how to use it

As you can see by now I am the newb of all newbs i am the Super Newb

Any suggestion or comments are welcome
Any advice is encouraged!

looking into it more I like the look of Freespire
Also i seen that most people think Ubuntu is the best for newbs hmm now im stuck on what I want or if I should just go with Fedora

[valemon]

Welcome to LinuxForums and Linux Tfast500. Latest fedora release is 8 and is a pretty good distro. Your processor is ok with i386 installation disc. Have a look here about CPU naming. Also have a look here for a fedora installation guide.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums, Tfast500!

Fedora is probably as good as any to try for starters.

Just burn the ISO file to a disk (be sure to burn as an image), put it in your CD/DVD drive, set your machine to boot from the disk in the drive, and reboot your machine. The installation is pretty much automated, so just follow the prompts during the installation.

Don't hesitate to post new threads with any new questions that you might have.

[Tfast500]

Thanks guys i will take a look at the links.. do i need any special program to burn the iso to a disk such as magiciso or poweriso?

[oz]

Here's a HowTo for making sure you properly burn the ISO file to the disk as an image.

Regarding burning apps, you can use any burning app you want as long as it burns the file as an image. Be sure you don't make the disk bootable, because the ISO burning process takes care of that step automatically.

Have fun with Linux...

[Tfast500]

I decided to go with Ubuntu and Im in the middle of installing it and it wants to know how i want it to partisan my hard disk

i want to run a dual boot setup i have 250 gig hard drive and have windows xp

what way should i go? i want to have enough space to keep using xp and enough space to dink around with Linux

[oz]

You probably won't need much space for Linux.

I usually make my partitions something like the following:

/ (about 8 to 10 GB, ext3)
swap (about 512 MB, swap)
/home (about 8 to 10 GB, ext3)

You don't have to make a separate /home partition, but there are advantages to doing so. Be sure you don't let the installer take your entire drive for Linux.

Good luck with your installation.

[Tfast500]

Ok so i am a little confused i have these choices

Guided - resize SCS17 (0,0,0), partition #1 (sda) and use freed space

Guided - use entire disk

Guided - use the larges continuous free space

Manual

Guessing manual

Manual screen comes up and says:

/dev/sda
/dev/sdal  ntfs  /media/sdal    250048MB   112800MB
free space                           8MB

Do I click the /dev/sdal ntfs /media/sdal one and edit this one ?
Guessing thats my hard disk but whats the other ones mean?

Assuming once more that I do click the /dev/sdal ntfs/media/sdal
A new window pops up and says

New partition size in MB: should I Change too (229544)
Use as: Leave same?
Mount point: Leave same?

Then open free space which will be now 20512

Then out of the new free space make my new partition?

Do i make them Primary or logical? whats does both mean? and to i put them at beginning or end?

Thanks for your help like I said this is all new to me and I don't want to rush it so asking as many questions as I can.

[darkrose0510]

The easiest option for your first install would be to choose the first option:
Guided - resize SCS17 (0,0,0), partition #1 (sda) and use freed space

The Ubuntu installer will then resize our windows partition, and partition the free space for / and swap... so you pretty much won't have to do anything but sit back and watch.
This is what I've always done when dual booting Ubuntu with windows.

You should be able to click on Back and start partitioning again.

[devils casper]

I would suggest you to create partitions before starting installation. GParted Partitioning Tool is available in Fedora Installation CD/DVD.
Create two ext3 and one SWAP partitions as suggested by ozar in post #7 and start installation. Select Manual Partitioning and assign / and /home mount points to two ext3 partitions. Installer will detect SWAP itself.

Good Luck !