Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Linux newbie seeking advice (aren't we all ?)

Jack Ruby · 11-25-2003, 01:43 PM

Hello. I'm pretty much your average 19-year old Windows XP-using geek and I've decided I'm ready to take the Big Step : I'm going to install Linux as a secondary OS on my new computer later this week. Problem is, I'm scared. Very scared.

I'm looking at a 160GB HD, which I would like to split up as follows : 40 GB for WinXP and Windows applications; 20 GB for Linux and applications; and 100 MB for storage and pr0n. I know how to make seperate partitions and all that, so that shouldn't be a problem.

The two only things I'm not sure about are which particular Linux flavor to choose, and the dual OS thing.

Last things first : can anyone give any advice about selecting operatings systems at boot time, and the best ways of doing this ? Ideally I'd have the PC boot into WinXP unless I ask otherwise (by pressing a key during boot or something).

And then my choice of Linux distribition. People who are clearly much smarter than me (the crazy guy who lives at the garbage dump and pees in a cup and throws it at you) have told me Mandrake 9.2 is a good choice, and after extensive research (typing "mandarke" in Google and pressing "I'm feeling lucky") I don't see anything wrong with it.

So I guess my question is, are there any specific dangers or other things I should be aware of, and which Linux distribtion do you suggest I use ? I've never seriously used Linux so it shouldn't be too hard to get into, yet I do plan to get better with it over time and, so help me god, actually become a true Linux geek one day. Any help is very appreciated.

11-25-2003, 01:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jack Ruby Psycho Location: Belgium	Linux newbie seeking advice (aren't we all ?) Hello. I'm pretty much your average 19-year old Windows XP-using geek and I've decided I'm ready to take the Big Step : I'm going to install Linux as a secondary OS on my new computer later this week. Problem is, I'm scared. Very scared. I'm looking at a 160GB HD, which I would like to split up as follows : 40 GB for WinXP and Windows applications; 20 GB for Linux and applications; and 100 MB for storage and pr0n. I know how to make seperate partitions and all that, so that shouldn't be a problem. The two only things I'm not sure about are which particular Linux flavor to choose, and the dual OS thing. Last things first : can anyone give any advice about selecting operatings systems at boot time, and the best ways of doing this ? Ideally I'd have the PC boot into WinXP unless I ask otherwise (by pressing a key during boot or something). And then my choice of Linux distribition. People who are clearly much smarter than me (the crazy guy who lives at the garbage dump and pees in a cup and throws it at you) have told me Mandrake 9.2 is a good choice, and after extensive research (typing "mandarke" in Google and pressing "I'm feeling lucky") I don't see anything wrong with it. So I guess my question is, are there any specific dangers or other things I should be aware of, and which Linux distribtion do you suggest I use ? I've never seriously used Linux so it shouldn't be too hard to get into, yet I do plan to get better with it over time and, so help me god, actually become a true Linux geek one day. Any help is very appreciated. __________________ You don't know what you don't know.