[Jason M]

How do i get Linux on my system? I'm running XP...Media Centre Edition?

[darrelljon]

Buy a Linux CD/DVD off the internet. Insert the CD/DVD, then reboot your computer. When the computer starts up, ensure it boots from the CD/DVD. On my PC, this involves pressing F11 to enter "boot up manager", then selecting CD/DVD. Running it "live" won't affect your system, but if you install it, it may erase your hard disk prior to installation (so back up your data).

[kpbotbot]

i found a way to retain my files... i agree you should always backup your files... it happened to me on my installation and that the format of my hard disk got "lost" and i cant mount it on my ubuntu os... just resize your partition/drive and DO NOT FORMAT WHEN "HE" ASKS YOU TO FORMAT IT (in the installation in live cd).

[xactly]

just make sure that the software and hardware you want to use is linux compatible.

[jameslee07]

It might be no use but i recomend keeping a partition for XP an dLinux in case you don't like the change or you need to use somethign on windows can run. Most distros have a partition editor with them (I know Ubuntu does which i reccomend for a beginner).

[freezeflamer]

Well I'm definately no Linux pro, but I would download the Ubuntu Linux Live CD, and install it, it's pretty straight forward and will step you through resizing your WinXP partition (or if you've got any other large partitions it'll safely resize them without destroying any data) to make room for Ubuntu Linux and it's swap file. I would back up your files just in case anything goes haywire, but I had no problems, I don't think you will. It'll then set up GNU/GRUB so that you can dualboot safely and choose between XP MC and Ubuntu at start up.

Ubuntu Linux is fairly compatible with any hardware you through at it, if the computer in question isn't fairly powerful (well it should be it's running XP MC ) then try Xubuntu.

[Tom Tiger]

I second that :-) Ubuntu is one of the easiest distros around. Otherwise you can also try Knoppix (www.knoppix.net)

[ashubetta]

Just download an .iso image of a good and easy-to-use Linux distribution that you want to try on your computer, burn it to a CD or DVD as a CD Image, insert the CD in your computer and retstart it. The Live CD will run and you can explore the Linux distro without affecting your existing OS in any way. If you really like it, then press the Install button that should be somewhere on the desktop and proceed as per on screen instructions. Some good Linux distros for Windows users are Ubuntu (recommended), Fedora Core, openSuSE, Mandriva One etc.

Note: If your computer doesn't run the Live CD after you restart, then you will have make changes in the Boot Order to give initial priority to your CD/DVD ROM drive. Press F1/F2/Delete to go to BIOS when your computer's in boot and make changes in the Boot Order there. Save the changes and then retstart again. You should NOT change anything else in BIOS as it may crash your system.

[smorris1969]

What is the time involved in doing the migration? I inserted the ubuntu CD and it's taking forever. It's on an older PC, but it was running 2000 Professional... not horrible performance, but a free pickup on freecycle and couldn't help putting Linux on it!

[Aners92]

You can either download an ISO file from the net, of which ever Linux you want, or order some of them. I don't know which you are able to order home, but I know i did it with Ubuntu.

When you put in the Live DvD, you will be able to start up linux from the DvD, so you can try it out before you chose to install it

But you can also do as me, if you got an old Computer take the Harddisk and use that to install the linux OS on, this way you won't lose any of your files on the XP machine. And still be able to use XP if Linux wasn't the right OS for you