Linux dual boot questions.

[Tamashii]

Well, this is only my third post on this forum, and if you remember me, I was the one trying to build my new computer. Well, after some work, my new baby is complete, and I really love her. Thank you to whoever pointed me in the direction of CRT's. I got a 19" Samsung CRT, and everything looks sexy on it.

Anyway, with my new computer I've been doing a lot of downloading and installing to get her up to par with my last computer. And upon researching Linux, I decided it would be an excellent addition to my computer (I'd obviously keep WinXP for games.) Anyway, I believe I have a 9 GB partition left over, if I recall correctly, which would leave adequate space for Linux. However, before I make a threatning decision, I'd like to ask the experts a few questions.

1) Which version of Linux would you recommend for a first-time user? I've heard conflicting reports, but most people told me Mandrake 9.0/9.2. Would you agree?

2) How exactly to I set up the dual boot? Do I just download the program, and go through a wizard that explains the steps from there?

3) Will most of my programs disappear when I load Linux since they are MS programs (i.e. Word, Internet Explorer, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.)?

Thank you in advance to anyone that takes the time to answer, and I'm sorry if you get this question a lot.

[krohnjw]

1.) Yes
2.) The Mandrake installer will take care of it for you and load LILO, a boot loaded.
3.) Your programs (word, ie, explorer) wont work in linux, and you wont see them, but linux will have equivalents installed. You can get the entire office package, and IE working via crossover office, but OpenOffice 1.1 is a great office tool, and there are many browsers you can look into.

From a windows perspective windows will see no difference.

[Xeroid]

To set up a dual boot you just need some unused space on your hard disk. You could easily use the 9gb partition that is presently unused. Mandrake 9.0-9.2 would be an excellent choice to start with.

Part of the install process is to partition your hard disk for Linux. If you have an existing windows/s partition it will show up in the graph as blue. Make sure you pick the correct unused partition and you will be fine. Linux will want to load a bootloader in the MBR of your hard disk drive, let it. You can use Grub or Lilo as your bootloader. This will give you a menu when you boot that allows you to choose from Linux or Windows.

You will not loose your MS programs. Linux and Windows will be treated as 2 distinct operating systems unrelated to each other (other than windows shares which Linux mounts so you can access windows files while booted to Linux). During the install process Linux will recognize that you have windows installed and allow you to leave these files untouched.

[nukes]

1) Which version of Linux would you recommend for a first-time user? I've heard conflicting reports, but most people told me Mandrake 9.0/9.2. Would you agree?

Yes

2) How exactly to I set up the dual boot? Do I just download the program, and go through a wizard that explains the steps from there?

Mandrake will set all that up for you automatically. You won't have any trouble there. The whole install is a wizard.

3) Will most of my programs disappear when I load Linux since they are MS programs (i.e. Word, Internet Explorer, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.)?

You won't be able to run Excel or Access in Linux. It won't affect your windows install in any way though. There are office suites (Such as OpenOffice, K-Office and GNOME office) which will read and write MS Office files though, so you don't have to worry there.
It is possible to get these programs (With the exception of Access) running in Linux, using wine. But you can cross that bridge when you come to it. As to MSIE, you'll probably end up using Mozilla or Opera for Windows once you get the hang of them in Linux, so that won't matter for long.
Install it and Enjoy!