to actually install ubuntu on the same hard drive as xp you have to set up a dual boot, you would have to create a partition for your ubuntu to live on, which entails using the partition program that is on the live cd, probably Gparted, you then make the windows partition smaller and from that new free space you create the partition for linux. This is the most dangerous part because if you do it wrong you can wipe out your entire windows partition, so it is usually best to get help from someone who has experience if you feel you are not up to the task. Once you have the partition set up the rest is basically naming the proper areas for your root, swap, what ever you want to set up. What happens after it is set up as a dual boot system is that when you boot up it will present you with a boot screen that lets you select which you want to boot to the xp or the linux. I bet there is a linux users group (LUG) around you somewhere, they are a great resource and very helpful to new linux users, in fact most have an install day about once a month or so where you can bring your computer up there to where they meet and they will help you do your install. Look up linux user groups on google and see where the nearest one is. I have ubuntu 7.10 and Mepis 7.0 dual boot system on one of my computers. I have not upgraded to ubuntu 8.04 yet because it is still a bit buggy, I am happy with 7.10 so will wait a while till some of the stuff gets worked out, like all new distro upgrades there is that break in period. What ever you do before you attempt to set up a dual boot with windows BACK UP every single thing, if possible do an image with Acronis True Image or some image program, because I have seen way too many people come crying to the linux forums about losing windows, be safe not sorry. I love linux I am using Mepis right now, I never surf the net on windows anymore, for day to day use I only use linux. this is a link to a good guide. Here is a link that might be useful: partitioning

If you are adept enough to install a dual boot setup with Linux, you certainly know how to remove trial and ad offerings that most new PCs ship with. No 'deptitude required. The Linux MINT installer told me it detected a Windows 7 installation and asked one question - whether to preserve the other OS or kill it - and created the dual boot installation for me when I said "preserve it". If I had not resized the slider, Win7 would have had half the disk, and Mint the other half. In my previous Linux experiences, most of the distributions assassinated the existing OS without asking permission. This refinement makes Mint a good distribution for anyone who wants to keep an existing Windows setup because they have some Windows-only software. Yes, removing the bundled "crapware" is easy. But, how would you remove the LENOVO ad that LENOVO inserted into the middle of the installation procedure? Without borking the install? It was a pointy-clicky minimal intervention required kind of installation, which is not true of all Linux distros. Mint is worth posting about in areas where novices hang out . Yes, I can get Libre Office, the GIMP, and all the rest for Windows by downloading and installing them ... the point is that I didn't have to. They "came with" the OS, as usual. Unless I need to do something most users don't, such as video editing, I had not only a working OS, but a system that could do real work with no further effort. Getting more software for Linux is usually just opening the software installer and clicking "Install" in what you want. I'm not sure what you've accomplished is an improvement and not just a change. Read the threads here about browser hijacking and viruses and malware and bad links and google for zero day exploits in Windows and IE. It's definitely an improvement, and perhaps knowing there is a easy to install Linux version out there may help someone get into a safer computing environment. Or update the OS on an old machine to get a couple more years out of it? Or get the whole office on a single OS without spending oodles of money? ========== NOTE: I'm a long-time Linux fan. The last Windows OS I installed as the primary OS on a personal machine was Windows 95, although various jobs have had Windows on the office computers. I have Windows only because some software I have to run can't work under WINE.

Please pardon this quick deviation. I've read this forum, off and on, for about 5 years. "majickmann" seemed familiar, but figured that it is German for "magic man", which is a long-time favorite song by Heart. Then, I realized that for the very reason above, I remember a majickmann that used to post to this forum. Are you the same person? I took your advice, ravencajun, to read the AVG posts. And, I must say that was an abrasive post by majickmann. So, majickmann, you certainly could have been nicer. "Blindly" was definitely crossing the line. But, I don't see what is wrong with the rest of his posts, including the two posts above. They have been polite and informative. In your post above, I had understood the links are to installation instructions for Kubuntu and Ubuntu 8.04. And, that "the distro number versions are out dated now since there is a new version". It seems very clear to me that there is a newer version Ubuntu (8.10), so I would want to download it. And, I could use the tutorials even though they were for the out dated version. Majickmann's reply was polite and provided an explanation about the two version of Ubuntu. While I understood what he said, just like on the Ubuntu pages, this is where majickmann probably should have explained the meaning of long term support. Because I did not understand why anyone would want to install an out dated version. So, I turned to my husband, the IT guru. (He really is.) Basically, my husband said that many people want the long term support version because the environment is stable and is supported for 3 or 5 years. That would be me. I don't want to "upgrade" every 6 months. The other people, for varying reasons, want to be "on the bleeding edge" or want the improvements associated with the newer version. So, they may upgrade or install the newest version as soon as it's available. So, the 8.04 version is actually the newest Long Term Support version while 8.10 is, for lack of a better term, the newest bleeding edge version. I'm confused with your last reply, for example, "I no where stated that the older versions were no longer available." You certainly did not make that statement, but, neither did majickmann. I hope each of you take my comments to heart. They are not meant to belittle anyone. Again, I find myself apologizing for the long winded post. But, it is my last post. espicer, I'm sorry we got so far off topic. I thought it would be good to contribute to the forum that has given me so much over the years. But, I now know that I'm just not a poster. It is too easy for misunderstandings over the simplest words or ideals. And, while I have the opportunity, thanks to everyone for the help and guidance over the past 5 or 6 years, especially cboy, mikie, owbist, majickmann, and most recently, ravencajun. Happy Holidays, Mimi

I just got a new hard drive installed in my main box to load the new Mepis8 distro on, I have been running Mepis Linux for years now and love it, one of the great things about Mepis is how well it will run things right out of the box. I have a dual boot box with an older ubuntu+kde and Mepis7 also along with boxes running xp pro, xp home, and windows 7. I think learning to use Mepis was easier than learning the new windows 7. I do not think there is an age limit or knowledge limit for using linux I know many seniors that have gone to linux so they do not have to worry about all those infection problems and looking for programs to protect them. In linux you can get darn near anything you need right in the package manager, if it did not come pre loaded on the live cd. the new linux distros are made for GUI use, use of command line is not as essential as it was. Some people want to learn command line and go on and on about using it, I have found that when I have a problem I can generally find a way to fix it with out command line. Plus the linux community forums are fabulous and helpful. I prefer using it because it is faster, has everything I need built right in, and it is safer. Is it right for everyone maybe not but same goes for new versions of windows or switching to Mac it all takes a new learning curve. I however do not preach linux, I think it is a personal choice but picking up a free live cd of a distro and putting into the cd drawer and running it on a pc is an excellent and safe way to see what linux is all about without touching their windows and with no install, just like playing a cd, and everyone should have a live cd in their possession for when they have a crash and need to access their info from the drive. We have many linux users here at GW, some decided to give it a try after seeing it mentioned here. I enjoy occasional conversations with others that made the jump.