OK I'm tired of virus and malware threats on my WinXP system - my son told me about this Ubuntu Linux - so I'm planning to set up a dual boot system.

I'm hoping it's easy to do myself - with Linux mandrake {yrs ago} I could'nt figure out how to make my way around it.

anyway I plan to use Ubuntu for email & websurfing and win XP for my installed win programs and files.

Anybody have any input about Ubuntu or Kbuntu ?
{ ordered both of them}

I don't other than I tried to load a variant of ubuntu on XP home, booting off the CD and it never loaded and crashed the heck out of windows. I could only get to safe mode after that and had to reload windows. It could be that Acer has a hidden data area on the beginning of C: and didn't like something else writing to that portion of the drive.

I'd google for tips on loading the OS's and read others crash experiences before loading. It will save you a bunch of trouble.

be sure to backup before you mess with it.

Hi Jo55,

I've been using Ubuntu now for the last 15 months, for just the same reasons as you mention.
Very little problem setting up, though I had to ask my son for help to configure the boot loader so that WindowsXP was accessible, it was a simple case of editing the bootloader file and uncommenting the winXP line. You might want to have your son around, as you will probably need to partition and format your drives for linux. Always a good Idea to backup your WinXP data first, just in case it gets wiped.

I have hardly used winXP since, and by following instructions at the Ubuntu forums I was able to 'mount' the Windows partitions so that the data on there could be accessed. This is probably only possible if your windowsXP is Fat32, I dont think it will work for NTFS drives, maybe just read only.

I'm still using Breezy Badger, but will upgrade to Dapper Drake at sometime.

Good luck, and enjoy,
Jon

thanks leaf-
J

its in the new linux magazine for 10 bucks

I got ubuntu & kubuntu from amazon.com
a live DVD {bootable for use or you can install it}

9.95 each

Whoo Hoo!

After another crash with win XP{partially my fault - this time}

I finally got a wireless adapter card that works with winxp and Linux

I am using it right now!!

Happy dance happy dance

D-Link WDA - 1320

works easily for Linux Kubuntu and most likely Ubuntu too.

Well done, Jo.
Glad you've got it all set up and working.