I got a new 250GB HD I have yet to touch. I will need to install windows xp on it, but I also want to learn linux finally! I have practically NO KNOWLEDGE whatsoever of linux. What file system does linux use? How much space will I need? Obviously I will need to partition the hard drive, but how much breathing space does linux need? What distro(s) should I use? I would prefer a free downloadable. How do I set up an OS loader for windows / linux? Also, it is ever possible to resize partitions without erasing everything? This would be very convenient. Any general tips for linux first timer or dual booting windows and linux?

I recomend installing Windows on the master drive and installing either mandrake or suse linux on your slave drive. Linux will then add Windows to your boot list. You can resize, but if you want to not delete or corrupt anything, I would check downloads.com for a partition manager that will relocate the data safely. Always check the manual first, Google helps too.

Install XP first and then Linux as the linux bootloader will automatically recognise the XP installation and add it to the MBR. XP does not recognise Linux During the XP installation you will be given the option to partition your hard drive.Allow approx 20Gb for Linux and the rest for XP (A full Linux installtion with all the trimmings normally needs approx 6gb, the rest is just breathing space just in case) As for the choice of Linux distro depends on individual taste. Suse, mandriva, Ubuntu, Mepis are all user friendly choices and all available for free download. Just head to www.distrowatch.com and take pick. If you need to resize your partitions without destroying data then you need to invest in third party software like partition magic, or Partion manager or maybe even BootitNG.

It seems like you are doing a clean install with a new drive. Is this your only drive? IDEAL installation: OSes on on drive, and data on another (formatted FAT32). This allows easy access to your data from either Win or Linux. Almost as good: Separate partitions for Windows, Linux, and DATA Clean install: Windows first--give it maybe 10GB Install Linux--create 3 partitions: swap 2X your RAM size root (/) about 10GB data--formatted FAT32--dont set a mount point yet Let it install the boot loader in the MBR. As part of this it should see the Windows install and put it on the boot menu. Option: to avoid any hassle if there is a glitch, tell the installer o put boot loader on a floppy. Once Linux is up and running, you can mount the data partition at a place of your choice---eg to a directory in your HOME folder Choose any FREE distro for starters--I like Ubuntu, but there are many choices Kicking the MS habit--they really ARE drug dealers

Thanks for all the suggestions. pixellany: this isn't my only drive, but my other drives are filled. I plan to move my data to my new drive after I've got it formatted, and maybe then I'll wipe the old ones and put the OSes on there. I think I'm going to install MEPIS. I made discs of it and Ubuntu. Is one better than the other? "Once Linux is up and running, you can mount the data partition at a place of your choice---eg to a directory in your HOME folder" How do I do that? I've never used Linux. So I *must* install windows first? Someone told me to install Linux first for the exact same reasons.

During a windoze installation your MBR (master boot record) is overwritten with no warning (thanks Bill!) and you will lose your GNU/Linux boot menu....which is the reason to install windoze first and then linux. As mentioned above a boot floppy can be of great use in case you need to reinstall windoze at a leter date. Most distros these days come with parted, a partition utility which allows for resizing....therefore no need to get a third party application like partition magic. NB Always back up anything important before playing around with partitions! Just to spark up the debate about how much swap you should have, 2 x RAM may be OK for windoze but not neccessarily for linux: http://wombat.san-francisco.ca.us/faqomatic/cache/53.html