Here are my system specs: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 5.1.2600 Build 2600 OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation System Name 02X2VNOPFUS8LUB System Manufacturer TriGem Computer, Inc. System Model Emachines System Type X86-based PC Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 3 GenuineIntel ~631 Mhz BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies LTD Version 1.01, 7/5/2000 SMBIOS Version 2.3 Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS System Directory C:\WINDOWS\System32 Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1 Locale United States Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148)" User Name 02X2VNOPFUS8LUB\Kurt Semler Time Zone Pacific Standard Time Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB Available Physical Memory 283.72 MB Total Virtual Memory 1.72 GB Available Virtual Memory 1.30 GB Modem Conexant PCI SoftK56 Display Card Intel 810 Chipset Sound Device Intel 82801AA AC' 97 Audio Codec CS2499 Page File Space 1.22 GB Page File C:\pagefile.sys ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Am I compatible with Mandrake 8.1? Will I be able to use the internet? And will AOL work with Linux? That is my ISP, so I would like it to work, as I do not feel like chinging ISP's. Please help. Thank you.

Yep. Mandrake will work. You will just need to resize your Windows partition. And find the proper drivers for your modem. AOL doesn't have a Linux client yet(odd seeing as they have a Linux AIM), so that may be a problem. But just get Mandrake(you have AOL so I reccomend that you buy it, downloading would take forever), and install it by booting with CD number 1. Oh and about resizing your partition, if it is FAT32 Mandrake can do it for you; but if it is NTFS you will need to buy Partition Magic to resize it.

I run Mandrake on an older (400idx)emachine, and suggest NOT dual booting, since you will want a stable Windows setup to go online for Linux info while you get proficient. I use cheap Vipower hard drive swap racks in my comps so I can simply power down and switch drives. Hard disks are cheap now so I treat them like any other removable media. Dual booting is a PITA, since you may want to try a variety of Linux distributions. Conexant modems are evil,and while drivers may exist I suggest getting an external non-USB modem so you can use any operating system with no hassles. If I never ran Linux again I'd still run swap racks and "hardware modems".

Can I install Mandrake on my 2nd hard drive, an dual boot off of that? The 2nd hard drive is 6.34 GB. Can I just install Mandrake to that drive, and still have the choice of booting to windows and Mandrake? BTW, My windows martition is in NTFS, will LILO recognize it?

I think it's better to dual boot using two hard drives (I do). Just put XP on the master, and Linux on the slave. 6.3G is plenty for Linux.

Sounds good to me. I will set it up like that. Now I just have to wait for the CD's to get here. :) O yeah, Will Lilo recognize my drive that is in NTFS?

Good old lilo will recognize it! Wellcome to world of linux! "Dont throw your pc out of windows, throw windows out of your pc and use LINUX"