Hey if you want to get into linux a bit easier (without all those nasty console struggling, which can be down turning at first) I can really recommend WUBI (http://wubi-installer.org/<http://service.gmx.net/de/cgi/derefer?TYPE=3&DEST=http%3A%2F%2Fwubi-installer.org%2F>- Ubuntu Linux "Live") to you.
Wubi can be installed next to Windows (tried myself a while ago). It does so without affecting windows in any form, because it creates a virtual disk (somewhere on your normal hard-disk), thus there isn't any harm done to your regular windows installation. The only thing ALTERED is that Wubi needs to add GRUB bootloader to you Master-Boot-Record. (Which btw. can easily be restored with your windows installation cd/dvd) The advantage is that you have a (nearly) full speed, persistant (live CD sadly aren't ^^) grafical linux without affecting windows, without the need to use an emulator (like cygwin). The only downside is that hard-disk access is a bit slower due to disk-virtualisation... Thanks and Regards Bishal Pantha
