Help with Switching from Windows

[Jason Crain]

Matthew Bartek wrote:
> Hello and good afternoon.
>  
> I apologize if this question is very basic and is getting sent to many 
> people as I am new to Ubuntu and to this listserv. I am trying to 
> switch from Windows (read: liberate myself) and I ahve downloaded the 
> iso file, verified it using md5sum (spelling?), and have tried to 
> create a bootable cd, but it hasn't worked. While this problem could 
> be with my computer (the computer that I want to load Ubuntu onto is 
> basically broken--I tried to reset the boot order, but it said 
> "operating system not found" unless I allowed it to boot from the hard 
> disk), I am wondering how to check to see if the cd that I created 
> from teh iso file will actually work. I actually made two: one using 
> the windows XP cd burning system, and one using Nero. For the windows 
> disc, I dragged the file into my CD drive and then clicked on: "burn 
> disc". For Nero (I have version 7), I followed these instructions: 
> http://www.bay-wolf.com/burnimage.htm
>  
> Still, when my put the cd in my computer and try to boot from it, it 
> fails. Any thoughts?
>  
> Any help is appreciated.
>  
> Thanks.
>  
> Matt
While windows is running, what do you see on the disc?  You should see 
several files, and it may autorun a "Welcome to Ubuntu" program.