Inquiry

[squareyes]

Rev. Jason Jay White wrote:
> *To Whom it may concern:*
> ** 
> *I had a friend recommend that I go to http://www.ubuntu.com and 
> upgrade my desktop computer from Window XP to Linux* *OS**.  I went to 
> the website and it tells me to download an iso called ubuntu and make 
> a bootable CD from the iso.  I read the information on the website, 
> however, I have not been able to find anything that mentions the 
> Linux* *OS**.  Can someone please respond and let me know if this is 
> in fact Linux and if I do install it on my system will it wipe out my 
> old operating system or will I be able to uninstall it if it turns out 
> to be not for me.  Also, I have a lot of files on my computer, am I 
> going to have to back them up to DVD before installing the above 
> mentioned OS and will this OS have the drivers I will need for the 
> hardware on my computer?  Thank you for your time and I am looking 
> forward to hearing back from someone regarding this matter.*
> ** 
> *Respectfully,*
> ** 
> *Rev. Jason Jay White*
Hi Jason,
Ubuntu is a variety of Linux, arguably the most popular variety :-)
First you need to burn that iso as an image, Nero will do it. It will 
NOT work if you just write that iso file to disk.
When you have burned the iso to cd, open the CD and there should be many 
files on it. If there is only one, you have not burnt it as an image.
Second,  if you use the whole drive to install Ubuntu  all your data 
WILL be lost.
Check out    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot     will 
give quite a bit of information,or
In Google type Ubuntu dual boot and you will get heaps of info.

If you want to make your machine dual boot, I find it easier to 
partition drive first, defrag first and then make partitions.
You can download and burn to CD  "gparted live" cd, a bootable disk. The 
installer will allow you to partition during install, I just find it 
easier to do it before install.  Make the partition you want to install 
linux on  ext3 file system.

Hope this helps
Take Care
Winton