I fancy giving linux a try, I dont want to remove windows so a CD based version would seem ideal. I am downloading Knoppix.

Is this the best one to try? It is coming down as a winrar file, how do I transfer to CD?(suspect just extract to D

Any other comments/recommendations?

Thanks
Mark

Extract the rar files, its normally a iso format which you just burn with something like nero.
I can recommend knoppix its very helpfull

[Edited on 9/1/07 by jonno]

[Edited on 9/1/07 by jonno]

I thought that Ubuntu was fairly good although program compatability was a problem for me

Download knoppix, then download 'burn4free' which will burn iso files.

To check if its burnt the image file check the directory, if you see *.iso then it hasnt burnt, if you see multiple files then its burnt and is bootable

Knoppix is good, but for a first distribution I would personally go for Ubuntu - I think its a bit more user-friendly. If you download Ubuntu 6.1 ("Edgy Eft", or some such name!) you'll find that it can also run as a live CD, leaving your existing Windows system untouched.

If you like it, it can shrink the Windows install on your hard disk, and make room to install itself on your hard disk. Then you can choose whether to boot Windows or Ubuntu from your hard disk when you start your machine up.

Cheers
Richard

Have a look at PCLinuxOS HERE
It downloads as an ISO file and burns with PC software (Nero).
It runs straight off a CD.
It must be easy Coz I did it

Place for Linux links is here http://distrowatch.com/

Knoppix will run on just about any hardware you throw at it, it was a true mile stone in Linux development but it is really a Live CD and although it will easily install to hard disk it really isn't the best hard disk linux install.
Like most Linux distros It normally downloads in ISO file format -- I wouldn't normally expect to down load it it compressed into a rar file. Normally you just download the iso image file and burn stright to CD.

For a hard disk install try any of these distros - most like Ubuntu and Knoppix are based on Debian.

Mint Linux --- Ubuntu but with all the multimedia and USB stuff you need.

Kanotix --- an improved Knoppix but optimised for a hard disk install.

Mepis Linux -- now just a tuned for desktop version of Ubuntu


PClinuxOS --- not debian based but very very good

Yoper --- not debian based but very leading edge and very fast.



[Edited on 10/1/07 by britishtrident]

All the ones I've used have downloaded as .iso images and burnt straight to cd. I try them on an old pc upstairs and haven't swapped over to linux but have thought about it. I have a live cd but unless your computer is very fast it will take a long time to run from it and disk accessing is a pain.

I run knoppix on a 233mmx laptop with 32 meg of ram and its great
I aslo run ubuntu dapper drake on a p3 with 256 mag ram.

The ubuntu live CD is fine but needs at least 128 meg to run.
Edgy eft ubuntu is supposed to load up and shutdown quicker.
xbuntu is better for older hardware as it uses less resources using the XFce desktop.
Knoppix also uses an old version of the XFce desktop.
The instructions for installing both versions to Hd are on the live cd's

good luck

allan

Knoppix and Kanotix are the only live CD Distros I have found that work at usuable speed without doing an HD install.