Linux Questions?

[Vyx]

I have a few questions about linux, as i am thinking about using it.

1. what are some good books on linux to help me learn to do lots of cool stuff?

2. i have 2 drives, a 120 with windows and a 20 that i am going to install linux to. windows is primary and linux is secondary. i want windows to start most of the time but i will use linux ocassionaly. how do i do this so i dont have to go the the bios and change the order of the drives around?

3. is there a best version of linux for beginners? i have been looking at redhat and mandrake but cant really tell any differences.

[washe]

2. Install linux, if you use lilo as the bootloader... open in /etc a file name "lilo.conf", search for "default=linux" and change it to "default=windows" (you will need to have supervisor privelegdes, open a terminal type su, and will ask for the password), after changing that save the file, and type "lilo".

Reboot and you will have the windows as default on boot menu..

3. Im using Mandrake 9.2 right now, this one is easy to install and work with, some people say that Suse 9.0 is really good distro for the begginer.. but you have to buy it.

They are some distros that can be run from a cd to test out, I think suse as a livecd version...

Note: Next time post any linux question in the linux section you will get better and faster answers..... lots of good folks use linux here in techimo...

[Redwolf]

Like MEEEE!

I've heard lots of good things about O'Rielly books but they seem to be geared to the more...uber-geek...of us. They do have some beginners books that have gotten high marks though.

http://www.oreilly.com/

[nukes]

1. what are some good books on linux to help me learn to do lots of cool stuff?

Most books on Linux will take you through the basics. I'll advise "Running Linux" from O'Reilly. They do some really good stuff.

2. i have 2 drives, a 120 with windows and a 20 that i am going to install linux to. windows is primary and linux is secondary. i want windows to start most of the time but i will use linux ocassionaly. how do i do this so i dont have to go the the bios and change the order of the drives around?

If you pick something like Mandrake or SUSE then the installer will handle this for you. If it doesn't, use what washe said.

3. is there a best version of linux for beginners? i have been looking at redhat and mandrake but cant really tell any differences.

Mandrake is more geared towards the desktop/newbie user. It has almost everything set up and working, whereas with RH you have to install extra bits like MP3 support etc. You won't go wrong with Mandrake or Suse. I'd say go for Drake atm, as you aren't familiar with it and probably don't want to spend much money on it atm.
Good luck and we'll all be here to help when you get it installed