What is the best version of LInux and where can I download it?

Also, how does dual booting work and how do I get it? Is it like having 2 different computers or can I access what I have on Linux on my current OS Vista and vice versa?What is the best version of LInux and where can I download it?
I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 7 Main Edition which is Ubuntu based. Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint has a feature called mint4win based on the Wubi installer (Ubuntu) http://wubi-installer.org/ which enables you to install Linux Mint within windows



You keep Windows as it is, mint4win only adds an extra option to boot into Linux Mint. mint4win does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.



mint4win keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.



Linux Mint 7 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=鈥?/a>



Linux Mint 7 User Guide

http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/linuxmint.com/s鈥?/a>



You download the iso. image of Linux Mint then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD



Boot in to windows insert the LiveCD you have just created and you will offered the option of installing inside windows which is where mint4win comes in, you will be asked how many gigabytes you wish to allocate to Linux Mint (I recommend 8gb) then you set a password for your installation then click install and thats it.



Once Linux Mint is fully installed upon starting your PC you will be given a choice of which operating system you want to use Windows or Linux Mint.



In the Host folder you will find access to all you Windows files



Computer%26gt;Filesystem%26gt;Host



Linux Mint can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive



Linux Mint is a quality distro. which I reckon cannot be beaten. Also it is built upon Ubuntu which are reputable underpinnings indeed.



CURRENT DISTROS.



Linux Mint 6 ext3 with Compiz Fusion 0.7.0

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=鈥?/a>

http://wiki.compiz-fusion.org/



Linux Mint 6 ext3 with Beryl 0.2.1

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=鈥?/a>

http://www.beryl-project.org/features.ph鈥?/a>



Linux Mint 7 ext3 with Beryl 0.2.1

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=鈥?/a>

http://www.beryl-project.org/features.ph鈥?/a>



CURRENT SESSION



Linux Mint 6 ext3 with Compiz Fusion 0.7.0





LUg.
Ubuntu would be a good version of linux to start with. You can always try other versions later.

You should get the ubuntu livecd to see how well it works with your hardware without doing an install. THe livecd will not make any changes to your system and you can get a feel for it and see if there are any problems. You should be sure to get the latest version of ubuntu which is currently 9.04.

Be sure you read the instructions; especially how to install and configure ubuntu.

Here is a link the explains exactly how to set up a dual boot.

When you boot your computer you can choose which OS to run vista or ubuntu. Ubuntu can read and write to vista but vista cannot read the linux files.

Good luckWhat is the best version of LInux and where can I download it?
Since you are a complete beginner, i am going to recommend Ubuntu Linux (google it)



First you need to make room to install Ubuntu on the hard drive. This is pretty simple with a tool like partition magic. (I think the partition utility in Ubuntus Live CD is also non-destructive).



Then you indicate for ubuntu to install to that new space. If you had windows set up already, then you will be presented with an OS choice next time your boot your computer. If you dont and you are installing vista second, then you will have to go back into the ubuntu live cd and run (grub-install /dev/*da)



Ubuntu WILL be able to access files from vista, however without a third partition that is of the fat32 type, vista will not be able to read Ubuntu's files.



The excellent thing about many linux distributions is that you can try them out right from the cd drive (boot the computer with the cd drive as the primary boot device). You dont even have to install them to try them out! Ubuntu is one of these distributions.





Alternatively you can install VirtualBox and install ubuntu to a Virtual PC. if you like. That way you can get a real feel for ubuntu without any worry of accidentally erasing your windows and files.



@George

Despite you being wrong about vista seeing ubuntus files, i will still thumb you up.



@$am

I am a Gentoo Linux user. I am not extremely familiar with Ubuntu. I believe you have to allow the multi-verse in order to install proprietary drivers (is that right, i dont remember).



Are you saying centos is different? I would think that you would at the very least need to accept an agreement. I have never actually tried it.
I would go with sabayon linux, I have tried just about all I can try. Mint, Red hat, Centos, Debian, Ubuntu and variant, Slackware, Mandriva etc etc.. They are all linux, but sabayon is just maintained with better quality, and they are not a fringe group. They use what works, and it is easier to use.What is the best version of LInux and where can I download it?
I personally like Centos due to is stability and support for all major hardware drivers. You can download latest version of Centos from http://www.centos.org
Check out Ubuntu ( http://www.ubuntu.com/ )

You can still see the files from Vista on ubuntu and vice versa.