Ok I have tried Linux before, it was ok, until something with the kernel screwed up and it left me with a command line interface that I didn't know what to do.

I am looking for 2 different distributions of Linux here, my first one is for:

(Currently running Windows XP SP2)
A computer with 512 MB RAM
Pentium 4 processor
Internet Access
GNOME or KDE desktop, doesn't matter
Minimal command line work!!! Absolutely no command line work when installing.

I have tried Ubuntu, it was easy enough. Anything easier than Ubuntu and I'll give it a try.

My second choice is for:

(Currently running Windows 98 SE)
A computer with 64 MB RAM
Celeron processor - speed is 384mHz
No internet access
CD drive doesn't work
GNOME or KDE desktop

I would like to run a server for development purposes if I can (for the 2nd choice), otherwise I will have to use the newer computer for the server. As long as I can browse the Internet, block emails, access OpenOffice.org, print and not have to worry about the command line, I'm happy. Any suggestions here?

I heavily recommend SuSE Linux, as for your system dropping out of graphical, it must be a driver fault or you might of messed up the X server's configuration files...

xboxrulz

If you want to use linux, especially for something like a server, you REALLY should take the time to learn the very basics of the command line. 20-30minutes can leave you with a base understanding of how to navigate and pull off basic tasks using the command line so in the incident that something of that nature occurs you are not up the creek without a paddle so to speak. Further once you know the command line you probably will actually enjoy using it for various things

I also highly recommend Linux for Dummies, I learnt basically everything Linux from that book. Plus, it handy if you need to work on other UNIX systems like MacOS X.

xboxrulz

Well, Linux is Linux...

I've always ended up with pretty much the same installation system and you can choose whatever options you want to install such as server programs and the GUI. However, I haven't been happy with the server operation I encountered with the included programs. Basically, I couldn't figure out how to get it to work...

I do have a guide for installing Apache, PHP, Perl, and MySQL on a Linux system but haven't had a chance to try it out...

I really didn't like Ubuntu, Red Hat was okay and I currently have Fedora Core installed. The installers were graphical but it was difficult to set up the dual boot with my Windows system.

I only use it to play around with and hopefully figure out how to setup a viable web server.

Seems like GRUB works better that the alternative boot loaders.

Hope this helps.

vujsa

Personnally, I love Mandrake and Mandriva, it's free version.
Definitively I would say that, if you are a real beginner and if you don't want to use command line instructions, use Mandriva. You simply have to boot on the install CD. It's fully graphic and you simply have to accept the default answer to each question, and it will install a standard and fully usable system.
Of course, if you are really unlucky, you can have drivers problem. Then, sorry, try another distro, you only waste time because the Mandriva release is free.

I personally like ubuntu the best....it offers the easiest to install...and supports so much in the terms of hardware right out of the box, especially with the new version. With ubuntu you won't have so many of the hardware issues....it is much more like windows in detecting the hardware you have, and automatically installing drivers. And if you have a restricted driver (such as for an nVidia or ATI graphics card), it simply has a little icon saying that some are available, and you click a couple buttons and away you go with the installation.

As for your second machine are you wanting that to be command line free as well? (because usually servers are just command line, in order to not have to use as many resources on running the computer)

Ok I am installing Ubuntu again on this computer. I will give Mandriva a try later on.

As for the server, I would prefer it to be a GUI, I have little resources on that system as noted above and it isn't a live server anyways.

I was reading about suse linux, but I haven't tried it tried it my self, I hear that it's really good, and in some opinions better than ubuntu.

But if you want something that is incredibly easy to install, I would recommend ubuntu. The newest version is so easy to make your computer dual-boot if you don't want want to loose windows. In my experience all of the good linux platforms I've tried had some command line work involved when installing things, it's pretty easy once you understand everything and how it works.

Ok I installed Ubuntu 7.04, upgraded to 7.10 when it prompted me but then the computer won't start Linux properly!!!

I had to go into recovery mode (or whatever they call it) and I tried typing in some things and it worked!!! I think I used apt-get and dpkg or something like that.

I don't know if I actually want to set up a server or not, I can always stay after school to work on stuff on the real server. But I have one small problem on Ubuntu: Firefox doesn't work!!! I click the icon, it says "Starting Firefox Web browser" and it goes away. In the task manager thing, it doesn't even start the process. How can I fix it?