I need some help choosing a verison of linux. I am looking for a FREE Linux OS that I can dual boot on my computer. I am looking for a linux that is relatively small (under 650mb would be best) that can perform most or all the tasks that a regular Windows XP Home Edition can (ex. listen to mp3, watch movies, Office tools like MS Word, and Internet).  Also it should be similar to windows XP so that I don't have to read large instruction manuals for it.

Some information on my computer:
2.6 ghz
512 mb
80 gb  (I partitioned 15 gb for the Linux installation, is that too small?)

--Also I've heard of linux verisons which work much faster than windows and can "boost computer performance." Is that true?

thanks for your help

Get Kubuntu, or could get Ubuntu, but Kubuntu comes with much more of a graphical interface.

You can find find Ubuntu here or you can find Kubuntu here.

I suggest Kubuntu.

15GB is way too less. Up the partition to 28GB.

Also, if you only have 1 empty disk for a live CD download Ubuntu and then download Kubuntu through Ubuntu's Terminal.

Something you MUST do is defragment your harddrive and do a disk clean up or else Kubuntu or Ubuntu will overwright important data for Windows.

Btw, I'm using Kubuntu right now. I only go on Windows to make crystal stuff with PS Elements 4.0.

Here is a screenshot of Kubuntu.

Kubuntu Screenshot

I propose PCLinuxOS which includes all the applications to listen music, watch movies and so on...
And you don't have to install many things like Ubuntu

5.0 Please Read the Rules in CrystalXP Forums

btw, Nice Screenshot

Oops. Sorry Neil.

both of them looks really good...The PClinux and Kubuntu screenshots looks very similar. Is there any important differences between them?

I don't know the diffenreces between those 2 linux, but if you choose Kubuntu (which is under KDE) or Ubuntu (Gnome), you'll have to install easyubuntu or easykuntu to listen to mp3, watch avi... these are 2 programs to install the essential things easilly (graphics drivers, codecs...)

Easyubuntu EasyKubuntu

Is PC linux os already able to read mp3 when you install it?

Ubuntu and Kubuntu are the same operating systems. Only the graphic environment changes, but if you Ubuntu installs, you can put the appearance of Kubuntu if you finds it insipid.

Sorry for me bad english, but I'm french

I think I'll go with PClinux since everything is already packaged. I just have one last question, how do I update the OS once I got it (like Windows Automatic Updates).

Also are there service packs or patches, I need for PClinux?

Actually bugz, the new Kubuntu and Ubuntu (Dapper Drake 6.06 with LTS) comes with media players, graphic makers, web devolopment and much more. And if you don't have a program you want just go to the add and remove programs section, and all the programs you probably need are there ready for download.

list of codecs to be able to read mp3.....
(ubuntu)

# gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg
# gstreamer0.10-pitfdll
# gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad
# gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse
# gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly (this is the one in charge of  mp3)
# gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse
# gxine
# libxine-main1
# libxine-extracodecs

Actualy,Ubuntu isn't that bad,3D Effects,the wobble,ETC But you'll be fooling around with codes alot.

I think you won't need them in linux. If you want to upgrade your system, use Synaptic (some instructions are in the PCLOS wiki)

I didn't think I would stay on my Ubuntu, so I just partitionned 20 GiB... As a result I have 98% of my space disk used  

If you think you will make of your Linux your default system, what will probably arrive, 15 GiB is just not enough  

Now, here's a small list of Linux distributions, the average space needed 4 the base system (if there are nice things like KDE & others, they're counted in the space, but you'll need much more for your musics, etc...) :
*Mandriva (used 2 be Mandrake) : 2 gigs approx, dvd version or 3-4 cds, uses RPM
 easy config (best of all) & install, good drivers, but my usb key doesn't work :-(
+ lots of programs, mp3 players, etc.
But in my version (mdv 2006 official) a lot of programs bug often (especialy amarok, a music player), as much as beta versions would do. Easy-to-use update manager through ctrl pannel, but I never tested that.

*Ubuntu/Kubuntu : 1.5 gig, 1 cd OR 1 DVD, uses DEB
 Easy install, easy config, very good drivers.
But I allways have to hack my own computer : the installer does not ask for the root (admin) passwd, so after it asks a dummy password for no user @ all ^^, u have to do :
<ctrl+alt+f2>
<enter>
chroot /mnt
passwd
<type your passwd twice>
adduser your_user (I'm not sure of the command)
passwd your_user
<type password>
exit
<ctrl+alt+f1>
I also had a few problems with broken dependencies, but perhaps Bcus I had merged the Debian DVD with it :-(

Debian : 1gig or 1.5, maybe more, can't remember..., 1DVD or maybe 1 CD only, uses DEB
I ended up after my installation with a dubm 800x600 screen yuck. Didn't go any further.

Aurox : 2-3 gigs, 1DVD, uses RPM
Good for games, ez config, good drivers, xp-like (rounded & nice buttons & easy) interface.
Programs are all right, not like in mandriva.

Fedora core : 2gigs approx (I think), 4 cds, uses RPM
Ugly by default (to my mind). The package manager is dumb, you only have categories, & can't install a specific library or a specific program using gfx interface :-(

Slackware : too hard 4 a beginer, but you can have your own config like you want. I'm gonna install it soon. (2 cds) Uses slackware packages.

DSL : Damn Small Linux, 50megs cdrom, 250 on harddisk.
Small music player, very small word processer & spreadsheet, light (but pleasent) interface. Good for slow computers. I installed it to a file at a friend's this afternoon. So I didn't need any partitionnig, but it's no more a liveCD (I used loadlin).

If you want a program like windo$ media center, you should install mythtv, a nice program better than win med center. Plays mp3, DVDs, tv, etc. etc. + ez dvd riping.... But the program itself is several 100's megs...

If you want to keep your 15gigs partitionning, you can add later an empty 2 gigs (for example) file on your windows partition, make linux think it's a real partition, & merge it with your real partition -> it's 2 gigs bigger. e-mail me in a year when your disk's full ^^. But it's the method, I warn U...

All linux distribs are free (exept Red Hat, that is "hard" to get, but it's 4 biig networks, so you use fedora core which is similar, but 4 personal use)

If you're a gamer, it's Aurox. Otherwise it's Aurox or (K)Ubuntu.

jahvascriptmaniac _at_ gmail _dot_ com...

& I you really need to feel like in XP, use XPde :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XPde

It's normal, Ubuntu is made so as the root password is the first user's one (the one that installed the OS).

And currently Ubuntu does not need any DVD more

ubuntu doesnt come with a root user.
to create one you have to run the command
CODEsudo passwd root