Where to start from(from a scratch)

[diG1tY]

I am student second year at university. And in the upcoming semesturs I am going to learn study an OS class. But I would like to get in advance. Here is the problem - I have never used/installed/barely saw Linux. Where do I start from?

Can you tell me wich distribution to start from(I like Ubuntu as a name origin, even though I don't know much).

Can you explain to me - what are the differences in all the distributions? And is Ubuntu a good one to start with?

I like the whole Open Source concept and I would like to get involved with it. The thing is that I am e very beginner in programming too(I know a it of classes/objects, around this level). Will some Open Source community like Ubuntu for example help? Where people help each other when making massive projects?

Also can you give me some recommendation on how to switch to Linux, how do program and so all major taks like in Windows?

Also I've splitet my HDD to 3 particitions :

C(w.Vista)
D(programms/docs.)
E(for future Linux)

Is it required to format my whole drive for the installation and or my E drive(for Linux only).

On a side note I would like to say that I like the page, hopefully I can improve here and be helpfull to someone if possible.

[folkert]

I think ubuntu is a good one to start with.

one difference between distributions is the way the programs are installed. Ubuntu is based on debian (handy to know if you start searching the web).

It is might not be required to format your whole drive. probably the installation wants you to remove "e" (but name it differently) and create 2 or more partitions in its place.

wait, Perhaps you need to repartition, I dont know how linux works with extended partitions (maybe your d and e are in one extended partition)

[shadebug]

I was partway through a massive treatise on the issue, but I decided summaries might be more useful, especially since I have an exam in 11 hours (law exam, I am not a computer scientist, I just enjoy computers)
a)start here. this sub forum answers all your questions nicely which distro (http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150510), for instance.
b)debian
c)ubuntu is a fantastic distribution to start with, but you'll learn nothing. Something like gentoo will have you working very hard but how useful what you learn will be is up for debate. An inbetween point like debian will force you to learn important aspects of how linux works without making life so difficult for you that you'll spend a month tweaking things before you can get a gui.
d) linux is part of a bigger open software community, if you want to get involved you'll want to find the sub communities for individual projects, I would recommend getting familiar with IRC since a good chunk of software communities use it to keep in touch as well as to provide support in general
e) just jump in, most things you need to know should be fairly obvious. For the programming side I'm not so sure but I do believe there are rudimentary IDEs for most languages at least (probably very shiny lovely ones) or if all else fails you can just program the code directly (learn to use vi as your text editor and you might even learn to enjoy it). As for normal tasks firefox and thunderbird you can keep using, same for open office, vlc and gimp. Most things have a fully functioning alternative, for those that don't you might be able to get away with using wine (which, if you'll let it, might teach you a lot about how windows works)
f) with any luck you've done those partitions in a useful way and whichever distro you use will be able to recognise e and use it for whatever it needs (assuming it's over 5GB) If you're lucky you'll be able to set up that d drive as your /home and you'll end up with four partitions, one for vista, one for all of your data, be it windows or linux, one for your linux distro and one for your distro's swap. If you're unlucky you'll have to do some repartitioning and the such, personally, I always use a separate harddrive for these things and I never use windows if I can help it.

all of these questions have already been answered many times here and if you have a lazy afternoon to spare you could do worse than browsing through here with wikipedia open in another tab and just learning all there is to learn. It can be quite fascinating and you may find it invaluable when you start that OS module.

[diG1tY]

So starting with Debian will give me more a pointview and chance to learn it by doing it ?

[loopback48]

Starting with Debian will be more helpful in learning Linux than Ubuntu. But don't disregard Ubuntu. That too is a wonderful distro. For a newcomer like you, I would recommend Ubuntu. It would then be an easy transition to Debian. Look at it this way, Ubuntu is a child of Debian. And Debian is the father.

As stated, the main differences in distros is the way packages are managed (installed, removed, searched for, upgraded). Basic there are three way; RPM, Source (compressed programs) and Apt-get.

Over the years I've come to realize Debian and Debian based distros, which use the Apt-get method, are the best and easiest way to manipulate your system.

While I would recommend Debian, stick to Ubuntu. It'll be easier and there is a tremendous amount of support via their forum.

[diG1tY]

Thanks for the support, I will look into it and see how things go.

[shadebug]

honestly, i can't stand debian, but for the sake of getting a working system that doesn't hold your hand too much, it'd be my recommendation

that said, ubuntu is, for my money, better. You'll be able to do everything you would do in debian in ubuntu, just that ubuntu will make it easier and won't force you to learn things

[diG1tY]

That was quite usefull, thank you.