UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hello guys and dolls, first post happening here...

Wanting to know where to start with Unix. Which Unix option/package is best for an absolute beginner and has a well documented, easy to grasp user guide(s).

I have dabbled in some programming (basic PHP) and I have an old desktop pc which I don't use so I thought may as well install Unix on it and try to learn a bit about it, since i have heard it said that to start into learning programming, Unix is a good way to start.

My old pc has windows xp currently installed and I want to wipe that completely, although, I have never installed any operating system on any computer ever and don't know where to start ( I know a boot disc or cd is needed but that's about it! ) regarding drivers and whatever else... especially drivers.

A general overview of where to begin would be greatly appreciated, and also, I hope, helpful to other new comers. So yea that's my plea, "where to begin?" and well... what are the real powers and joys of using Unix? and what should one expect?

Thanks for reading! (and helping ).

You could begin by searching the forums before asking questions.

Also, read the FAQs and the Links in the directory.

For an easy start: a simple Linux distribution like Linux Mint or Ubuntu/Kubuntu. If you want to delve right in and learn from the ground up: Debian or a *BSD variant, maybe Solaris.

A lot of documentation can be found at the Linux Documentation Project, which is Linux centric but most of it can be applied to other Unices.

I'd start even smaller and get used to UNIX from within Windows, if you're already somewhat familiar with that. Get yourself either U/Win (ksh for Windows) or Cygwin (Linux paradigm for Windows) to introduce some basic concepts and build from there...

Thanks Pludi!

Thanks also Curleb, that sounds like a great idea for getting to grips with UNIX/Linux systems. Although I have a Windows operated laptop (which I plan to use for advice and help, if things go wrong with getting UNIX running) and two "spare" desktops, one of which is hopefully destined to be running UNIX successfully ... The thing I'm mostly worried about though is drivers and such, having never even installed a windows OS on a pc, let alone UNIX. THANKS AGAIN!

FYI:

You can easily search the forums using our internal Google search engine or our advanced internal search engine. You can also search our huge UNIX and Linux database by user generated tags or search the database for unanswered questions and provide an answer.

Thank you.

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