To install Linux on your Hard Disk, you have to create what is called a Partition, or area, for Linux to reside. Windows uses one type of sector on your Hard Disk, called FAT, which it uses to access all files and run programs. Linux uses something completly different (ext2), so we need to cut the two off from each other, that way, 2 operating systems can reside on just one hard disk.

Once that is done, it is necessary to create a startup disk. Just as if you would use a startup disk to access windows in case of a crash, a Linux startup disk will boot your computer in the Linux OS, albiet a very limited version of it. The startup disk also contains info on accessing your CD-ROM drive, and the complete install program.

While installing the software, you will need to tell the computer what part of the Hard Disk to install on, this will then allow you to select the partition you made earlier. The install program will then format just that part of the disk for Linux, and continue to write onto that section. After the installation has completed, you will be asked to create a password for the root user. I go into this in detail later in the install process file.

The only other thing to do after installing the Operating System, is to tell the Xwindows system, (Thats the program that looks a bit like Windows 95), what kind of Mouse, Keyboard, Monitor and Graphics Card you have. It needs this information, just like Windows 95 need driver files, so that it can talk to the hardware, and work smoothly in completing your tasks.

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