I want to dual boot my computer in Linux and XP, which version of linux to use?

I have 100GB on my computer and I basically want to turn it into a laptop that uses XP as a desktop (to run all of my games and graphic intensive apps) and Linux to use as a mobile workstation (for school and programming). I'm trying to study which version of Linux to use, but with SO many choices (red hat, Ubuntu, etc) which should I use? Is it as simple as backing up, reformatting and repartitioning, and installing XP then this other operating system? Any links to the right direction will be very appreciated.

I want to dual boot my computer in Linux and XP, which version of linux to use?
when i did it, i made 500 meg in the boot sector fat so you can have your linux in there and it will boot right, i used red hat, just be sure you have all your partitions set right, your swap, etc.
Reply:OK - the best (and easiest) overall strategy for doing this is as follows:





1. Back up EVERYTHING on your hard drive onto CDRs DVDs etc and verify it has all copied correctly.





2. RE-install Windows on your hard drive, but DO NOT install any extra programs at this stage.





3. Get a live CD of PCLinuxOS (the 0.93 Big Daddy version is currently the best for this - buy a CD from one of the vendors at Distrowatch http://www.distrowatch.com ). Now boot up the PCLinuxOS live CD by altering the boot order in your BIOS to boot first from the CD/DVD drive. The Linux will probably start up. Once you're at the desktop, double click the Install icon on the left of the screen. Choose the QParted disc partition program from one of the following screens, and RESIZE the single huge Windows partition to maybe half its size by dragging the right side of the partition strip. When you are satisfied with the size (a Linux OS needs at least 10gb to work comfortably in - 20gb is even better), click the tiny Save button at the top left of the dialog. It will ask you if you are sure - click yes or whatever.





Once that is done, there should be just a gray empty space to the right of the Windows partition. DON'T try try to make any more partitions.





Get out of that dialog and continue the installation - there should be a button to auto-allocate the partitions. Click that and 3 partitions will be created - a tiny swap partition with bigger partitions on each side called root and home. Go along with that auto-allocated setting, and it should talk you through the rest.





That's a very shortened description. Please surf over to http://www.pclinuxos.com and ask in the forum for more detailed advice. Once that 3-partition structure is set up, it's very easy to install different Linux flavors, as their installers will see the ready-made partitions ready and waiting.





Linux partitions are usually EXT3, not FAT/NTFS.