ok so how do i start?

[dummy2]

is that too stupid a ? hope not. i've got eee netbook running win7 starter and a viao running win vista but it's grumpy as heck. some of the dll's and other parts were deleted. i'd like to try ubuntu but haven't a clue how to begin..just d/l and install? is it that simple? <sigh> my name sez it all - thx.

[idoitprone]

http://xubuntu.org/

there are many different flavors of ubuntu, this flavor is closer to windows and less resource requirements than the default vanilla ubuntu

download unetbootin
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

find a blank usb fat32 more than 2 or more gb

go to bios to boot to usb

install

If you want to dual boot
resize the window partition
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DualBoot/WindowsFirst

for an filesystem, i recommend ext4

[audiomick]

If your Vista install is beyond repair, there is not much of a reason to not just install Ubuntu over it. You must back up anything on there you want to keep first. Unless you have a separate data partition that you retain, everything will be gone. If you then decide to go back to Vista after all, you have not lost anything. It needed to be re-installed anyway.

Otherwise, idotprone's advice is fine.

[dummy2]

thanks. vista boots but it loads weird, a lot of windows pop up telling me this and that can't load. it's just annoying. i'll give it a try on that first. i've backed up everything i need in case it crashes, yanno how windows is....shoulda got a mac but that's another thread! i was just concerned on how technical this was going to be since i've not done anything more than put a disc in and waited for it to load in over ten years :D thanx!

[bogan]

Hi!, dummy2, Welcome to Linux and the Ubuntu Forums

You Posted:
.just d/l and install? NO! Download an .iso file and make a LiveCD or LiveUSB and run it from that to try it out and get some familiarity with what is involved.

When you know it will run OK on your computer/netbook you can switch from Just Try to Install.

I do not know anything about Netbooks, but I imagine you would need one of the 'lighter' distributions for that, and I am sure there will be no shortage of suggestions from other forum followers.

Presumably the viao is a Sony Laptop and Ubuntu will be OK with that, however 'grumpy' it may be, I suggest you start with Ubuntu version 11.10.

Chao!, bogan.