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We are hoping to bring some life into one of our 'retired' PCs, that will primarily be used by my six year old daughter. I've been wanting to try Linux on my own netbook, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. So I figured this should be a nice transition into learning the basics of Linux.

The PC is currently running Windows XP and want to convert to one of the kid friendly Linux distros. What would be my best 3-4 options for her (as well as myself) to try first?

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Also, I hear using a bootable UBS drive is a good way to experiment with different operating systems, any objections? Do you have any other advice, hints, or tips to give me the best first impressions, for a possible long term future with Linux?

Declan Lopez
2012-07-12 02:47:41
A friend of my parents was obsessed with Edubuntu for a while.
Gurunathaprasad V
2011-12-25 17:43:00
I think bro you can use QIMO linux which best for kids
Bob
2011-12-15 02:19:00
Linux Mint 9. Easy to install and use, and still small. Later versions are getting bloated and tricky.
klu9
2011-12-14 06:53:00
doudoulinux [Broken Link Removed]
Aibek
2011-12-14 22:00:00
thanks, haven't heard about it before
Belkira
2011-12-13 20:45:00
I agree with Chris. I have both my kids (now 5 and 8) on Ubuntu, and have had for the last 3 -4 years. I added a couple shortcuts to the desktop for the things I wanted them to be able to use, gcompris, tuxmath, kidoz, etc and for firefox with starfall as the home page. Since I showed them how to use it (5 mins maybe) they have never needed anything more from me.
Chris
2011-12-13 18:54:00
My kids use Lubuntu because it's small and works on an older computer. Just manually install Gcompris and a few Tux programs and you have the same thing as a distro specifically for kids.
FIDELIS
2011-12-06 07:44:00
Hello, the following links will show you some options:Sugar:http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/DownloadsEdubuntu:http://www.edubuntu.org/LinuxKidX:http://linuxkidx.blogspot.com/2009/03/linuxkidx-english-version-developed.htmlForesight Kids:http://www.foresightlinux.org/foresight-kids/Qimo:http://www.qimo4kids.com/If you want to try it, without installing the live cd or usb should be enough.  Check the link for sugar, it will show and explain how to configure the usb option.
Matthew Hay
2011-12-07 18:05:00
Thank you FIDELIS! I followed the Sugarlabs link, even used the in depth step-by-step directions link, but something just isn't right still. I started with a full-format of an 8 GB USB flash drive, I changed the boot order in BIOS, and I even attempted it on a newer laptop (ACER Aspire, running Vista) than the PC I had first mentioned. And the start of boot, it continuously repeats: vesamenu.c32: not a COM32R imageBoot:vesamenu.c32: not a COM32R imageBoot:Do you (or anyone else) know what went wrong? Do I have to change anything else in BIOS, or alter something in one of the files I downloaded for Sugarlabs or the Fedora-Live USB Creator? Please?! I feel like I'm so close, but with a slight hurdle of two left...Thanks again for you help!
FIDELIS
2011-12-08 00:44:00
Hello, maybe the following will explain a workaround and help you.  Apparently, it has to do with the version of syslinux:http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/419when you get this error, hit the tab key and then type live What will work is using unetbootin to create the usb, it might work instead of using syslinux.  The following will explain how to create a bootable usb flashdrive with unetbootin:http://www.pendrivelinux.com/using-unetbootin-to-create-a-live-usb-linux/