I’m trying to install Linux on several machines here at home. If it weren’t for Craig Kaes, I’d be at the funny farm pulling hair out of my already balding head. The upside is that as with all things, I can always re-install the OS as many times as I need. Linux, configuration issues aside, is really rather swift, I think that Microsoft best keep their eyes on the goal and not let up one bit or they might find themselves in a place of distress.
May I suggest you try knoppix. The installation is extremely easy. It will boot your PC into KDE, then you just have to log in as root
Then you graphically install it.
Updating is simple (as it’s basically a Debian live CD), just type (as root)
apt-get update; apt-get dist-upgrade
.Good luck with it.