Linux Distro help

[Kable24]

My boss has given me permission to install Linux on an extra desktop computer to help when a windows based computer goes down. Basically we would through the Windows HDD on an external and use Linux to see that drive and pull anything off we can. I've found that Windows sometimes has trouble seeing a bad hard drive on an external, but a few people in other buildings use Linux and it sees and can pull anything off of the bad drives. So, with that in mind, what is a good distro to use that will be user friendly to me and really be powerful enough to do what I need it to do?

 

[Kable24]

Well, since none of the Linux users out there got back to me, I made my choice. I installed Ubuntu 8.04 on one of our spare desktops at work. I have to say I like it alot. Now, I had some minor issues on the install, but eventually figured them out. I'm a Windows guy and I was thinking like a Windows guy with the install. But it's up and running and I think I may install it on one of my laptops at home. I may be slowly going over to the Dark Side....I mean the Linux side if I like how it handles at home.

 

[jaguarr]

I would have recommended Ubuntu, so good choice.

jag

 

[Kable24]

Yeah, I am really liking it. I installed it on one of my laptops at home. The only problem I am having is finding software that I use on Windows computers to work on a Linux box. Especially CDisplay.

I never thought I would be into a Linux distro.

 

[Malice]

I got a question...Why not boot off a CD?

Maybe I am misreading your use of it...
You are building Linux desktop for what purpose?

 

[Kable24]

I don't know. I thought about that a couple days after I did the install and I can still boot from the CD if I have to.

I found at work whenever we have a bad hard drive that when I connect the bad drive externally to a Linux box it can read the drive whereas a Windows desktop can't. So it really helps when we have to pull a users profile and files to put on a new drive.

At home, I'm just trying it out to see how I like it.

 

[Malice]

I don't know. I thought about that a couple days after I did the install and I can still boot from the CD if I have to.

I found at work whenever we have a bad hard drive that when I connect the bad drive externally to a Linux box it can read the drive whereas a Windows desktop can't. So it really helps when we have to pull a users profile and files to put on a new drive.

At home, I'm just trying it out to see how I like it.

OK that makes sense...Its a saturday, my tech brain I left at the office yesterday...
The other thing you could do, is have a Linux Boot CD, or something like that, and an External drive...via USB, and try to use the users same PC that way.