What version of Linux?

[grue]

why not use vmware?

[1715182555]

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[wabber]

why not use vmware?

because it's proprietary software? afaik they even want you to register somewhere.

OP isn't the first trying to run ubuntu in virtualbox. It should work just fine.

[AlexMerced]

https://www.kernel.org/
you should use the most recent version (3.8.10).

Well I know what you meant and probably does everyone else. But I just want you to know that Linux itself is just the kernel which on it's own is pretty useless for an enduser. And therefore asking for a version of Linux is misleading.

You are searching for a GNU/Linux Distro that suits your needs. Although I do think gentoo is the best to use, it's probably not the best for you.
You want something that works out of the box so Ubuntu should be fine for you. You could also use xubuntu if you prefer it's GUI but it's basically the same.
If you don't want cannonical to sell you to amazon follow this tutorial right after installation:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/192269/how-can-i-remove-amazon-search-results-from-the-dash

Now about your installation:
If your PC has a 64bit CPU use the 64bit version of course. Don't even try the 32bit version.

Are you running it natively or in a VM?

Your hardware shouldn't be a problem the only problem with hardware support you could get is 3D performance. WLAN problems are part of the past and your box should definitely boot up.

Could you please write down the reason for the kernel panic? The last time I installed ubuntu on someone's pc it messed up the partitions somehow and panicked that it couldn't find the root partition. After configuring grub myself it worked.

Also I don't think there's any use for the LTS version unless you are lazy because you can always do a release upgrade I suppose. Correct me if I'm wrong.

//edit
you are definitely using a 64bit image on a 32bit CPU. You probably messed something up during download.
Use this one for xubuntu: http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/raring/release/xubuntu-13.04-desktop-i386.iso

Xubunto worked, the Ubuntu 64 bit said AMD in the file name and I have an intel centrino chipset so I'm assuming that is probably why I was having the problem.

[wabber]

Ok, but then you did something wrong when you were trying ubuntu 32bit, because that should also have worked fine. You have probably mistaken the 64bit version for the 32bit while downloading.

Also the amd64 in the iso name doesn't mean it only runs on 64bit amd cpus, it also runs on 64bit intel cpus, the name is just because of historical reasons.

[tiktoc]

It's not so much about your computer is 32bit or 64bit it's what you set setting the virtual machine in virtual box to run as the Linux version has to match that. Just use the 32bit version for a start anyway till you learn to use it.

[kokjo]

what's the best freeware

lol. linux stuff is open source. it is really amazing how people comming from windows have a hard time grasping the concept of opensource freedom.

[matthewh3]

https://www.kernel.org/
you should use the most recent version (3.8.10).

Well I know what you meant and probably does everyone else. But I just want you to know that Linux itself is just the kernel which on it's own is pretty useless for an enduser. And therefore asking for a version of Linux is misleading.

You are searching for a GNU/Linux Distro that suits your needs. Although I do think gentoo is the best to use, it's probably not the best for you.
You want something that works out of the box so Ubuntu should be fine for you. You could also use xubuntu if you prefer it's GUI but it's basically the same.
If you don't want cannonical to sell you to amazon follow this tutorial right after installation:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/192269/how-can-i-remove-amazon-search-results-from-the-dash

Now about your installation:
If your PC has a 64bit CPU use the 64bit version of course. Don't even try the 32bit version.

Are you running it natively or in a VM?

Your hardware shouldn't be a problem the only problem with hardware support you could get is 3D performance. WLAN problems are part of the past and your box should definitely boot up.

Could you please write down the reason for the kernel panic? The last time I installed ubuntu on someone's pc it messed up the partitions somehow and panicked that it couldn't find the root partition. After configuring grub myself it worked.

Also I don't think there's any use for the LTS version unless you are lazy because you can always do a release upgrade I suppose. Correct me if I'm wrong.

//edit
you are definitely using a 64bit image on a 32bit CPU. You probably messed something up during download.
Use this one for xubuntu: http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/raring/release/xubuntu-13.04-desktop-i386.iso

Xubunto worked, the Ubuntu 64 bit said AMD in the file name and I have an intel centrino chipset so I'm assuming that is probably why I was having the problem.

Xubuntu is much better than Ubuntu IMO.  Stick with the LTS version and set your security updates to install automatically.  Then you'll be good until 2017.  Also do not add any repo's that your not 100% sure of as this is the only real way to get malware.  If you don't know why its asking you for your password don't enter it but that should go without saying.

[AlexMerced]

Thanks everybody! I got xubuntu working so now it's just matter of getting down to development

[AlexMerced]

here's a fun listing: http://desktoplinuxreviews.com/