[YLUG] Installing Linux

[Mike Denton]

Hi,

I missed the install day in November, but being a CS student has meant i 
have learnt the values of Linux and now i want to install it (dual-boot 
with XP) onto my laptop. My main concern is losing all of my 
applications installed onto my HD (which is currently already 
partitioned), since i imagine i will need to repartition and possibly 
format some, if not all, of the HD. I do however have an External HD i 
can send files to should i need to.

Basically, would anybody be willing to give me a hand in person or send 
me some decent instructions (over email or a link to a good site etc.) 
on installing Linux and the dual-boot system, with hopefully minimal 
loss of data?

Thanks,
Mike Denton