would like to switch to linux on laptop looking for info where i can get a linux cd rom from

i am about to format my laptop and would like to install linux instead of windows xp again. im new to linux so any advice would be welcome. would like to find somewhere i could get hold of a cd rom with linux on so i would have a hard copy when formating.

Hi, welcome to linux.co.uk

You can download Ubuntu (Our preferred version of linux here) here:

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

You can request that Ubuntu send you a free (!) CD here:

https://shipit.ubuntu.com/login (You will need to register. Disks can take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.)

Once you've downloaded the .iso file, you can burn it to a disk, by following the instructions here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto

Does that help?

Johnathon

thanks for the advice will be taking a look through the site on the weekend