how does one get from xp pro to linux in 5 minutes?

[nyke]

i have a chinese xp pro os and am just sick of microsoft so i don't want to have to spend the $600+ it would cost me to get an english os + office here in taiwan...how can i load the simplest version of linux to part of my hd?...please note: my os is in chinese...so if this involves doing stuff in windows, i will need a screenshot to guide me as everything is illegible to me...

i appreciate any help...

btw, i have downloaded a file w/ knoppix 4.02 that can be loaded to my 1g flashdrive, and have checked to make sure my computer has the option to boot from a flashdrive. i tried to do so, but came back w/ a "disk error" message. also, i should probably confirm that this computer's specs will support linux....eh? how does one do that?

again, any help is appreciated....

grazi!

[OErjan]

most computers that run XP can run Linux, some minor things might cause trouble, like wireless network, screen resolution, builtin networ cards...