install linux on a mac! please help!!

i have an old dell with windows xp home. Its been very messed up lately and i cant reinstall it because i dont have the cd. I heard linux and ubuntu were free. how do i install linux? and how do i download linux onto a cd from my friends comp? please tell me in detail. Im not too good at computers.

Either get Ubuntu or Open Suse. Suse is easier to use though. It's pretty easy to install, just follow the instruction's. To burn the cd get a burning app like alcohol 120% or that Nero app (forgot what it's called) and burn it either to a cd/dvd

so download open suse to a cd and plop it into my computer?

yep and you need to burn to a disc as a image. Dont just drag it on as a file

i forgot a huge detail...My xp doesnt boot. hope that can help anyhow. so i use one of the apps you told me to use and burn it with that? im new to all this.

Completely won't turn on, or nothing loads (check power sources, how long have you had it).

Zack

it loads but when i get to the log in menu its not in xp its the classic. it doesnt recognise any of my accounts at all

Hmm sounds like you have a virus, do you have another desktop PC at all?

no other pc at all. is there i way i can erase all the memory or do i need a new hd?

hmm yea unless you install linux and reformat the hd. If you had another desktop you could run a anti virus on it and try to remove what ever is on it but no luck there.