Here is a very cool way to install a OS without the risk of messing up the one you already have.
http://www.virtualbox.org/ They have a Windows and a Linux version.
Here is a screenshot of Windows 2000 pro running on my Linux computer.
<a href="
http://grill.no-ip.org" target="_blank">[img width= height= alt=" border="0]http://grill.no-ip.org/Share/XDesktop-Win2k.jpg[/img][/url]
You can run Linux or another version of Windows on a Windows computer all at the same time. I find this program very handy to have. There is a plus to it too, its FREE! 8-)