Windows 7: want to try unbuntu and linux or linux mint

Hello i have a couple of questions i want to try a different os for my windows 7 computer but im pretty confused on which one too use. theres this one ubuntu Ubuntu online tour and then linux New features in Linux Mint 13 - Linux Mint which one should i try out and is it user friendly? and how many other os are there for windows 7 im pretty confused... and before i download it should i backup my pc before i install it. any input would be helpful. thanks

Linux mint is comparatively easier to use, as it's GUI is similar to Windows. On the other hand, Ubuntu or Fedora look a bit different, but the functions are basically the same.

It will be a good idea to take a backup before installation.

thanks man im going to make a backup. if i install and use ubuntu how will i switch back to windows 7? is it possibly to switch back and forth between the both? and how many other os are there? sorry for all the questions im really curious i really want to try them all out.

Switch back and forth ? Dont need, you can install both of them in the same machine.

How many HDDs do you have ? (to determine the method os installation of the second one, linux).

There are a lot of other Oss like Open Suse, Red Hat, Puppy Linux, a lot.

I'd burn the iso file to a CD and boot from it before installing, then play around with it.

Try Ubuntu before you install | Ubuntu

If you Dual Boot it's best to install to separate HD's booted only via the BIOS, if possible.

Otherwise follow these steps to Dual boot Ubuntu-Win7.

GRUB boot loader can corrupt Windows 7 beyond repair when on the same HD. So save the image backup first. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

What are HDDS? im just using windows 7 with a theme and custom cursor,logon,and bootanimation...
im going to try it out this way seems pretty easy and ill report back if it worked lol

I run Ubuntu since years in Virtual Box. That allows you to run Ubuntu and Windows 7 in parallel without Ubunto mucking up your bootmgr.

As for the right distro, that is really a matter of taste. Mint is a modified Ubuntu version with an extra UI layer. I think that is just in the way. Fedora though is quite different.

Install Ubuntu with Windows | Ubuntu
thanks im going to try out if i like it can i use this to install it?

Hard Disk Drives ... (not partitions).

Do you know how many you have ?

Before going to do anything, let us know your something more. Is there a recovery partition in your computer ?