Help in Installing Red Hat 9.0

[Seth]

I have been contemplating about migrating to Linux for a while now and and want to try Red hat 9.0 on my home computer.
After downloading the ISO images, I used the windows version of MD5Summer checksums for the ISO images to ensure that the downloads were successful before using a CD-ROM burner to transfer each of these ISO images to a blank CD-R.
After reading Red hat's own online manuals, and this site, I  am fairly certain I can install linux, but I have some questions, and any help would be greatly appreciated.
1. My computer has two HDD, and I want to use the 2nd HDD(WD 40GB slave with two (RAW and NTFS) partitions) exclusively for Linux, but I am a  bit unsure of whether to let Red hat configure it automatically or do it manually.
Should I use Partiton Magic and delete all the partitions, especially the NTFS one, in it prior to the new OS installation ?
2. I also use a Linksys router and I want to know whether it will be  Linux 'friendly' ? I couldn't find any info about it in Link's or Red hat's sites.
3. And will my hp LaserJet 1000 series (USB) printer be detected automatically by Red hat ?
4. I use my ASUS motherboard's on board APU (from nVidia nForce2 MCP-T MCP Southbridge chipset) for  sound. ASUS recommends using their driver for Linux than nVidia's - how do I 'install a driver' in Linux ? Or do I install Linux first and then install (?) the driver (?) (notice the MS's lingo...     ) ?

[ September 06, 2003: Message edited by: Seth ]

[TheQuirk]

1. You'll be able to remove the partions during the installation. Do it manually--I don't trust the auto-config stuff.

2. It is.

3. I'm not sure about this one--look over the "supported hardware" database on RH's site.

4. Well, I personally use an Asus A7N8X "Deluxe" which uses the same thing for audio (I belive). The nForce drivers serve me fine, so I can't answer which one you should choose--all I know is that installing the nVidia drivers was a breeze. Just download and run a program.

[Seth]

After doing a little google with what I got off Red hat's site, the printer should be ok (I hope). It is hp's (PCL) after all.
Well, I 'll try the installation tomorrow.
Thanks for input.