Hi,

No need to do anything special to remove Windows, just allow the Linux installer to wipe out any existing partitions and reformat the drive. Just about any distro will provide this option, just pay attention to the questions in the installer about partitioning - it will be pretty obvious.

As to graphics-specific Linux distros, maybe check out Ubuntu Studio.

When you began to install a linux distro , the installer program will ask you to "use the entire disk", "install side by side with an existing OS" or choose partition layout manually. Since you want to remove the XP and use linux, you should pick the first option, "use entire disk".

For an artist, any distro will do. you just need to find the software suited for your needs. There are multiple softwares for graphic artist. Either install it from you distro's archive or download the opensource package from the internet. One you should look into is blender. http://www.blender.org/features-gallery/

Hello Peter, I prefer to use any ubuntu latest versions. If the windows OS is corrupted first try it to repair.After that install Ubuntu. You can install ubuntu inside windows or outside if you chose outside windows you should reinstall GRUB.

do a proper format to the disk with
using this command
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=1M

then install ubuntu

you can use any linux live cd to format

but the best way to format is to use an iso from the hard disk manufacturer you burn it to a cd and boot up to do it

bye

Any Linux distro provides opportunity to choose how will u use the HDD space. It is recommended that, don't use "entire disk" option, rather use "expert partition" where u can select how many amount of disk-space for particular partition just like a Windows disk partition. And u have to choose ur desire name for the partitions. First make the HDD as raw like delete all partitions and then allocate the space as ur choice.
For graphics related, preferable is KNOPPIX or Ubuntu. Although Fedora and Suse Desktop is also considerable. But remember that, Linux is most secured that is why u must provide proper dependencies / repositories to work on graphics / multimedia SW. This case is almost all Linux distro.
Your text to link here...See here for more options !

First decide which Linux distribution (OS) you like most for example,Ubuntu; Mint;Opensuse; PClinuxOS; Fedora.... and so on . Take a live CD or DVD of it Insert it and do as you wish; the live Cd or DVD will do the rest of its own. Very simple, isn't it?