Newbie Questions

Hi everyone total newbie here. Quick history of my computer background, always used windows – 98, XP, Vista. Used Mac OS X a little (Wife’s computer) liked the way Mac OS X looked and worked i.e. more flash and thought out than windows. Then one week ago I decided to Google Linux (I was aware of it but always thought of it as needing a lot of IT skills to operate). I quickly found out that it was possible to download a Linux ISO and run it from the CD with out installation, well what better way to test drive an OS?

First tried Knoppix (if that’s spelt right) I first tried it on an old 5-6 years PC and it worked great full of eye candy effects and sound etc, but unfortunately when tried on two other computers (newer) it didn’t appear to have the drivers to work and was disappointed.

Secondly I tried Mandriva, this worked on all the computers. So before installing I decided to do some more research as I still wanted to keep windows on the computer I was thinking of putting it on.

This is where I stumbled across this website and it’s great guides, after reading I decided to try out Ubuntu. When I did I found this looked even closer to Mac OS X had lots of tools and best of all would automatically partition hard drive during installation and allow the dual boot option. It ticked all the boxes and off I went (not with out problems but that story for another time).

As you can imagine I’ve played around and followed guides but I still have some question to help me out.

1) I read the KDE desktop to be better, so I installed it but looks same as before (GNOME) although when computer is booting up it now saw Kubunu instead of Ubuntu. Also I now have to login at start up where as before I set it so I didn’t. This is a problem as the login screen is at the screens highest resolution so virtually impossible to read the text.

2) During installation I imported my documents, but when I look in the folders i.e. music, video, pictures there appear empty. Also if I navigate to the windows partition and look in the original folders it is empty again (but not when I log into windows). It is as if there are there but not displaying, however if I put a USB flash drive in it shows them ok. Any suggestions?

3) The computer I’ve installed Ubuntu on is a HTPC (Home Theatre PC) i.e. hooked up to TV & Stereo. Before I used Windows Media Centre to play music, vids, picture slideshows etc. Is there an all in one similar version on Linux? Also can I setup so I can use the windows Media Centre compactable remote control to control Linux programs?

4) I’ve noticed downloading updates/installs/etc and using Firefox to surf the web is slow. I know it isn’t my connection so is it a firewall setting or something?

5) Do I need Anti-Virus software when using Linux?
6) I’m thinking of changing my video card to a Nivia 9500GT is there somewhere I can check about compatibility or driver support?

7) Is it possible once I’ve set my desktop to how I want it to create a USB drive version so I can take to work etc? I’ve tried the create USB version but only works from an ISO which is the original CD.

Anyway sorry about the long first post, and thanks in advance.