linux compatibility

iliri

Hello guys!
I hope you can help me with some advices.
I have been trying to download linux on my laptop and desktop but I cant do it when I boot up it tells me that cannot uncomppress files because of an incompatibility issue this happen in both laptop and desktop when I try to install mandrake 10 when I try to install red hat 9.0 the screen flickers and tells me cannot find the files .
I know that this is a hardware incompatibility issue but the I was wondering if somebody can give me an advice what to do so I can install linux on my systems without having to purchase another system because I cannot afford.
My laptop is a IBM THINKPAD R31 model 2676-xx3 x86 -based pc intel (R)celeron 1063 mhz processor 120mb memory cdrom drive 20 G hd TFT 14.1 inch display BIOS IBM 1FETF0WW.
Do You think I can install any version of linux in this laptop?
MY desktop info is Dell Dimension 8200 Version X86 family 15 model 1 speed 1.794ghz 256mb memory 80g hd cdrom drive floppy drive usb hub GEFORCE2mx/mx400 64mb of video memory.
Do you I am going to be able to install any version of linux in this machine.

mbeaven

Check the hardware compatability list for the Linux distros you want to use. Or if you can access the web on that pc with another OS you can use: http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/fhard.php3