Agree with TG's posts. If you want to give it one more try get try Ubuntu:

Go here and download the Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download 

If the burned ISO file still does not run it may be a bad CD/DVD drive used to create the CDs or crappy media, it isn't uncommon. Burn the image at 8X or 12X speed and you may want to use Imageburn, a free CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application.

http://www.imgburn.com/ 

If you want to play with Linux try installing it to a USB drive. It works faster than a bootable CDrom and does not disturb the installed OS.

This site is a great source:

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/ 

I used these instructions:

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2008/04/09/usb-ubuntu-804-installation-from-windows/ 

^

YES! Imgburn! Probably the most accurate and accountable burning software out there, and it's frickin' free.

Been using it for years now on the winbows boxes.

re 16

Thanks GreenWolf70, I just downloaded PCLinuxOS and installed it on one of my old Compaq Prolinia DL380 servers. I could only get Ubuntu server or Windows Server to run on them until now. Now I can use them to run Folding@home and heat my garage too.

re 22

ImageBurn works, I like utilities that do one thing really well.

I ran Ubuntu for awhile and enjoyed using it. But, I have 3 kids in school and they are all taught on Windows software and need it for school.

^

Well, apparently, running linux is a crime according to some teachers...

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/242520/teacher-threatens-to-call-the-cops-over-linux.html 

^ I might understand that if she tried one of the old character based distributions that assumed any dummy would create a swap partition in addition to the OS partition.

She did relent,

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/243243/helios-and-linuxhating-teacher-kiss-and-make-up.html 

Once you get Linux up and running, try K3b. I do all my burning on my Linux box now. K3b is just so easy and problem free. Drag and drop and click to burn.