Thread:TK-999/@comment-4347751-20130906145512/@comment-303594-20130906213738

I don't think Debian runs the X windowing system by default (to check this, try running startx at the prompt), it's one of the reasons why I wouldn't recommend it as a Linux distro for new users. Another reason why I wouldn't recommend it is that the installation guide is over 140 pages, that kinda suggests that it's slightly more hardcore than a typical OS.

The distros I would recommend are:
 * Linux Mint
 * Fedora
 * Ubuntu
 * OpenSUSE

They all have graphical installers and come with a graphical interface by default.

You should always back up your data before installing any operating system. If you don't have a backup, I'm sorry - you might be able to get some of your data back from a data recovery specalist.

Read installation carefully, and ask questions if you're unsure before committing to doing something.