Linux Mint Forums

i am typing on the machine now but if i boot via the normal method i get a poor quality display output and the system goes in to kernel panic if i use the internet.
However i now boot recovery mode then resume normal boot and all is fine.
im very new to linux but quite like the few distro's i have seen and am keen to kiss Microsoft goodbye.
Hardware is as follows

dual booting with win 7 but separate hdd's
amd phenom 2 x6 processor
radeon 6600hd graphics
asus m5a97 motherboard
8gb ram
1 x solid state hdd with win 7
2x hdds besides.

as im new i dont know where to start i have tried downloading a display driver but when i tried installing i got kernel panic again.

Thanks for any advice offered

checking graphic Drivers in use ,with command :
open terminal If GLX renderer listed Gallium 3d, you are use open source radeon driver
To install Driver from AMD, open software sources ( search from menu ), select additional drivers .