[Carlcarlos]

I have resently Acquired an ASrock that is a couple of years old, it has no operating system and I am desperate to turn it into an xmbc media centre. I am a complete tech dunce but willing to try, can any one please point me to an online guide explaining how I get an OS up and running on it (for idiots guide ideally) as I have spent hours searching the net for something I can understand

[artrafael]

Welcome to the XBMC forums.

You can download the XBMCbuntu image file and burn it to a CD or to a USB flash drive using Unetbootin. You can then boot your system with either the CD or flash drive and follow the instructions to either run XBMC in "Live" mode or install it on your system's hard drive.

XBMCbuntu includes the OS, so no separate installation required.

[MassIV]

Download the XBMCbuntu.iso (link in artrafael's post).
Download ImgBurn http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
Or if you have your own burn program for iso.... use thatof course.

Burn the iso file on a CD or DVD using ImgBurn.
Here is a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpzqJqYlwj8

Put the burned CD in your ASrock and boot (it should boot from the CD by itself).
Having a screen and keyboard hooked up is easy at this point...

It will ask if you want to install. Yes, you want this.
Follow the questions on screen (and you don't have to care about old files so just let it format if it wants to).
Write down passwords you might use, on a post-it, and stick it to your forehead.

When it's done. Remove the CD and boot up from the hard disk.
Come back and ask your newly discovered questions.