I want to start using Linux but I am not sure how to get started. I just want to set it up a server for my mvies and such. Maybe I am starting too big. I don’t know. I use to think I was moderately good at computers but I feel left behind. Just looking fro advice on my first build.
I think you’re starting too big, to use your phrase.
Get used to the basics first: what’s different (to whatever you’re running now), what’s the same. They Linux distributions almost all have GUIs (KDE, GNOME are the main ones but there are many others).
Run a live USB version from a usb stick to get used to it until you have the confidence to install it on an old pc. Personally I do not recommend dual booting; data gets lost that way. Install it on an old pc and learn how to restore your backups to a Linux filesystem (not the fs of what you’re used to on Linux platform). I write that because you said that want to end up with a Linux server.
Choose one of the top few from distrowatch.com/
Your aim is to understand what’s going on under neither the GUI; how permissions work.
I started by installing a VoIP product into a VM on Windows 2000, but there are better ways now.
Good luck. You shouldn’t find it that difficult.