The computer works fine. I want to get rid of the XP operating system so I can install a Linux operating system without having to deal with the existing OS (which frankly is getting in the way). I’ve got the install disk and everything for the Linux boot. I just want to get rid of XP completely and I can’t figure out how.
07
Sep/10
Just install linux and delete the existing partitions.
The linux installer should give you the option of installing over the entire drive. This will format the drive for you.
Otherwise, load into Linux, open up QT Parted, Parted, GParted, or some variation of some kind of partition utility and delete the NTFS partition. Make sure you commit the changes to disk. Then run the linux installer.
Installing Linux will take care of that – just run the installer, partition the drive (into at least 3 partitions – /home, / and a swap partition) and let it install. Windows won’t get in the way.
(If Windows keeps booting even though you have the Linux CD in the drive, it’s not Windows that’s cauysing the problem – you have to get into setup [watch the screen when the computer is starting up] and change the boot order, so the CD drive comes before the hard drive.)
(The reason for the 3 partitions for Linux is that when you install a Linux upgrade, you can install it to / without losing your stuff on /home. I usually partition it further, so /sbin, at least, has its own partition. That’s where programs I add go.)
If you don’t have a linux OS installed, just boot up your install disk, in the partition program delete your Windows partition, and put in the / partition, your swap partition (about twice the size of your memory so often 700k to a gig or less) and any other partitions you like, decide what file system you are going to use (in Ubuntu it’s ext3 of course) and it will reformat the drive so thoroughly the former head of Computer Associates was jailed for installing linux on a machine which had been subpoenaed. Forensics couldn’t get it back.
The Linux installer (depening on flavour) should be able to delete all existing partitions during the installation, however if it cant boot from your Windows CD and use the Windows installer to delete the partition but don’f format it just stop the install after deleting the the partition (press the power button on the PC) then use the Linux CD to create a new partition on the blank disk.
dude no body else answered you question strait up, buy a 20 dollar program called window washer create a boot disc. boot you computer to it, then wipe the hard drive 35 times. this will destroy all.