Want to move on from XP to Linux,

[Jameson]

I just inherited a rather slow computer running XP, which of course makes it run much slower with all of the lovely viruses that come with it. I want to completely unistall Windows XP, completely wipe the harddrive, and install Linux. How can I do this? I've already looked up a bunch of sites but none seemed to help.

Also, I need a Linux suggestion. I've run Knoppix but I don't care for it too much. Fedora possibly? Suggestions please...

Many thanks,
Jameson

 

[dduardo]

I would try Ubuntu, especially if you new to linux.

http://www.ubuntulinux.org/download/

You can check out the installer here:

http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/slideshow.php?release=305&slide=1

Very self explanatory. You mostly have to press enter.

 

[mattmns]

I started with Fedora when I made the switch and it was quite easy, I then switched to Ubuntu. So I would agree with dduardo, Ubuntu is a good choice.

also check out

http://www.ubuntuforums.org

 

[Jameson]

Thanks guys, but I'm still stuck with completely wiping Windows and keeping my comp intact... can you help me?

 

[mattmns]

First step, download ubuntu, or whatever distro you are looking at.

Then burn it to a cd/dvd.

Then put the cd in and setup your bios to boot from the cd. (When you start your computer you will see something like press Del to enter bios. Or some other key.

From there just check out the link that dduardo posted about install instructions.

When you install ubuntu you will (should) have an option to format the harddrive, which will erase the harddrive, including windows xp.

 

[Jameson]

Just wondering, why did you swtich from Fedora to ubuntu?

 

[mattmns]

I was using fedora core 2 at the time and it was out of date. I was actually going to upgrade to fedora core 3 but I decided to give Ubuntu a shot since I had heard some good things about it.

 

[exequor]

Lately I've been doing the same thing. I've made two changes:
i. I will no longer install linux on partitions, I'm running it on vmware. I recommend this. I just hate partitioning my drive, I rather have linux on a separate box.
ii. I'm moving away from Redhat (i've never upgraded to fedora).

Ubuntu seems to be the most popular in recent times and I'm going to try it along with Gentoo, Suse and Slackware. In vmware I can load many OSs (once the space is available). When I'm done trying them I will delete a couple (I think I will keep Ubuntu and Slackware).

 

[Nereid]

What's 'vmware'?

 

[dduardo]

vmware is virtual machine software. It basically simulates a computer.

 

[Anttech]

I have never used Ubuntu, but use Fedora core a lot... dduardo, why are you recomending Ubuntu? Just curious!

 

[Jameson]

I've done my homework on the different OS's for Linux and it seems to me that Mandrake 10.1 is the best for me, it uses a nice graphical KDE (or Gnome if you prefer) interface and it is good for newbies such as myself. Does anyone have any thoughts on Mandrake?

Also, if I format my drive after I install Linux, won't that delete Linux as well?

 

[Nylex]

I've done my homework on the different OS's for Linux and it seems to me that Mandrake 10.1 is the best for me, it uses a nice graphical KDE (or Gnome if you prefer) interface and it is good for newbies such as myself. Does anyone have any thoughts on Mandrake?

Also, if I format my drive after I install Linux, won't that delete Linux as well?

Most (if not all) distributions come with GNOME and KDE.

Yeah, if you format your drive after installing Linux, that will wipe everything.

 

[dduardo]

Jameson, it's not Mandrake, it's Mandriva.

Anttech, I haven't personally used it, but I've heard very positive comments about Ubuntu. I've also tried Fedora and Mandrake and know they aren't all that great. That is why I am recommending Ubuntu.

 

[Jameson]

So how would I go about only deleting Windows?

 

[Adrian Baker]

I've done my homework on the different OS's for Linux and it seems to me that Mandrake 10.1 is the best for me, it uses a nice graphical KDE (or Gnome if you prefer) interface and it is good for newbies such as myself. Does anyone have any thoughts on Mandrake?

Also, if I format my drive after I install Linux, won't that delete Linux as well?

I use Mandrake 10.1 and really like it. I'm struggling to completely move over to Linux as I need to be compatable with work computers, but Mandrake is the best distro I've tried. I've used Red Hat and Fedora, but Mandrake was much better.

Suse looks pretty good too. I've never tried Ubuntu, but have heard good things about it.

Installing Linux will format your drive for you.

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

I have used ubuntu and mandriva (aka Mandrake 2005) and I liked them both. The only reason I'm still using xp is because of compatibility issues with my wireless adapter and games and stuff like that. Once I get to college (this august) and have a direct connection, I'm going to try to switch entirely over.

 

[Jameson]

So I'm at the Mandriva download site and I have no idea which version matches my PC and processor. The computer I'm going to use it on is a Compaq and it runs a 1.1 GHz Intel Celeron processor. Thanks for the help!

 

[dduardo]

Jameson, the installer will walk you through what you need to do. I think your confused when your disk gets formatted. For example, if you have windows installed already then the Linux installer will first format the drive (if you tell it to) and then install linux.

If you want to install both windows and linux on the same drive you first want to install windows and give it 50% of the space. Then install linux and tell the installer to use the other 50%.

------

You can download mandrake here:

http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=29

All you need are the three cds for mandriva 10.1

 

[Jameson]

I think I'm up to date on the partitioning part. What I was referring to are the different versions on the Mandriva website... I'll paste them.

LE2005 ISO CD for i586:
LE2005 ISO CD for x86_64:
LE2005 ISO CD for PPC:

which one should I use is the question

 

[dduardo]

PPC = PowerPC (G4, G5)
x86_64 = 64 Bit Processor (AMD64,Opteron,etc)
i586 = 32 Bit Processor (Pentium, Athlon, etc) <-- This is what you want

the 586 comes from the naming scheme back in the day. I don't know if you remember the 386 and 486 processors.

-----

Actually i586 is really Pentium I
i686 is Pentium II and greater. But it doesn't matter.

 

[Jameson]

Ah, thank you very much.

 

[Jameson]

HELP!

I'm installing Mandriva right now and it's on the part about the bootloader... which option should I select? Where do I partition? The first sector of HD or root partition?? I don't want to mess this up.

 

[dduardo]

Depends. Do you have windows installed as well? If you do then put it on the boot partition. If not put it on the first sector.

 

[exequor]

I'm installing Ubuntu first because it's a bit smaller than the other OSs_ I'll have to leave off gentoo for a while because I don't have the connection speeds to download it then to spend 3 days downloading and compiling. Ubuntu is ranked #1 on www.distrowatch.com.

As for Ubuntu only i386, ppc and amd64 downloads are available. I started downloading for the i386 (hope its the right thing). 64bit stuff is usually backwards compatible with 32bit stuff right?

 

[dduardo]

Only download the amd64 cds if you have a 64 bit processor. You will not be able to run 64bit code on a 32 bit processor, but you will be able to run 32bit code on a 64 bit processors.

 

[CharlesP]

"First step, download ubuntu, or whatever distro you are looking at.
Then burn it to a cd/dvd. "

The download comes as an image. I have Nero 5. I cannot burn an image because it is too complicated. Someone send me a message on the side. Thanks.

 

[gerben]

I have Nero 6 and there it is simply:
Recorder->burn image

 

[Grotesque Puppet]

Just right-click the image and open it with nero

 

[CharlesP]

Nero 6 is $79. I can't justify the price.