I know that this forum is for linux.. but in order for me to use linux, I need to install it first. I just recently bought a 2nd hand computer off of ebay, (yes, ebay, but 390 bucks is really good for what I got.. if you guys can help me get it working...) but it only starts in safe mode, and also beeps alot for some reason. How do I boot windows XP pro out of safe mode so that I can install linux, and use a boot loader to use windows and linux.. The computer is a custom whitebox, 2 hard drives (80gb and 20gb), amd athon 2400, 2ghz, 1gb ram. well, any help would be very appreciated.. thanks.

why do you need out of safe mode to install linux? Use the winXP disc and try to do a repair.

Someone else in here prob has a lot more windows knowledge than I do though.

It sounds like the previous owner probably removed all of the files from the machine - and why not?

If you do not plan to keep windows, don't worry about it, just install linux from a CD.

oh yeah.. I forgot to say that the seller did not send the windows xp cd... I didnt think you could install linux in safe mode though.. but I think xp is still on it... I still want windows xp because of some games too. so is there any way to keep xp.. or do I need the cd? and plus theres no floppy drive by the way.. and the cd tray looks kinda flimsy plastic... thanks.

Installing Linux has nothing to do with WinXP being in or out of safe mode. The only possible problems I can forsee is you not having space for a Linux and a swap partition, and QTparted buggering the repartitioning up. As I have already ranted, BOOT CD'S ARE LOADED BY THE BIOS! WinXP will never know Linux is there!

Edit:
And this REALLY should have been put in General.

safe mode is a "property" of XP and not of linux.....for installing linux what you require is a bootable linux cd. put that cd into cd-rom, start the system, go to BIOS( i hope u know all this ) , make the changes in booting priority....boot for the linux cd and install it.
Even if you are thinking of reparing the 'XP" you need to have cd for that.

regards

Unfortunately, if you don't have the windows CD, then your road ahead is a bit more difficult.

If it is very important to you to utilize windows, then you are going to HAVE to find someone with an installation CD. Now, the trouble is - you'll have to be sure which version of windows is licensed on that pc. If you know which version, and say it is XP Home, then you'll need to get a copy of windows XP home installation CD. You'll also have to know the product ID for the copy of windows XP that was installed on that PC. (usually it is on a sticker on the machine case).

If you can figure all of that out, then you'll be able to restore the windows OS and use it.

By the way, if you go down this path, then be sure to try to obtain a windows XP disc with Service Pack 2; otherwise it will be an additional 2 or more hours of downloading to bring it up to date...

There is a slight chance that the windows software exists on the PC intact.

I am not sure exactly what you are seeing when you attempt boot-up. Can u supply a description of exactly what u see when you turn the machine on?

Shuffling this one to General ... XP & safe mode (no
matter for what reason one wants to get there) isn't a
Linux question ...

for you to be using the software that was left on that machine. (As a matter of reference) And, as it was already mentioned, this IS supposed to be a forum for LINUX questions.

That being said, let me say to you that I sympathize with your plight very much. Being a big gamer myself, I miss a lot of the stuff that I had available to me on a relatively new machine running XP ( I had a little hardware accident at my house recently). However, I would advise you to be very cautious of anything that you need to do in addition to what you already have on that machine to get it ´up and running´ with the OS in question (as it is really not even legal for you to be using this after you purchased it from someone else). Yes, you can go out there and get a copy of this, but at the very LEAST someone is probably going to notice that you are doing this, not to mention the fact that you are just ASKING for a problem with VIRUS.

There was a store right by my house that was selling a FASTER PC for $200 that I believe included XP home just a couple of weeks ago, and that is the route that I would advise you to go with this if you are not willing to spend more of your time solving problems that have to do with this (as opposed to spending your time playing the games that you wanted this for in the first place). For obvious reasons, forums like this absolutely CANNOT condone any use of any product that is not completely legitimate