Cleaning out hand-me-down computer

Robertpinkerton · 04-15-2018, 06:56 PM

What I have is a Dell Vostro 200, loaded with Ubuntu 14.04, at least third-hand; so I have no idea what detritus might be buried therein. For example, I cannot convince my computer that it is in Cleveland rather than Youngstown. What I want to do, is format the hard drive and re-install de novo. I have placed my own files on flash drives, and I have a disc of my OS. Would you please tell me how to format the hard-drive? Thank you.

syg00 · 04-15-2018, 07:44 PM

Couple of options:
- stick the system disk in and boot it - choose "Try Ubuntu" or whatever. Use gparted (install it in need), and delete the partitions. You may have to swapoff the swap partition to get rid if it. Then just install and allow it to allocate partitions.
- boot the disk and install - at the partitioning step choose the mountpoints for the already existing partitions and tick the "Format" box for each. Proceed as normal.

yancek · 04-15-2018, 07:57 PM

If you have not data on the drive you want/need, simply select the option to Erase Disk and install Ubuntu. If you are using Ubuntu, you might move up to 16.04 if that's not what you have. The installer will create partitions for you and format what is currently on disk and install the bootloader. Link to Ubuntu documentation below. If you are not using Ubuntu, a quick google on installing NAME OF DISTRO should get you some help.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall