A couple weeks ago, I installed a linux distro, PCLINUXOS to be specific, on part of the hard drive of my windows xp computer because i wanted to find more about it. I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed it, but I now want ubuntu 7.04 alternate version to cover all of the hd. I heard that just installing it w/ my current current config can create problems, so I want to remove the linux and grub boot loader and install ubuntu 7.04. How do i do it?

Right now I have 6 distros on my machine:
Mepis_6
Mepis_65 (default for everyday use)
PCLinuxOS_2007
OpenSUSE_102
MandrivaSpring_2007
Fedora_7
....and Windows2K

There are no problems--except maybe remembering which is where....

The point is that---depending on the size of your hard drive, you can have multiple distros with no issues.

To simply install Ubuntu, just boot from the installation CD. When you get to the part about partitioning, select manual partitioning and delete the existing Linux partition(s) (except swap). Make a new Linux partition which is no more than 10-15GB. Leave the rest of the disk empty (unpartitioned) for future expansion. The Ubuntu installer will install a bootloader and will configure it to boot linux and Windows.

If you want to keep PCLOS and ADD Ubuntu, do "fdisk -l" and post the output here for more help.

Also see the link below for some more hints and tips.

i actually want to clear the hd and install ubuntu 7.04 alternate how to?

Boot your machine from the Ubuntu CD and then just configure the partitions as you want them for Ubuntu. Also make sure you install GRUB to the MBR of your hard disk.

When you boot the alternate install disk, and it comes time to partition, it will give you the option to either parition, or completely "take over", a drive(Erase and use entire disk, I believe is how its phrased on the alt. install). Just choose the drive, and then take over option, and let it do the rest. It will automatically set you a swap file and format the rest of the drive in ext3.


IGF

Boot from the WinXP CD, choose to enter the Recovery Console and then write at the prompt "fixmbr" and it rewrites the original MBR that comes with WinXP

Turn on computer. Before the system BOOT UP, press the key to enter the BIOS. Inside BIOS, change the First Boot Device to CD-ROM Device. <IF YOU want to cheat, and YOU'RE loyal to YOUR notes, change the Second and Third Boot Devices to CD-ROM for the install, and change them to First Boot Device Hard Drive, Second Boot Device CD-ROM, Third Boot Device Floppy Drive for after the install is finished.> Save and exit the BIOS. Reboot with the Distro <Linux of YOUR choice> in the CD-ROM tray, with the door closed. As the install starts, press all the F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 keys to read the cheat-codes, the instructions and the help destinations mentioned. Choose the cheat-codes and type in at the prompt. [IF YOU stuck with Ubuntu, go to ..http://www.ubuntu.com/ ] for any general help, here for major help...http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/ and here for tutorials and details...http://www.wiki.com/ So, Partitioning. 1) Delete the entire Hard Drive with "cfdisk". Then make the First partition /dev/hda1 Linux<83>. Later YOU can change it to Reiser File System or other. Second, choose an extended partition. Then choose a Swap partition of the same size in MB's. 1200 MB's is great. IF YOUR system is using more, make the swap space bigger than YOUR RAM Memory size. YOU need to have at least two partitions. [IF YOU love Linux, hope YOU do, YOU can create a "/home" partition for the future. That way, installing the next Distro will give YOU the option to save the "/home" partition during the "cfdisk" partitioning setup for the next Distro. NOT this present install]. Ubuntu does not use a "root" password. So be sure to setup a "user account". For help using "su", go here...https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo Now, install the features YOU want. NOTE: setting up networking during the install is easier than after the install has finished. Configure as much as possible during the install. Exception: USB devices will be configured after the USB is configured. IMHO, install those USB devices after the install is finished. Good luck to YOU. Remember to change the First Boot Device to Hard Drive to start the fresh install.