I am using Ubuntu Intrepid installed on Windows XP hard drive and want to go solo with Ubuntu in a clean install. Can I use my existing files in any way other than aptoncd for the updates or do I have to begin again with the cd at bootup? Put another way, can I use Ubuntu to get rid of Windows?

This gives you some instructions on how to dual boot ubuntu and windows.

This means that when your computer starts up, it will let you choose between using Ubuntu or using Windows. Unless you really know what you're doing, I recommend you keep Windows at least for now.

If you do decide to do this, BACKUP ALL OF YOUR IMPORTANT FILES. I can't stress that enough. Usually, on Windows, this is mainly your 'My Documents' folder. However, if you're using any special software (besides just Microsoft Office) let us know and we can try to help you with that as well.

This is especially true if you're using any financial software, such as Microsoft Money or Quicken. If you are, please let us know and we'll try to help.

Also, here is a list of local linux user groups which I'm sure would be happy to help you out.

I hope I'm not making you feel dumb, that's not my intention. But the first time you install a dual booted linux, it's really easy to make big mistakes.

If you have any questions on backing up or how to do the things in the linked instructions, just reply back.

Thanks for your reply.
Looks like I will be using the Intrepid installation disc and my aptoncd backup disc of programs I have previously added and starting from the very beginning. I thought there may be a way to use a program such as ghost to copy just the Ubuntu section of my dual boot to the hard drive once it had been formatted.

Question, what do you mean here:

Do you already have a dual boot set up?

Anywho, you don't really need ghost on linux, as linux comes with all the tools to do things like this. You can use anything from cp to dd to tar.