Installed Linspire...Is Windows Gone?
 

Ok so I've read and I know that Linspire, or Lindows changes the boot order.
That would be why I'm not getting my boot manager asking me which OS I want to use.
I have a question though. I am a newb at this, so be patient with me. :)

I have, or maybe had, windows 2k. Installed Partition Magic 8. Created a partition behind the Windows drive, for Lindows. Partition Magic then stated that the Windows drive was now hidden and the linux ready drive was active. I rebooted and it prompted to install Linspire. I went through the advanced set-up as I partitioned my drive. When it brought up my hard drive and partitions. It showed only one partition. In a hurry to get to work (first mistake I know) I let it do it's thing.
Linspire installed. No problems. But now do I still have Windows 2k on there? It says there's only 23% of my hard disk space used. Wouldn't that show as more if Windows is still on there? I don't want to change the boot thing if there is no other OS on there, or will it automatically boot into Linspire if there's no other OS?
And if I lost Windows, do I have to do the fdisk thing and reinstall both linspire and windows? In which case, do I need a boot disk for windows? I had one...but apparently BOOT DISK DON'T TOUCH means put-pictures-on-me to my roommates...:(
So if I need a boot disk, where can I download one? And how do I do fdisk? I told you I'm a newb. :D


P.S.
I tried connecting through the messenger that was bundled with Linspire, and it hangs about halfway through connecting on the yahoo side of it.

From what you have said it appears that when you began to install Linspire you may have cliked on use entire hard drive to install Linspire what you should have done was go for the second option to install into other partition. or if you got to the point where it asked where to install you may have instaled onto the part of the drive allocated for Win2K if thats the case then I think you will have writen over the other OS which would mean reinstalling both ( unless you can instal PQ8 into Lindows not sure new to Linux progames myself.

You do not need to fdisk but format the partition to do this you need a bootable version of win 2K or a win 98 boot disk never liked Win 2K so dont know if Win 2K will boot of a win 98 boot disk best to ask advice on that if you are not sure.

Anyway first thing to do is go into bios and advanced setup ( may viary ) depending on bios

For bootable Cd change the boot sequence to start from CD rom and second to Floppy

For Floppy boot installation change the boot sequence to start from Floppy or removable Drive = A drive and second CD Rom

I tend to disable the HDD installation at this time as if it don't find the boot records on cd / floppy it will look in the next place this being your hard drive

If I remember rightly Win 2K allows you to either boot from CD or it may be easier to put your CD on a new machine and create the boot disks think its about 4 floppy disks ( either way do this first just incase )

As you can see it's starting to get long winded and if you are not sure how to format the C drive. best get a friend to do it ( Someone who knows )

If you want to carry on here goes.

once the boot sequence has been set save changes in bios and restart make sure you have the CD in the drive when starting up if it is a bootable CD then it will obviously start booting up if not it will tell you invalid boot device however if you put the 1st floppy boot disk in when you started it will look hear as the second option and so should find the boot record from there it should be plain sailing just follow the instructions and choose to format the C:/ when given the option hope all goes well;)

Ps don't forget to change the boot sequence back to HDD 1st after Win 2K is reinstalled.

Forget Windows. I'm going to learn this. Should I reinstall Linspire then, and have it just take over the hard drive, because that was not the option I did on the first install. And it runs slow when opening programs. Also, my web browser freezes on me. And I'm still trying to find how to install programs I've downloaded. As they are not executable, double click, stare blankly it's installed for you. But I want to learn this, I am a sponge, soak me with information. So are there any web pages I could look at and read that explain what I just asked?

Any information would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.

Youve got more balls than me I would be duel booting untill I was compitant enough to move over to Linux.

As I said I am also a newbie to Linux and am looking to use SuSe Linux as I installed Linspire but was not to impressed, as for exe files you need to ask others cos I stared blankly when I had the same problem when you find out how to lets know.

Yeah I'm going for a linux only environment now. And I have a copy of Mandrake 10. From what I've read, it seems to be a pretty decent distro.
Linspire is rather simple to get around, and I've adapted to it quite well. I'm still not down with the compliling of files when downloading a program. But that'll come with practice and proper instruction. Speaking of which, is there any site that explains in detail, and somewhat laymen's terms on how to do this?

Well, I haven't read through the whole thing, but a quick google search brought up this article:

http://www.pcplus.co.uk/tutorials/de...bsectionid=377

:study:
Wow. I've been reading that and other articles on that site above for the past few hours. Very very informative. Thank you very much for that link. I am suddenly alot more excited about diving into the world of linux. I would recommend that site to any :newbie: to linux. Thanks again.