I have a laptop (not very new, but P4), Windows XP is already on it. I would like to wipe out the hard drive and put a linux OS on it - probably SuSE. I do not want to make it dual boot, just linux.

What is the starting point? Should I format the hard disk first, or...? Please give me some advice as I really need it.

Thanks.

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Once you've downloaded and burned the installation CD(s), boot from them and you should have a number of options for how to create partitions for installation, including the option to wipe out the XP partition and format it for Linux.

Since you're using a laptop, you need to anticipate & solve any hardware/driver issues before wiping XP. Dual-booting for a limited time might be a good idea.

You might want to start by trying a "live-cd" boot to get a feel for compatibility. I don't know what your user level/experience is with Linux, but you could easily burn a knoppix 5.1 (latest I think) and boot up on it to see what works and what doesn't, just as a starting point. Getting wireless running won't be so easy alone, but with help from folks here it should be.

Do you know how to get a live-cd image (like knoppix),burn it, and run it?

Also give mepis a try its a "live cd" so you can check out your hardware first and if you like it it can install to your hard drive too. --You will have to either re-format your drive or shrink your windows partition to make room for it. (mepis has tools to do both right on the cd)If you decide to shrink your windows partition you can have a dual boot with windows and linux---just back up any valuable data on your windows first and run defrag a couple of times first .

Good advice, both the MEPIS part & about defragging.

More advice on this would be definietly useful.

Thanks

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First you need to download the iso, get it from here

Once download is completed, you need to burn it. An easy way is by using ISO Recorder v2, with this little app installed all you need to do is double click the iso, insert your blank CD, and go. Easy.

The nice thing about this is that you are literally booting linux off of the CD, still having the ability to access your hard drive (with WinBlows on it), and in no way affecting your current hdd-based Operating System installations.

It's magic: boot from cd--you're in Linux, just like that. Remove CD--you're not, just like that.

So you'll want to keep your OS installation from the Bad Guys' for now. Use it to burn your live-CD and to get downloads or answers (from us, for example), until you are comfortable enough to switch over.

Again, I don't know what your linux experience is. Mine is only a month old, so I'll be all too familiar with the extreme frustration you endeavor to bear. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need. Getting web access working should be your first priority, since you'll need it to do that.

Thanks ALL for all the good advice. Just to double check, does it have to be burnt using isorecorder (beciase the file has ISO extention), or any recording software would do (such as SONIC)?

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It has to be software that is designed for burning ISO images. Nero can do it, as can some other utilities. The burning software built into Windows XP cannot. ISO Recorder is probably the easiest utility to use for Windows.

I'm not sure about SONIC. You could play around with it, see if it has an option for ISOs. You can check if it worked be navigating to the CD in Windows Explorer. If all you see on the CD is the ISO image, it was written as data and it will not work. If you see folders and files, it worked.

Good advice on how to tell if the burn was successful.

I know I & others have said most of these before, but please give them serious consideration:

• Laptops are notorious for having GNU/Linux hardware/driver issues -- do not wipe XP until you are sure they are solved.
  
  
• Try SimplyMEPIS instead of Knoppix for a "live CD" experience.
  • Knoppix' emphasis is on being a live cd, while MEPIS is a permanent mainstream desktop distro. Its installer just happens to also be an excellent live CD.
  • It is waaay easier to install than Knoppix.
  • It has MEPIS specific repair features included.
  
  
• Even though your (highly admirable) ultimate goal is to rid your laptop of the M$ scourge, consider VMserver (0 cost) for the trial phase, it can even install Linux(en) directly from an iso -- no burning necessary.

Finally, 3 Q's no one has asked:

1. What is your laptop? (Link?)
2. Have you researched its specific Linux compatibility issues?
3. If the worst happens, do have XP restore media?

Thanks for the advice, but before going deeper on the technical side, I think we've got a bigger problem. This is actually my friend's laptop (dell) that I had borrowed from him about a year ago. Now he is back home but is not able to remember the admin password (I have always logged in as "guest"). The laptop cannot boot from CD, and we are not able to change anything in BIOS (boot order!), it says "configure setup is disabled." Does that mean, as my friend says, he is screwed, and he needs to get a new hard drive first? Or there is a solution? I know we are here to talk about Linux, but any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. For him, this is the first step to setup Linux on his machine.

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Thanks for all the tips. It is hard enough to open the case, not to mention finding the jumper. I highly doubt it that the mfr put this kind of info in the open and in their websites, but my friend and I will keep looking. My friend called them once, but they seemed to be reluctant to be of any help on this issue!!!

About this question (What is your laptop? Link?). The laptop is DELL Inspiron 5100. I am not sure what do you mean by "Link".

Thanks

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