Erase Windows XP from an old laptop and load Ubuntu linux.
I want to dedicate an old laptop exclusively to Linux OS. How do I erase Windows XP and then install Linux?
Thanks |
A little more information...
What is this machine? The age and capacity of the system will give us an idea of what to recommend. When you install linux, the installer will format the HDD to linux and erase XP. Otherwise, welcome to linux. http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...Ask_a_Question |
When you insert the Ubuntu disk you should boot into a live desktop (running directly from CD) with an installer icon on the desktop click on it and a wizard will take you though the installation to the Hard disk. There should be an option to use the entire disk (The last Ubuntu I installed was 8.04 so if I'm wrong about this someone please correct me) Select this and except defaults they will work fine for most systems.
Use the Live CD first to play around just keep in mind that running from a CD is much slower than an HDD. You also say that you are using an "old" laptop and Ubuntu is a heavy weight distro although if it used to run XP fine I can't imagine much of a problem but if your looking to get a super light OS you can do better maybe Xubuntu. If you post stats and what you want out of the system (CPU, RAM, HD etc) we may be able to give more advice Important Just a reminder that when Ubuntu reformats your disk that is the end of that windows instation. You can reinstall windows but you wont be able to get your documents and settings back. So Backup anything you dont want/can't afford to lose This is genral advice for when doing any thing with a system containing important data. |
Thanks for the information. My laptop is a 10-year old Dell Inspiron, with Intel Pentium lll, Mobile Cpu 866MHz, 863Mhz, 256 MB of RAM. The Linux distribution I have is Ubuntu 8.04 LTS DVD.
Thanks again. Will |
Does your laptop have a DVD drive or does it have a CD drive?
Does your laptop have a USB port? |
phillywill,
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BTW, I found it safer and more time-saving if I use torrent in downloading an iso, there is lesser chance of image copying error. Try this torrent link. Version 12.2 is lighter, proven stable and has more package available as of this time. For Absolute Linux usually the Open Office installer is found in the CD2. Hope it helps. Good luck. |
the xp came out in 20001
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It may be worth checking out a lighter distro on the system
The distro you want depends on what you want the system for the above ones all work well as desktops but if you want it for a specific task then it may be worth ding a bit more research. To install from CD/DVD
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Thanks again for all the info. I've had so much trouble with the Dell Laptop, so I decided to try an old HP Pavilion 7845. Linux crashed many times while trying to install. From the info you gave me, I checked, and there is insufficient memory for Linux on the Pavilion computer. There are 2 128 MB memory sticks and Linux needs 300 + MB. I purchase 2 256MB Mushkin sticks from Newegg and Linux still won't install. I went into the bios and it says I have 2 128 MB sticks - 256MB Total memory. I tried each one individually switching back and forth between the slots, etc. and bios still tells me I only have 256MB total with the 2 256MB sticksk installed. I thought maybe the memory sticks are mislabled, so I talked to the people at Mushkin. They said to ship the memory sticks to them and they will replace. That was about 10 days ago. I expect to receive the replaced sticks soon and will try again.
Just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem. I don't see how it could be a computer malfunction. I went online and collected all the specs for this particular Pavilion, and it will handle 512MB according to the specs. Thanks again. Will |
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