i have quarintined my computer because i beleive it is infected to the nth degree. i have no internet access to it right now, until i restripe the hard drive, which i have no idea how to do. i have downloaded these files on a borrowed computer that has a cd burner. i was on bbs's before the net when i was a kid and let my computer knowledge slide. i used windows and beared it. i wouldn't even go to a mac even though, that was probably the right thing to do. i want to be a geek again. somebody help me do this.



11/03/2004 10:04PM 9,912,098 comps.rpm
11/03/2004 09:28PM 605,453 comps.xml
11/03/2004 09:58PM 9,429,444 hdlist
11/03/2004 09:58PM 23,730,748 hdlist2
11/03/2004 09:51PM 14,692,352 hdstg2.img
11/03/2004 09:51PM 14,671,872 netstg2.img
11/03/2004 09:52PM 74,567,680 stage2.img

I have no idea what you wish to do with those files, but if all you want to do is to remove Windows and install Linux, all you gotta do is to download a Linux distribution (Mandrake, Fedora, Slackware, SuSE... _any_ will do ), burn the CD and boot with the CD on the drive. All those distributions will let you partition you harddrive so you can run Windows and Linux on the same machine or use Linux exclusively.

I'd go with Mandrake if I was you. It's very easy to install and configure. If you want to invest in a good distribution, I'd go with SuSE .

If you don't have a CD-burner/fast Internet access you could always ask a friend or buy the CD's from the net for like a dollar (it's totally legal too, mind you). You can also find Linux in some computer magazines, books (there's some good books teaching how to use Redhat and it comes with the disks, for example), local computer stores or ordering the official disks...

Good luck!

If you want you could to http://www.redhat.com and download their distro from their. Then read their online documentation on how to install Fedora Core 3 or 2.

You could always get hold of knoppix

The advantages are that it will run direct from the cd, and no-need to install anything on your hard drive. This will let you see if you like gnu/linux before you change things. Also you should have access to your current hard drives and be able to back stuff up that you want.

If anyone I know expresses interest in Linux, I tend to burn them a copy of knoppix to 'try before you install'

how do i boot from the cd drive? i put the disk in there and it didn't work. do i need to make a boot disk?

Make sure the BIOS is set to boot from the CDROM drive *before* the hard drive.

i would love to set the bios up like that. unfornately i have no idea how to do that. and my emergency recovery disk i made on windows doesn't work either.

ever noticed how when you first turn you pc on, one of the lines on the screen says "hit DEL to enter setup" or somthing similar.... hit the "del" key a few times (to be on the safe side).

after the first screen has finished detecting your disk drivves and checking your ram, you will be taken to the bios screen. Each cios is different depending on your pc hardware, but somwhere in the options will be a boot sequence options... set the first boot device to "cd-rom" and the second boot device to your hard disk... probably "IDE-0"

save and exit.


its very self explainitory... but if you have ttrouble, see your motherboard instruction manual.

my only options involve starting in safemode or starting windows normally. i cant boot from the cdrom.

Hmm. I don't believe you've actually accessed the bios. Sounds like you've accessed a Windows menu. Try F1 or F2. On one of my computers F10 is the way I access my bios.

thanks. i'll try that.

i got into a config screen and found a boot block with the name of PI24A. This was a reconditioned computer. could it be resistent to change?

How to enter your Bios will depend on the motherboard. Intel generally uses 'F2' while Asus uses 'Del'. If you can tell us what Mobo you have and its Bios we can help from there.
we are talking about pressing the appropriate key about 1 - 2 seconds after initial start up.
With my Intel boards by the time the floppy is activated and it beeps once , you're too late !

good luck
live long and prosper
floppy

the boot disk is not working. i am getting a message that says NTLDR IS MISSING. the mandrake cd is not booting. i have copied mandrake cd 1 to my hard disk on both partitions.

The ntoadr is part of windows
try this:
boot your computer, and before the fans even kick over, start rapidly hitting
Del, Esc, F1, and F2 (not all at the same time)
this should get you into your BIOS