At the moment I have windoes 98SE installed on my computer and I want to compleatly get rid of it and format my entire hard disk and then install mandrake. How will I do this? This might sound extra dumb but can you please give me step by step instructions e.g. 1. boot up windows 2. go onto add/remove programs ..... I dont know a thing about installing and uninstalling operating systems.
I hope that I am not asking too much.
Thanks

This will help.
http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/Mandrak...iscovery.html/

I know that but how do I get rid of Windows 98SE. Do I just insert the mandrake disk and then on this menu http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/Mandrak...itionDisks.png press erase entire disk? Or do I have to use the Windows 98SE boot disk and format the sisk that way?

Yes, selecting "erase entire disk" will wipe out 98.

when you install, you will get to a partitioning step (sorry, can't remember what it is called. )
Now, it should ask you to choose an option: and it will ask you f you want to manually partion, umm, erase windows umm... and some other stuff. You want to erase windows.

titanium_geek
PS I commend your bravery.

Thanks. So just checking here, is this what I must do?
Insert the Mandrake Disk
Bla Bla Bla
Then select the erase entire disk
bla bla bal
insert each disk the end

What about the windows boot disk everyone is talking about?

What about installing Mandrake as a dual boot option? Do I need to have unpartitioned disk space on the drive to do that, or can Mandrake adjust the existing NTFS partion and make room for the mandrake partion? currently my windows system is partitioned over the entire space of the drive.



unfun72

a windows boot disk is a floppy disk that when put in your computer when it is off and then, consequently turned on, will start a very simple windows. It is not like knoppix or any "live CD" but it avoids booting off the harddrive. It is used to start a windows install (from CD)... some people also use them to start a computer with CD Rom support while avoiding whatever is on the hard drive.. and then using whatever CD, it doesn't have to be the WIN98 cd.

As to partitioning and Mandrake:
It's not that hard. Just make sure that your windows is defragged (so all the data is lumped together) and check how much you are actually using on the hardrive (click My Computer rightclick the hardrive (C?) and click properties.
If you have the space (not using up all the space with data, not windows) then start the Mandrake install. It has a nice gui partioning tool, you should see your harddrive and it should have a rectangle representing the windows partion. Now right click on that rectangle and choose resize partion. Change the size so that you have reasonable room for linux.
Now: make a / partion and a swap partion. This is very easy and intuitive, so I won't explain it all. (plus I don't remember... )
continue the install.

This should work... keep asking questions if it doesn't.

The piece of advice I would give to any person ready to start is:
Make sure you back up all your data, then just go for it. A reinstall doesn't hurt. much.

titanium_geek