Need help formatting a W2k computer

[VetLegion]

You can acquire Partition Magic. It's a tool that will allow you to merge partitions C: and D: without reinstalling the OS. It's not free.

[Q Classic]

Or, you could install linux. I can hold your hand through the process when you try it the first time, using Ubuntu.

It's worth it, if you want to keep the box around as a utility thing.

[Alinestra Covelia]

Originally posted by Q Cubed
Or, you could install linux. I can hold your hand through the process when you try it the first time, using Ubuntu.

It's worth it, if you want to keep the box around as a utility thing.

That could work. I'm very averse to throwing any computer stuff away, but it doesn't make sense for me to upgrade everything to the latest OS even if this particular rig could take it (which it can't).

I've never done anything Linux based so that would definitely make the computer unique in the household, OS wise, and thus useful to keep around.

[DrSpike]

Download Win2k on another machine.

[Zoid]

Ubuntu Linux 7.10 is very easy to install and runs on quite old machines. I use it on an old IBM with no problem.

Go to http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

The download is an .iso file you can burn to a CD (use "burn image to disc" or what your burner software calls it)

Pop the cd in the tray and boot from it. When you get the Ubuntu desktop click on the "Install" icon.

[Alinestra Covelia]

All right, we are go! Expect more blind thrashings and fumblings in the dark from me, Zoid

[DrSpike]

And what about the OS?

[Q Classic]

Ubuntu's a good start. It's actually probably one of the easiest to install/use from the get go.

[Alinestra Covelia]

So, wait, if I want to install a Linux OS and also format everything off the hard drive, what order should I do that in? (The reason for this is that there's weird behavior when the computer is connected to the Internet, and also when it's simply left on for too long and I want to start anew.)

[Q Classic]

You are sure you have absolutely everything you want off the old hard drive, and would not mind clearing it and emptying it out? You won't be able to get the data back once this happens. Pretty much, what you'll be doing when you install Ubuntu is this:

Boot from the CD; click on the Install thing. It will eventually ask you to pick a disk, and there you can tell it to erase the entire hard drive, which should appear like /dev/hda1 or some such.

Then continue with the installation, and it'll go from there.

The weird behavior from connecting to the internet might be cruft from the OS being old, and will vanish with a clean installation of any OS. (The alternative is hardware failure, but let's cross that potential bridge if we get to it.)

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia
All right, we are go! Expect more blind thrashings and fumblings in the dark from me, Zoid

I'm here if you need me

When you get to the hard disk partitioning screen be sure to choose choose "Guided - use entire disk", that wipes the entire disk and W2k.

[Zoid]

Originally posted by DrSpike
And what about the OS?

[Alinestra Covelia]

Nice, it's going.

[Zoid]

Have fun!

[Alinestra Covelia]

...and it's done. I'm accessing the internet from this computer for the first time in about a year. Thanks be to Linux!

Now, what software should I get for this computer? Will normal antivirus software work or do I need to get a Linux specific one, for example? Can it run things like my chat programs, etc.?