Install linux and get rid of windows xp

You need to create at least two partitions for Linux - “/” and “swap” (there are ways around this but a good install should have at least 3 partitions! /, swap and home). You have to have enough free space to create the Linux partitions (5 - 15 gigs, will work, depending on the distro). Don’t try using DSL, Peanut, Puppy, etc., unless you want to have a MINIMAL system!

If you have a non-functional Windoze partition, (did you notice the NON-FUNCTIONAL part?) and you do not have a legal copy of any flavour of Windoze that you can install, then boot from the Linux install CD/DVD and let it hose everything and install clean - but I don’t recommend this.

“All these error messages” is really useful information. Here are the steps to fix it.

Once linux is up and running, you should be set to go, but again, I don’t recommend that you remove the Windoze partition - dual-booting is the way to go, until you are sure that you want to make the leap!

I was so mad that I installed a Linux distro, (I think it was MEPIS), lost my windows data, (stupid me…I didn’t bother to save my files to another drive/partition) and HAVE NEVER LOOKED BACK!

I love Linux and have closed the windows forever!

To be safe, I recommend that you get a “live CD” of a distro like Ubuntu or MEPIS and try it out. A ‘live CD’ won’t change anything on your hard drive, (like destroy the existing data etc.), and will allow you to see if Linux will work with your hardware. If the computer was running XP then chances are it has the RAM and processor speed to do real justice to a Linux distro. Most live Cd’s include a hard drive installer.

Almost all hardware now works with Linux; the exceptions being some of the latest boards for which drivers have not yet been written. So there is a very good chance your computer will work just fine under the Linux OS.

If you don’t want to spend the $1.95 for a CD, UBUNTU will send you one for free, but it takes a while as they are mailed out of Europe. Try OSDisc.com and click on the live CD tab at the top of the page. Try Puppy Linux too…you can install it on a 1Gb thumb drive just in case you hard drive is kaput!