How do I wipe my computer?
I would like to wipe my computer, and load Ubuntu as its new OS.
I am backing up all my files onto a external as we speak.
I am in the process of reading up on Ubuntu forums how to create a OS disk, to load the OS after this computer is wiped.
But I do not know where to begin. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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16 Answers
I don’t see why you’d care about wiping your computer if you are going to install a new operating system on it. It sounds like an unnecessary step.
When installing Ubuntu it will ask you if you want to use the entire disk, say yes. It will warn you that the existing data will be erased, which is what you want.
Formatting C is the simplest option, which as @phaedryx points out, gets done by the install anyway.
The installer wipes the drive itself.
Test your backup and verify that you got everything and it’s readable before you do anything to your hard drive.
You might even want to go for a little redundancy and do it a second time on another storage device. Can you put your most important stuff on CDs?
@Jeruba That is so last century. DVDs, dear, DVDs!
Ok, yes, you’re right, @jerv. Aren’t you glad I didn’t say magnetic tape?
Now, Gail. I haven’t used a punch card since about 1983.
@Nullo, please test your backup before you let everything go, and consider making a duplicate backup in another medium of your choice. Gone is so damned gone.
^^^ But you do know what I am referring to, don’t you?
Punched my first 96-column IBM card in 1970. Also used to return 80-column punched cards when I paid my phone bill, electric bill, and others. These off-topic comments are going to get modded away, though.
@Jeruba As a CNC machinist, I occasionally run into machines that use punched tape.
Also, there are the dual-boot option here which sidesteps creating a disc and allows you to skip a total wipe, and the USB option as well.
Sorry, I meant to address you, @sunyata_rakshasa, and not @Nullo. I guess I got sidetracked by recalling all that great primitive technology that you young folks have probably never heard of. Diskettes, anyone?
@Jeruba I still keep floppy drives around. My computer has one, the family computer has one, and there’s another lost in storage.
My dad used magnetic tape backups once for one of his work projects. It took forever, and made a horrible noise.
Listening to Hard Day’s Night on my record player… la la la…
word i didnt know that…thanks every one! :)
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