General Question

sunyata_rakshasa's avatar

How do I wipe my computer?

Asked by sunyata_rakshasa (350points) August 28th, 2012

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.

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

16 Answers

phaedryx's avatar

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.

Nullo's avatar

Formatting C is the simplest option, which as @phaedryx points out, gets done by the install anyway.

jerv's avatar

The installer wipes the drive itself.

Jeruba's avatar

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?

jerv's avatar

@Jeruba That is so last century. DVDs, dear, DVDs!

Jeruba's avatar

Ok, yes, you’re right, @jerv. Aren’t you glad I didn’t say magnetic tape?

gailcalled's avatar

Or punch cards.

Jeruba's avatar

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.

gailcalled's avatar

^^^ But you do know what I am referring to, don’t you?

Jeruba's avatar

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.

jerv's avatar

@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.

Jeruba's avatar

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?

jerv's avatar

@Jeruba 8-track; enough said.

Nullo's avatar

@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.

zensky's avatar

Listening to Hard Day’s Night on my record player… la la la…

sunyata_rakshasa's avatar

word i didnt know that…thanks every one! :)

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther