Solved Want to completely remove Windows 7 Starter and install Linux

[davidjsingle]

Hi,

I am currently running Windows 7 Starter on my HP Mini and I would like to completely remove it and install a Linux distribution instead.

My knowledge of computers is very limited in this direction, and I would love some help from one of the many knowledgeable members of these forums.

Is it possible to back up what I need to keep onto an external HDD, wipe the internal HDD, install Linux, and replace all of my files?

 

[whs]

! You should copy all your own files to an external disk or USB stick - best would be both. Format the stick in Fat32.

2. I would also take a system image to an external disk - just in case you do not like Linux and want to get back to Windows: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

3. Linux is not all fun and games. I hope you are familiar with it because it is a very geeky OS and not for the faint at heart.

4. The internal disk I would format in Linux because they have different file systems.

 

[davidjsingle]

Oh, Linux doesn't look all that bad. In fact, many distributions seem to be more user friendly than Windows (there are even some made specifically for children).

I'm not sure what it means to "format the stick in Fat32".

You recommend installing Linux over the top of Windows and then formatting the internal disk?

Thanks for your patience. As I said, this stuff is all well over my head.

 

[whs]

I think you have the wrong notion of Linux. I am running Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Puppy, Mint) since years. If you are only doing real simple things (browse the web, look at pictures, create a document) then it is easy. But as soon as you want to do something a bit more advanced (e.g. edit a video or audio), life gets complicated. Even trying to edit pictures with e.g. Gimp is not for the uninitiated. And for anything out of the ordinary, you are on the command line.

Make a test and try to copy a file with a live Puppy CD - Puppy is one of the easiest. Have fun.

Before you format the stick, look which format it already has. Most sticks are Fat32.

If you want to format your internal disk for Linux, use a live Linux CD.

Given that you say that you do not know much about computers, I would strongly recommend to rethink that project. Windows is a LOT easier than Linux. Why do you think 90% of the PC users use Windows and only 1.5% use Linux.

 

[davidjsingle]

Point taken, whs. I am a student with very limited money, and if something goes wrong, I cannot afford to replace my computer. Also, I don't have the time or inclination to learn how to use Linux, given it is as complicated as you say.

Ignoring Linux then, I would love to know the quickest, easiest, safest method of starting from scratch, of wiping my hard drive and reinstalling Windows. Now, I don't have any of the original software or manuals that came with the computer, as I inherited it from my late grandfather when he passed. What will I need to make sure the re-installation runs smoothly?

Thanks again for the prompt and respectful responses.

 

[M1GU31]

simplest distribution of linux would be Ubuntu or mint due to experience of me using it in the past before but does require you to learn some cmd prompts to install certain programs and tweaks. If you want to reinstall windows then you should follow this method, click the following blue letters
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[davidjsingle]

Hi M1GU31,

the problem with that tutorial is that it requires a Windows disk to install from. I don't have any Windows disks as I received this computer second-hand from my late grandfather, and I have no idea where he kept the disks.

Is there any way to get around this? Is this what disk images are used for?

 

[M1GU31]

Have you checked if there is a recovery partition of some sort in the hdd? Sometimes some machines will have that when they don't give you the disk and would have to burn it your self from the files provided in the recovery partition or install directly from that recovery partition.If you can't get a hold of one i could always help you install ubuntu if you want which is a linux distribution.

 

[davidjsingle]

There is a recovery partition, but I don't know what to do with it...

 

[davidjsingle]

It's alright. I've decided to find the answer myself and do a bit of sleuthing. It doesn't seem all that difficult. Thanks for your help.

 

[Barman58]

Start point for research ....

24/7 Online support for HP's Home and Home Office Products - HP technical support (United Kingdom - English)

You should be able to obtain the manual for the HP Mini you have which should guide you through re-install process

This is the UK page, you may need to go to your HP site for your region

 

[davidjsingle]

Indeed, thank you Barman58. I'm on there now. I expect everything will be pretty straight forward from this point on (famous last words, right?).

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Barman58]

Couple of words of advice before actually proceeding.

Make backups of any personal files before you start, no matter what the manual says about retaining user files.

make sure you understand exactly what you need to do, print out or write down the instructions, once you start you will lose the instructions, as the pc is reformatted

 

[davidjsingle]

Yes, certainly. I am backing up as we speak, twice for really important files.

The point you raise about getting a had copy of the instructions is a good one, and taken on board.

Cheers.

 

[gregrocker]

You'll do better with the clean start since HP's have the worst load of bloatware and useless factory utilities which have better versions built into Win7.

Everything you need is here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

However if you want to try recovering to factory condition the steps are here: HP Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

Then you can try to Clean Up Factory Bloatware - Windows 7 Forums

 

[davidjsingle]

Hi gregrocker,

I agree that HP is terrible for so-called "bloatware". I have already restored my computer to factory settings, and chose to do a minimal image (or something like that) installation, which, HP tell me, install only the essential software and leaves out much of the bloatware. So far, it all looks pretty trim.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[gregrocker]

I agree that HP Minimal install is as close to a Clean Reinstall as Factory Recovery gets.

I would select to use "Independent Wireless Manager" in HP Wireless preferences to release it then after defaulting to Win7 built-in wireless uninstall it since it can add time to Startup and interfere with Win7's superior built-in Wireless management in the bottom right System tray.

 

[whs]

Hi David, Sorry I was AWOL for a while - other tasks were calling. Follow the advice of Greg. He is the installation expert.

And when you are done installing, you must make images. Then you are safe for whatever happens. Any event from which the system can go on the blink (simple crash, a virus, a damaged disk) and you can restore the system from the image. An image can be restored in 20 minutes - beats reinstalling and all the hassle.

You do, however, need an external disk, but it is worth it. I recommend free Macrium. Here is a little tutorial I made: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I When you are ready, post back and I will help you set it up.

 

[SIW2]

Why do you think 90% of the PC users use Windows and only 1.5% use Linux.

Marketing.

 

[whs]

Why do you think 90% of the PC users use Windows and only 1.5% use Linux.

Marketing.

I don't think so. I use several Linux distros and get along with them. But getting serious work done in Linux is more complex than in Windows.

Linux is for academics and hard core geeks - in my opinion. Some distros like Mint look easy at the surface, but as soon as you want to do things outside the basic setup you have to really know what you are doing.