If I install Linux over a corrupt Windows install, will it overwrite Windows?

Question

You'll have to forgive me if the answer to this is really obvious and I'm just missing it, but I'm not by any stretch a Linux expert and I can't seem to find this answer anywhere.

Here's the story:

Thanks to what appears to be a trigger-happy antivirus (thank you very much, avast), it appears that at least one crucial Windows system file has gone missing on my PC. I now get only a black screen on startup... doesn't move after that. I can enter BIOS, and *in theory* boot from a disk, but I have no install disk. I don't even have a restore disk (for this I have Dell to thank).

I have a backup netbook, but naturally, no CD drive with it. I've been trying to create boot disks and even whole install disks on USB drives and SD cards. The computer just can't seem to read them, though, and I know I've been ultra-precise in creating them. It probably doesn't help that I've been using the i386 file from that netbook, but I don't seem to have any more options on that front.

All this frustration has finally pushed me to fulfill a longtime goal of migrating to Linux, but if I'm going to do it, I want to be hardcore about it. So here's my question:

Will Linux overwrite Windows completely? I'd really like to just move away from it in every sense at this point, and I'm kind of a freak about loose files. Stupid as it may sound, I just don't like the idea of traces of Windows hanging around on this computer if I'm going to move away from it. It'll just be like temptation to try Windows again. :-P

Answer 1

Do it.. good luck ..

Answer 2

You don't have a recovery disc, simply because within the past two years the recovery is on a hard disk partition, usually d: drive. Users have to use the files supplied with the operating system to create their own set of Recovery CDs. If it did come with a disc, it is normally just Windows and not what has been added when installed. If you can get the computer into safe mode you might be able to make these discs. You can use a Linux LiveCD and move the files you need to keep to a thumb drive or a pen drive. If your files are not tht important, you can try to do a Factory Default recovery.



Dell XP = Ctrl + F11 while booting

Dell Vista = F8 while booting.



If these don't work then the recovery partition is gone.

Answer 3

Firstly

if you want to fix windows, you can do it with linux easily but its doesn't sound like you do so I won't even go into details



Second

Yes it will replace windows. magneticly speaking parts of windows are their, but you'd need to pay someone a **** load of money to get it back or spend a good bit of time doing research, or just buy and expense program, or try your luck at some opensource offerings



But you have to remember, that if you didn't back it up, installing linux will remove it.

EG if you have pictures, music, movies, that you can't get back, that you don't have another copy of, don't install linux before you back them up first

now to back them up you can just boot any old ubuntu disc

if you don't have one, ask your local nerd for one, their programmed to give them away, its part of being a linux users, the way you pay your dues is bring in new blood.



Or you can go to ubuntu.org an order one wait a couple weeks and get it, pay 5 bucks and get it in a week what ever

or with the computer your own now, burn the iso as an image to cd, DO NOT BURN IT AS A file, won't work, you just wasted a cd and your be very confused for about 10 minutes or so



boot ubuntu

once inside your want to back up your stuff to a thumb drive before wiping it all out



just run these commands and your be good to go



insert the thumb drive

type

# sudo fdisk -l

if you see sda use sda, if you see hda, replace sd with hd in all the following commands

# sudo mkdir /disk

# sudo mkdir /disk2

# sudo mount /dev/sda1 /disk

# sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /disk

# df -h

if /dev/sda1 /disk is less then 5 gigs you have a recovery parition

run these commands if not skip to step 2

# sudo umount /disk

# sudo mount /dev/sda2 /disk



Step 2

# du -h "/disk/Documents and Settings"

if its larger then the amount of space on your pen drive, your need a large drive to do the back up, go to bestbuy/walmart get a bigger drive

# sudo cp -R "/disk/Documents and Settings" /disk2

wait for awhile depending on how much crap you had this could take awhile, but it will backup ALL your personal settings. Depending you might need an external harddrive if a pin drive isn't big enough



now just run

# sudo umount /disk /disk2

# exit

Answer 4

Several linux-based operating I have used (like Ubuntu) have the ability to install over the window's partition or install (and make if need to) on another partition to do a dual-boot to keep windows on it.



So yes, you can have it install over the windows partition. I would advise using another external hard drive or move files to another partition that will not be install over to save any data that you will need.





BTW when creating the boot disks, did you set the compter's BIOS to boot to a usb HD before using an internal HD,

Answer 5

It depends: you have two choices here:



A) Install over Windows



B) Make a new partition for Linux, install it on the secondary partition, then boot up linux. Hopefully you can do a force mount of the Windows partition with Linux (sometimes successful, sometimes not), and hopefully reobtain some date you would have otherwise lost.

Answer 6

Linux and also a new Windows install will write over the old operating system and all files on it. Just install new Windows OS using a set of recovery disc so as not to have problems finding all the correct drivers.

The system recovery disc set can be ordered by model and serial number from http://www.dell.com customer service.

Not all lap tops come with recovery disc set, I never buy a lap top or computer with out getting a set of OS disc. Not all stores order their computers with recovery disc sets as to sell cheaper.

Answer 7

hi, do no longer panic it somewhat is hassle-free to repair, positioned your abode windows deploy disc into your CD stress and then reboot your equipment, while it boots from the disc purely go with the "restore determination" and allow abode windows do the paintings for you. this might enable you to.