StarDestroyer.Net BBS

So. I've been trying to get a new operating system on my laptop, which is presently an IBM Thinkpad P3, 500 mhz, 512mb ram and a 12 gig hdd. After attempting to install Ubuntu a couple of times with minimal to no success, I'm needing to nuke the hdd and start over.

Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to erase the previous installations of ubuntu from it with no operating system that can be booted up at the moment. So if someone could tell me how to do this from the setup menu selection of ubuntu, or using knoppix, it would be greatly appreciated.

Doesn't the install menu have an option to wipe what's there?

When it comes to partitioning the HDD, choose the custom setup option. You can then select any partitions on there and alter what filing system they use or flat out delete them if you want. The installation process will then produce the root and swap partitions after you've done what you wanted and install the base system as normal.

If you want to go nuts, use DBAN (Darik's Boot-and-Nuke) to blank the hard drive. Takes a little while, even if you use the "quick" nuking method, but the hard drive will be erased and ready to go.

Alferd Packer wrote:If you want to go nuts, use DBAN (Darik's Boot-and-Nuke) to blank the hard drive. Takes a little while, even if you use the "quick" nuking method, but the hard drive will be erased and ready to go.

Excellent. This seems to be exactly what I needed. Thanks.