[SOLVED] Installed a partition of linux, would like to do clean install- without cd/u

[Niclope420]

HI,

I am new to linux, its been 10 years of wanting to try it and now I am finally here!!! (i know i could have easily tried it, but hey its how it turned out)

I installed linux first as a separate partition from my existing XP install. I now am very happy with my trial of linux and would like to do a clean install and clear the drive.

My problems lies with this.....

I have no CD-RW's on hand and I don't have a ride at the moment as I am moving between two states overseas(hawaii- where the car moved- im in california now). Or that would take care of the problem.

I do have a 1gb usb stick, that I did burn a 690mb ubuntu iso on.

When I restart the computer and go through the USB scenario of install, It loads the screen fine initially and am able to pick a language. but then it goes too a cursor in the top left corner and sits there for a while - every now and then the HD light lights up(but pretty spaced in time) noting for like 15 minutes so I restarted- does it take that long in that screen??

I have seen a method of doind on install within the existing linux by going to a "install" option thats apparently in the left corner- but I can not find this.

Is there a way to format the hard disk and re-install linux while in linux??

Thanks for your help. I am so happy I made the switch to linux- Looking forward to being on it for a while!!!

[Jonathan183]

Welcome to the forums Nidope420

Do you really want to do a fresh install or just use existing disk space for Linux?

for a fresh install try the alternate CD image rather than the desktop CD image, you could also take a look at unetbootin.

if you want to just use the rest of the disk space for Linux then install and run gparted from your existing install. If you want further advice on sorting partitions then post the output of

sudo fdisk -l

the -l has a small L rather than a one

You may also want to get PartedMagic on a USB drive so you can use that to fix things incase they break

[Niclope420]

Thanks for the tips..!! I love linux, i'm definitely ditching the wormy guy and going with the torvalds/stallman community i will try either/both methods in due time. My questions really had been intended to be about an install within the existing partioned linux while extending it throughout.

Thanks so much for your help- im looking forward to a greater integration to pc instead the distance micro keeps you from all the good stuff. Im very happy

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9726 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x41ab2316

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 9725 78116031 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 1031 MB, 1031798784 bytes
32 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1015 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 1984 * 512 = 1015808 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000273dc

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 1015 1006849 b W95 FAT32

Disk /dev/sdc: 80.0 GB, 80026362368 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x9eebbabf

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 * 1 9729 78148161 b W95 FAT32

[Jonathan183]

There are no Linux partitions listed with fdisk -l output ... did you do a Wubi install? If you did then I think backup data and a fresh install - creating Linux partitions is your best solution ... but you could also look at lvpm link from Wubi page here

[Niclope420]

yes i did a wubi install. thats intersting that its kinda like running a program on the original install. I will get to the store to get a cd-rw soon but am going to try to do a clean install off the usb again- i want only linux on the comp not MS

[Jonathan183]

yes i did a wubi install. thats intersting that its kinda like running a program on the original install. I will get to the store to get a cd-rw soon but am going to try to do a clean install off the usb again- i want only linux on the comp not MS

Alternate CD may help with this, another trick worth a try is disabling the splash screen ... I think you press tab at the initial boot screen to edit options - try removing splash and quiet from the line of text. Personally I prefer text based installers and use them when I can - they usually show more options than the GUI and tend to work on a wider range of hardware.

It sounds like backup data and a fresh install is the way for you to go ... good luck

[Niclope420]

Thanks for all your help, I managed to get it too work off the USB, a different download of same (not alternate) this time went to ubuntu logo much faster then before(like 20min compared to 2-3m). I had to make a trip so I was not online for few days.
I am very happy with linux.