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Sooo, I have learned that linux isn't for me.

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  • Hard Drives
  • Ubuntu
Last response: in Linux/Free BSD
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March 24, 2014 11:22:33 PM

Hello everyone!
I have tested Ubuntu 13.10 and really, really hate the user interface. I didn't go into it thinking I would love it, just wanted to have an OS on my new build whilst waiting for my Windows 7 to come in the mail.
I have Ubuntu on my harddrive now, and I want to COMPLETELY delete everything off of it. This was a fresh 1TB sata, and I am unsure of how to go about this. Maybe I will try a new distro in the future, after I get Windows configured, because there are, in fact obvious benefits of linux. (free software anyone?)

TL;DR, Completely new harddrive with nothing on it but Ubuntu 13.10+apps and whatnot. How to completely wipe, so it's like factory new again?

More about : sooo learned linux

Best solution

March 24, 2014 11:40:23 PM

Try Kubuntu, which is based on KDE. Even running 'sudo apt-get install kde-plasma-desktop' on your existing install will let you choose which GUI to use when you log in.

There's a huge number of people, me included, who HATE the Unity interface. Don't tarnish the whole of GNU/Linux because of it.

If you do want to completely wipe the drive, you can do that from the Windows DVD when you install Windows.
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March 24, 2014 11:55:55 PM

Oh Someone, hello again. I remember you from my last thread, you're the best.
I'm gonna take your advice on KDE, that is the one I was interested in anyway. I heard that GNOME *used* to feel much better to users, but it has changed somhow to make it worse. But the reason I want to wipe my HDD completely is because my entire 13.10 seems to have problems--it feels sluggish, comparable to the feeling of playing a game with ~200-300 ping. I also get alot of errorr messages, I wouldl think WAY more than normal. I am unsure of this, though, because a few people have just told me that I can ignore some of the errors I am experiencing.

Back on subject, what will the option of this 'wipe' be, this is my first time installing an OS from disk.
Is there a way I can do this from asus z87 BIOS?
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March 25, 2014 12:01:58 AM

I think it's best to let Windows 7 format and overwrite the existing system and give it the Microsoft preferred NTFS file system.

Until it arrives, find a few more Linux systems to play with as LiveCDs. PCLinuxOS is pretty good as is Mint.
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March 25, 2014 12:05:55 AM

Saga Lout said:
I think it's best to let Windows 7 format and overwrite the existing system and give it the Microsoft preferred NTFS file system.

Until it arrives, find a few more Linux systems to play with as LiveCDs. PCLinuxOS is pretty good as is Mint.


ok sounds good, just to be clear though, what is the probability of me 'ruining' something that I cannot fix, from just toying around on a distro?

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March 25, 2014 12:13:06 AM

A LiveCD doesn't impact on the hard disk at all - it runs solely in RAM which is refreshed when you restart the machine. You then need to start the LiveCD process all over again after every restart. I can think of no circumstance at all which could harm the machine just by running a Linux system from the CD.

While running a system, you could wipe Ubuntu off the disk but it's better to wait for Windows to format in NTFS. If you have an XP CD you could do that now if you wish to.
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March 25, 2014 12:19:52 AM

Saga Lout said:
A LiveCD doesn't impact on the hard disk at all - it runs solely in RAM which is refreshed when you restart the machine. You then need to start the LiveCD process all over again after every restart. I can think of no circumstance at all which could harm the machine just by running a Linux system from the CD.

While running a system, you could wipe Ubuntu off the disk but it's better to wait for Windows to format in NTFS. If you have an XP CD you could do that now if you wish to.


Yes, but the problem is that I actually downloaded the .iso and installed it onto harddrive, which was fairly stupid on my part as it's brand new hardware.
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March 25, 2014 12:27:58 AM

There's nothing you can do to the PC from linux that won't be fixed by formatting the HDD. Unless you try to flash some firmware or something, but you have to really be trying.

A couple of years ago Canonical (who make Ubuntu) switched from Gnome to their own UI, called Unity. Which seems to be quite unpopular.

On the Windows DVD, when it asks you where to install it, hit 'advanced', then delete every partition and create one new one taking up the whole drive.
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March 25, 2014 3:02:45 AM

Everything in Linux is just a file. No secret stuff that you have to know about to delete it. As everyone says, reformatting clears it completely off.

As to interfaces. Unity is designed to work on all types of devices, including phones, pads, and desktops with or without touch screens. It is ram hungry so it will slow down your games if you don't have enough. Like it or not that is the future. For me the most elegant blending of the new with the old is the gnome3 desktop, I love it.
For pre-8 windows like desktops you can install the following and choose at boot or between a log out-log in

Cinnamon-the desktop used by Mint
KDE
Lubuntu
XFCE

All these desktops can be installed to interface with your Ubuntu, no other systems required.
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