Old work computer. Wiping XP and Installing Linux OS

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hockeyplayer

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Feb 16, 2014
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I got an old laptop from work after we upgraded computers. The old computers require sign in through work to operate. My question is if there is anyway I can wipe the XP operating system and install some free OS or another window OS. The laptop works perfectly fine but has a lot of restrictions from being a work computer.

Any assistance would be much appreciated!!! : )
 
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hang-the-9
Not sure why things are so complex here, create a Linux disk, boot from it, during setup it will ask if you want to wipe and format the disk, just say yes and you are done. Old files on the laptop are done. No need to mess with utilites, drive connectors etc...

All you needed to do was do a web search on how to install Linux, it's not very hard.
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kenny9899

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Jul 4, 2013
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I got an old laptop from work after we upgraded computers. The old computers require sign in through work to operate. My question is if there is anyway I can wipe the XP operating system and install some free OS or another window OS. The laptop works perfectly fine but has a lot of restrictions from being a work computer.
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There is a way actually! If it is all password protected, even the BIOS, you need to remove the hard drive from the laptop and get a kit like this one Then you need another computer and your installation disc. Boot to bios and format that drive from the laptop. After format, you should be able to put the hard drive back in the laptop, boot your installation up through bios, and install as normal. If you can't format it through bios, boot to Windows on the pc you plug it into, go to "create and format hard disk partitions", and format it there. Either way should work great!
 
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hockeyplayer

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Feb 16, 2014
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THANK YOU! for your response and that sounds like a great idea!!

But ready what you say to do 'I' don't feel confident at all at doing thise lol. I am pretty good with stuff, and built my own gaming PC, but overall doin this scares me lol. But I guess whats the worst that can happen, it is useless right now. Well I can log onto the computer with my work ID or as a trainer, but dunno if I can actually do what an administrator does. Do you know of any videoa via youtube go over the process your saying I can do?




 
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kenny9899

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Jul 4, 2013
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Currently looking for a video that details that process I described but yes, you could always purchase a new HDD and easily swap them. Since it's a laptop, it'd more than likely be a 2.5 inch, and it being old, would probably be IDE. Just match the plugs with whatever unit you want to buy and you should be alright. Personally, I wouldn't dump that money into an old laptop but who knows how cheap you could get an old IDE drive these days.

UPDATE:

I found this video that details something similar. The usb adapter unit you get will probably look different, but the plugins should be all similar to those shown here. Once its all plugged in, just go to "create and format hard disk partitions" and find the newly connected drive. Right clicking it should reveal a format option, hit that and let the magic begin. I'm assuming you have a PC running Windows Vista or newer, but if you have another XP machine, I think it's listed as disk management instead of what was quoted above.
 
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hang-the-9

hang-the-9

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Mar 25, 2010
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Not sure why things are so complex here, create a Linux disk, boot from it, during setup it will ask if you want to wipe and format the disk, just say yes and you are done. Old files on the laptop are done. No need to mess with utilites, drive connectors etc...

All you needed to do was do a web search on how to install Linux, it's not very hard.
 
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