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How to Remove Windows 2000 or Windows NT and Install Linux on Your ComputerThis article discusses a Beta release of a Microsoft product. The information in this article is provided as-is and is subject to change without notice.No formal product support is available from Microsoft without paying out a large wodge of cash. You can find lots of help and support for Linux by looking on the Internet or from #linux IRCnet. The information in this article applies to:
SUMMARYThis article describes how you can remove the Windows NT or Windows 2000 operating system from your computer, and then install the Linux operating system.
MORE INFORMATIONThe partition types used by the Linux and Windows operating systems are compatible - if you're running Linux that is. You do not need to remove your existing Windows partitions to install Linux. Linux will usually detect any Windows partitions and allow you to access them directly.IMPORTANT: Before you follow the steps in this article, you should back up any important files you have. If you intend to restore the Windows operating system at a later date, please remember that you can easily make a dual-booting system instead. Linux does not insist on running roughshod over any other operating systems you have installed. The Linux operating system is generally installed on partition type 83 (Linux native) or 82 (Linux swap). The Linux boot manager (LILO) can be configured to start from:
The Fdisk tool included in Linux can be used to delete the Windows partitions. To remove Windows NT or Windows 2000 from your computer and install Linux:
Examples of Linux Partition TablesSingle SCSI driveDevice Boot Start End Blocks Id System Multiple SCSI drivesDevice Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sda1 * 1 500 4016218 83 Linux native (SCSI hard drive 1, partition 1) /dev/sda2 501 522 176715 82 Linux swap (SCSI hard drive 1, partition 2) /dev/sdb1 1 500 4016218 83 Linux native (SCSI hard drive 2, partition 1) Single IDE driveDevice Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/hda1 * 1 500 4016218 83 Linux native (IDE hard drive 1, partition 1) /dev/hda2 501 522 176715 82 Linux swap (IDE hard drive 1, partition 2) Multiple IDE drivesDevice Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/hda1 * 1 500 4016218 83 Linux native (IDE hard drive 1, partition 1) /dev/hda2 501 522 176715 82 Linux swap (IDE hard drive 1, partition 2) /dev/hdb1 1 500 4016218 83 Linux native (IDE hard drive 2, partition 1) Also, unlike Windows, Linux recognizes more than forty different partition types, such as:
Additional query words: Keywords : kbsetup Version : WINDOWS:2000; winnt:4.0 Platform : WINDOWS winnt Issue type : kbhowto | ![]() |
Article ID: Q247804
Last Reviewed: Provided by Microsoft Product Support Services.
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