Formatting Linux

[Yugi]

What is the command to format my c: drive and get rid of my version of linux.

 

I messed it up and I want to restart

[polemicz]

If you want to re-install just put CD1 in again and do the regular installation process. Also there is no C drive in Linux, hardrives are hda, hdb, etc. and partitions are hda1, etc.

[Yugi]

so it will repartion it when I put cd 1 in

 

And how do you earase it if you want to sell your computer

[VeeDubb]

THere's LOTS of ways to do that, but my best reccomendation is sell it without the hard drive. If you have stored sensative info on your hard drive, and someone wants it badly enough, there is very litle you can do to stop them.

 

The reason is that formatting does not actualy remove any data. It simply tells the partition table that the drive is empty, so it can be written over.

 

There are various methods to actualy remove the data, and they are all a pain.

 

If all you care about is having the drive clean, I suggest putting in the install disk of whatever os you're going to sell the computer with, and running far enough throught he installer to get to the formatting/partitioning section of the install process. Most versions of linux and all versions of windows can handle this nicely.

 

If you have stored truely sensative info, you should keep the drive. Alternatively you can find your self one of the various tools out there that will write 0's to the entire drive reccursively untill there is no chance of recovering data. MAybe someone can reccomend one if you're concerned.