Installing an OS from scratch

[Eli_1]

I finally got that replacement board, and got my new computer set up, but I don't know where to go from here.  Right now, it boots up and lets me go into BIOS and such.

I've tried googling a few tutorials, but I'm still not positive on what steps I need to take.  So far, the only thing I think I know I'm suppost to do is:

- Go on my friends computer.
- Format system disk?
   - If I want to install XP, do I have to do this
     from a computer with XP on it?

- C:\> SYS A:
- Put FDISK.exe and FORMAT.com on the floppy


- Boot new comp from newly formatted floppy
- A:\> FDISK
- Reboot
- A:\> Format /S C
- Remove floppy
- Reboot

- C:\>



Here's where I'm stuck.  What should I do now (assuming I'm even suppost to do all that)? Any help is appreciated.

[muert0]

Go into your BIOS and select boot from cr-rom or disk.
Put XP disc in cd-rom and reboot. It should say press any key to boot from disk. Then just go through the install options. It's pretty self explanitory. I don't really see any reason why you have to do fdisk and stuff for a XP install it's all built into the XP disk.

[Eli_1]

Go into your BIOS and select boot from cr-rom or disk.
Put XP disc in cd-rom and reboot. It should say press any key to boot from disk. Then just go through the install options. It's pretty self explanitory. I don't really see any reason why you have to do fdisk and stuff for a XP install it's all built into the XP disk.

I didn't even know that, thanks.  

Anyway, I don't even have an XP disk yet.  The bastard is 300 dollars.

Edit: I can just have my friend burn a copy of his XP installation CD, right?

[Sargera]

Some more modern BIOS systems allow you to press F2 (possibly another key) to boot from a particular device that specific time.

[Eli_1]

I just thought it was more complicated than that.  I didn't realize you just pop in the CD.  I appologize for my idiot moment.  

Edit: I can just have my friend burn a copy of his XP installation CD, right?

[iago]

You can get a burnt copy, so long as you don't mind pirating.

I get Windows XP free from my school, but if I didn't I would just use good ol' free Linux.

[hismajesty]

Go into your BIOS and select boot from cr-rom or disk.
Put XP disc in cd-rom and reboot. It should say press any key to boot from disk. Then just go through the install options. It's pretty self explanitory. I don't really see any reason why you have to do fdisk and stuff for a XP install it's all built into the XP disk.

I didn't even know that, thanks.  

Anyway, I don't even have an XP disk yet.  The bastard is 300 dollars.

Edit: I can just have my friend burn a copy of his XP installation CD, right?

XP Home is $100, XP Pro is $200.

No, you can't. At least not without some h4x0r1n9/cracking - since without your own key (or exploiting Windows to think you registered) you can only use it for 90 days.

[Eli_1]

You can get a burnt copy, so long as you don't mind pirating.

I get Windows XP free from my school, but if I didn't I would just use good ol' free Linux.

This computer is built for, and strictly is, a gaming rig.  Linux won't cut it here.  

Edit: However, I'm thinking of wiping dirty Win95 off of this old beast, and trying Linux for the first time on it.  

[muert0]

Get your other computer running first. It's best to have a computer you know will work on the internet so you can get help when you come across problems when first starting out with linux.

[Eli_1]

Get your other computer running first. It's best to have a computer you know will work on the internet so you can get help when you come across problems when first starting out with linux.

That's what I'm trying to do, but I don't have 250 odd dollars to fork over for this OS.  

[quasi-modo]

Get your other computer running first. It's best to have a computer you know will work on the internet so you can get help when you come across problems when first starting out with linux.

That's what I'm trying to do, but I don't have 250 odd dollars to fork over for this OS.  

Got bit torrent? You can always get a copy of konoppix btw, you can browse the net with that and all, and it runs from cd. Yoou do not have to install it. It creates a ram drive for its self and, basically it rules. It can be very conveiniant as a recovery disk and has some other uses.

[muert0]

You can get knoppix here:
http://linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=44
If you need help figuring out how to burn the ISO into a bootable disk just say so.

[Antichrist]

Edit: I can just have my friend burn a copy of his XP installation CD, right?

Psst, your not suppost to announce your going to be using pirated MICROSOFT programs. If Billy Gates were to see this, he'd surely be at your house right now. :-p But, yeah, you can burn XP and use it..

[Edit] Oh yeah, I totally forgot about the OS problem..

Go into your BIOS and select boot from cr-rom or disk.
Put XP disc in cd-rom and reboot. It should say press any key to boot from disk. Then just go through the install options. It's pretty self explanitory. I don't really see any reason why you have to do fdisk and stuff for a XP install it's all built into the XP disk.

^^that says it all

[Eli_1]

Edit: I can just have my friend burn a copy of his XP installation CD, right?

Psst, your not suppost to announce your going to be using pirated MICROSOFT programs. If Billy Gates were to see this, he'd surely be at your house right now. :-p But, yeah, you can burn XP and use it..

Pssh, I simply wanted to know if it was possible.  Who doesn't want to dish out $2xx for an operating system?

Edit: (retorical)