is there a way to empty the hd completely,

[muungwana]

what are your computer spec? the virtual machine route make sense if your CPU is powerful enough and you have RAM in plenty.

[Old-Polack]

well, shoot, it was in the terminal mode, black with small white letters..(stop laughing), it stopped and asked for my root password, which didn't work, then some red letters came up and i just shut down, stuck my cd in, and booted from that..

Sorry... I fess up... I did laugh.

The red letters signify you successfully logged into root. 

[Devra]

*smile*, glad someone got a giggle out of this.

Ok, I'm rested and my headache is gone, time to tackle the next step.  I've reinstalled Linux and upgraded everything in synaptic and added lyx (I write as a hobby) and went to get virtualbox, but it didn't really want to come to me.

I marked everything relating to virtualbox, the last one i marked was *getvirtualbox* and when I clicked on it to mark it, the others became unmarked....so I don't know if the others are the ones I should take or if this single one is the one I need....

so lost...its so early....doesn't bode well for the rest of the day...

[Devra]

no big deal on the *he/she* thing, just messing with the guy....i did go to my profile to try to fill some things in, but couldn't find an edit button...

I'll look again later.

I am ready for the virtual box lesson...see my post before this one

[agmg]

Install only the package "getvirtualbox".
This is a script that will install the latest version of VirtualBox in your machine.
After you have it installed, go to "More Applications -> Emulators -> Get Oracle VM VirtualBox"
Follow the steps and you're done.
Same procedure for updating your existing VirtualBox version.

[Devra]

ok, thanks, did all that, this is where I'm at and want to check before i finalize..
will this be enough space? I let vb select for me


File type:
VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)
Details:
Dynamically allocated storage
Location:
/root/VirtualBox VMs/windows xp/windows xp.vdi
Size:
10.00 GB (10737418240 B)

I went to the control center and
copied this info

Name: ‎L1-Cache

Installed size: ‎64 kB

Type: ‎Cache


Name: ‎L2-Cache

Installed size: ‎1024 kB

Type: ‎Cache


don't know if it's revelant

[Tony]

Devra, please don't run these commands.
I have this handy for when I want a totally 'fresh/clean Hard Drive' before a new install.
As the Thread Topic is; "is there a way to empty the hd completely,", thought this should be of interest to yourself, or others, at a later time.

Totally wiping your Hard Drive:
*As instructed to me by Old-Polack back in 2011 after I stuffed up my Windows, and Linux partitions.

I'd start by zeroing the drive for a truly fresh start from a like new drive disk. You can use the dd command from the liveCD to accomplish this. The command needs to be directed at the correct drive, so I would disconnect any other drives, internal or external, while doing this so as to not endanger any important data. You should be entering the commands in a terminal as root.

When you think you are ready, boot to the liveCD, log in as root, and open a terminal. First check to be sure the drive in question is the only one the system sees.

[root@localhost ~]# fdisk -l                            <Enter>

You should see only the 40 GB drive. Next the dd zero command;

[root@localhost ~]# dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=4096                     <Enter>

This will wipe the drive completely of all previous data including the partition table, rendering it to empty like new status, so be sure any data you wish to save has already been backed up to the external drive. The process will take a while, and will be complete when you are returned to the command prompt. When the process is complete;

[root@localhost ~]# fdisk -l                            <Enter>

should show the drive as being present but should report than no partition table of any type can be found. This is what we want..

Good luck Devra with your current project.  

[agmg]

ok, thanks, did all that, this is where I'm at and want to check before i finalize..
will this be enough space? I let vb select for me


File type:
VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)
Details:
Dynamically allocated storage
Location:
/root/VirtualBox VMs/windows xp/windows xp.vdi
Size:
10.00 GB (10737418240 B)

I went to the control center and
copied this info

Name: ‎L1-Cache

Installed size: ‎64 kB

Type: ‎Cache


Name: ‎L2-Cache

Installed size: ‎1024 kB

Type: ‎Cache


don't know if it's revelant

Dynamically allocated space means that it will increase if needed.

[Devra]

I so badly want to make the right choices, i'm kinda tired of redoing, reinstalling and am worried i'll do damage, permanent or otherwise to this new hdd that I have in the puter.

so, do i do the virtual box thing
or clear the disk (no big deal as it has no data)
and do the partition thing, (tried it and it gave me errors, prob cause I'd neglected a step..

I have more room/space on the drive than i've ever had on any puter before (thank you patty), so i would like to do the most logical/right thing.

I've got the virtual box waiting for me to hit the create button...
i'm waiting for someone with more knowledge to tell me if i should hit the button or do as the gentlemen suggested and clear the disk...
i can do either, i'm capable...I just need a nudge...
please keep in mind that all i want xp for is my ebay turbolister and maybe a few online casinos...
everything else can be done and will be done on linux..

[agmg]

If you only need Windows XP for that small program, then go with VirtualBox.
You don't need too much space for your VM.
A typical Windows XP installation takes up around 2GB of hard disk space.
Depending on what software you are planning to install...
Updates take up space too.
You wrote that you have plenty of space, so why worry?
I think 10GB should be more than enough for your needs.

You will also need at least 512MB of RAM.
You will need VBox Additions installed on XP if you want to share files between host and guest system and clipboard contents.
What else?
Everything else can be changed even after the VM is created (i.e. you can give it more RAM, change the Video RAM etc)

[Devra]

(i need to figure out how to use the quote thingie)

ok, i'm not sure how to find out how much *ram* i have...
i think it involves the processors...and i have two cpu#1 and #2
intel (r) pentium(r) dual cpu e2180 @ 2.00ghz

I also need to figure out if i should be using guest or host...i'm the only one who'll be using this system unless something changes.  can i just stick to host or do i go to guest and only come to host as needed...

waiting...............

[agmg]

To see how much RAM your system has, type free -m in the terminal.

Guest is the operating system installed inside VirtualBox
Host is the operating system running VirtualBox.

[Tony]

i'm waiting for someone with more knowledge to tell me if i should hit the button or do as the gentlemen suggested and clear the disk...
i can do either, i'm capable...I just need a nudge...

Devra, don't wipe your Hard Drive. That was just something I posted for a note to file for when you may want to Zero your drive. You definitely don't want to do that.

Go forward, all little errors can be sorted, and there are heaps of people who can help you.

You simply sound tired, might be time to have a cup of tea, a break, and come back refreshed.

We've all been stumped by the many decisions you are having to make, but seems you're going very well.

[Devra]

ok, thanks, i didn't wipe, i've started vb, and am waiting to create.

can i do that now, do i have enough ram etc?

[Tony]

Follow agmg's instructions, and reply with the feedback he requires to help you. Sorry to have confused you.

To see how much RAM your system has, type free -m in the terminal.

Guest is the operating system installed inside VirtualBox
Host is the operating system running VirtualBox.