How to Delete a Computer Operating System

There are several reasons a computer user might want to delete his operating system. He might prefer another operating system and have to uninstall the existing one to replace it. He might be using dual systems and need to delete one of the two. Or he could just like fiddling with the operating system, deleting and reinstalling it again to start with a clean slate. You have to be cautious in performing this type of operation, whatever the reason for it may be. Here are some tips to ensure that the deletion won't cause any headaches down the road.

Instructions
Step1Make a copy or backup of important files or programs before proceeding. Saving those important files and folders allows you to access them later on, when you load a new operating system.
Step2Install the new operating system. This is probably the easiest and fastest way to remove or delete your current operating system. Insert the new operating system CD and follow the installation prompt. If it asks you if you are sure you want to delete the current operating system, click on "Y" or "Yes."
Step3Remove the Windows operating system completely by going into "Safe Mode." Try hitting the F8 key repeatedly after the initial bootup. Using the arrow keys, navigate to the Command Prompt (DOS), then hit the "Enter" key. When you get to C:\, type “cd” without the quotation marks, then hit the "Enter" key again. You will now be in your local drive directory, or C:\, where you can type the command DEL WINDOWS (note the space between the words). Then hit the "Enter" key again. Click on "Y" when it asks if you are sure you want to delete your hard drive. This will then proceed to formatting your hard drive, which deletes the operating system.
Step4Install the new operating system using an installation or bootup CD. Follow the prompts to completion.
Step5Install the other drivers, such as sound card, video card and CD-ROM.
Deleting an Operating System for Dual-Boot Machines
Step1Start the Windows operating system you want to keep. If you have a dual boot or dual operating system, at initial bootup, it will give you a choice of which operating system to go to. Use the arrow keys to choose which of the two you will keep, then hit "Enter."
Step2Determine the Windows folder you want to keep by doing the following steps: Click on "Start," click "Run," type %windir% , then click on "OK." This may show up as "C:\Windows" or any other name on your machine.
Step3Do not delete the working Windows folder.
Step4Go to the Windows Explorer by going to "Start," clicking on "Run" and typing "explorer" (without the quotation marks) to find the windows you want to remove.
Step5Right-click on the Windows folder you want to delete, then click on the word "Delete." Make sure that this is not your working Windows before you delete it.
Step6Click "Yes" to confirm the deletion of the second Windows operating system.
Step7Go to "Start," choose "My Computer" and right-click it. Then choose "Properties." Go to the "Advanced" tab; under "Startup and Recovery," click "Settings." This will open a dialog box titled "Startup and Recovery."
Step8Go to the "System Startup," then click "Edit" to modify the Boot.ini file. This should open a Boot.ini file, which is displayed in Notepad.
Step9Save a backup copy of the Boot.ini file before proceeding. To do this click "Save As:" on the "File" menu in Notepad. To avoid any confusion, save the Boot.ini file with a name "Boot.old." Close this backup copy by clicking on the "File" menu, then click "Exit."
Step10Re-open the Boot.ini file by repeating Step 8. Identify and then delete the line of text for the Windows operating system that you want to remove from the boot loader. If the second Windows folder you have identified in Step 4 is the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system, remove the following line of text from the Boot.ini file: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS.0="Microsoft Windows XP Home" /fastdetect
Step11Save your changes to the Boot.ini file by clicking on the "File" menu, then "Save." Then close the Boot.ini notepad by clicking on "Exit" or the "x" box in the upper right corner of the Notepad. Click on "OK" to close the "Startup and Recovery" dialog box.
Step12Restart your computer. This time, you will only have one operating system at startup

How to Upgrade the Memory in Your Computer

The best way to improve your computer's performance is to add random-access memory (RAM). Installing new RAM is quite straightforward for most PC owners, but if you're not confident of your abilities, have a store technician do the work.


Instructions

Step1Find out how much memory your computer has. Here's how:
Step2In Windows XP, click on Start, then Control Panel, then Performance and Maintenance, then System. In other versions of Windows, double-click on My Computer, then double-click on Control Panel, then double-click on System.
Step3In Mac OS X, find the Applications folder, double-click on the Utilities folder, and double-click on Apple System Profiler. In Mac OS 9 or earlier, select the Apple System Profiler (usually found in the Apple menu).
Step4Check your manual or manufacturer's Web site to determine whether there are open memory slots on the motherboard. Also see what the maximum amount of memory your computer can take, as well as the type, category and speed of memory it uses. For example, PC2100 DDR 133 MHz RAM means PC2100 is the type, DDR is the category, and 133 MHz is the speed in megahertz.
Step5Compare your current memory with the maximum. You have two choices: Add new memory in open slots; or, if all slots are full, replace the existing memory with new, greater-capacity modules.

How to "Fix My Computer Using Safe Mode"

In my last article http://www.ehow.com/how_4782728_fix-my-computer.html I showed you how to identify the 'bad guys' and suggested some tools that might help you clean them up. This article is all about Safe Mode and how running this instance of your Windows OS can help you fix registry problems, spyware problems and many
Instructions
Step
1
Everything looks big and clunky, but that's because the Registry only loaded the bare minimum to function.
Let's start by defining some concepts. Safe Mode is a "No Frills" instance of your Windows Operating System. What this means is that Windows loads only the mandatory processes needed to function. We'll get back to why this is some effective for fixing your computer. The next concept is the "Registry". I mentioned that Safe Mode only 'loads' the mandatory processes need to function. The 'loads' part of the statement is the "Registry". Think of it as a "To Do List", only it's in a specific order. So when you turn on your computer, it looks to the "Registry" to see what it's got to do to successfully load Windows. So we've defined these two important concepts; Registry and Safe Mode.
Step
2
Dialog BOX!
"Great", you say, "but how do I get into Safe Mode?", I reply, "turn your computer on and right from the beginning start pushing the "F8" key. Don't hold it down (keyboards don't appreciate that) just push it every couple of seconds until a textual menu will come up. It will list a series of options, key down to the Safe Mode option(if it's not the first one on the list) and hit enter. Now don't be scared, it's going to scroll a bunch of text you've never seen before,(unless this is old hat for you) it's just loading Safe Mode. Remember, it's only loading the basics, so no internet, (unless you've chosen "Safe Mode with Networking", which is a eHow that I'll be writing in the near future) no sound and your desktop will look big and ugly, because it didn't load your fancy video drivers. After all the text is done scrolling by, click your user and it will begin to take you to the User Interface and one more message will pop up that tells you basically what I just told you. Read it and make a mental note of it, or just come back here.
Step
3
Low resolution your way to a solution.
So, "LedZippel", you say, "Why does loading Windows into Safe mode benefit me in waging my war against the virtual pests?", I reply, "Because now that you're in Safe Mode, none of those 'pests' are loaded, because they didn't make it onto the Registry this time around." That's why this is so beneficial. Many times when you run 'Spy Bot - Search and Destroy' and 'Glary Utilities'(the two tools I mentioned in the fist article[http://www.ehow.com/how_4782728_fix-my-computer.html]) and you're still in a Regular Windows instance, these guys loaded when your computer loaded and are still running when you're trying to get rid of them. If a program(virus, spyware or trojan)is running and you try to delete it, Windows can't, because it's still running. By running these same tools, while you're in safe mode, you can successfully and completely remove them.
Step
4
So run Spy Bot - Search and Destroy, then run Glary Utilities. Spy Bot will get rid of the Spyware and Glary will remove all the Registry entries of those 'pests'. In Spy Bot there is a Registry backup tool, use it. It's always good to have a back up plan.

How to Autostart Applications in Kubuntu

If you need or use a particular application every time you're on the computer, you can have the application autostart for you.
Instructions
Step
1
Open your Konsole, Terminal or Yakuake (refer to Tips for Yakuake Installation). The first thing we need to find is the location of the application. The command, whereis, will be used to do just that. Since I use the command line quite a bit, I will go with Yakuake. Type: whereis yakuake. The results will show you the location to the application and the manual. We only need the binary, /usr/bin/yakuake.
Step
2
Now that we have the location, we need to copy the binary to the Autostart folder; /home/user/.kde/Autostart. A regular user cannot manipulate the /usr folder or its contents. For this reason, we will use "sudo". Type the following command into Konsole, Terminal or Yakuake window: sudo cp /usr/bin/yakuake /home/user/.kde/Autostart/ . The last slash is important.
Step
3
We have now successfully copied the Yakuake binary to your Autostart folder. Reboot your computer, if you wish, to see the application start at login. You will see a popup window in the top left corner of your screen letting you know Yakuake has been started.

How to Access Windows Log in password if you forgot it

Hello too all you computer users out there, I know how difficult it is when you have forgotten your password and can't seem to access your windows, just follow my instructions and you're on your way too logging back in without the hassle!
Instructions
Step
1
Make sure you have rebooted your system, once it starts up keep clicking f8 , this should bring you too safe mode, start windows automatically under safe mode and follow these steps below .
Step
2
On the bottom of your screen, click "start" menu , Go in to your control panel, find user accounts , click on that.
Step
3
Go into user accounts, whatever log in screen name you use example " duckie , and delete password log in, after you have done that now you can restart your system , it should just log you right in automatically without asking for you're password.
Step
4
Once you have completed the above steps, go back in to your user account and create yourself a new password and don't forget it this time, it's always safe to run windows with a password log in .