A problem setting up Ubuntu

[Fred Roller]

On Wed, 2009-06-10 at 10:21 +0000, valhalla2100 at comcast.net wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I am having trouble re-installing Ubuntu.  There is an installation 
> from over a year ago.  I did not use it for a while and forgot the
> password.  
> 
> Can someone give me information on how I can get rid of the old
> copy of Ubuntu (and maybe all that I installed since then)?
> 
> I see that there is a version 9.xx.  Have not been able to read any
> postings on it.  Should I use that instead of version 8.10?  It might
> not matter since I don't see any advantages of using Vista instead
> of XP.  I just want to be able to use applications and access the
> internet.
> 
> Someone told me to do a new install.  I have done this a few times
> and after the intallation and restart I get only the original listed
> on
> the selection screen (and Windows Vista, which I am trying to get
> away from using).
> 
> I was sort of forced to make the switch because the Comcast 
> provided version of McAfee did not block a trojan, which hosed up
> my other computer (learned several years ago to have a computer
> specifically for internet access because of such problems).  I am
> sure that it was some trojan because two neighbors and a sales
> person told me that their computers stopped working around two
> weeks ago.
> 
> Thanks in advance
> 
> Thomas 
> 

It sounds like when you did a fresh install it simple used available
space.  Ubuntu is safe about not wiping existing sytems.  During install
the partition editor will ask if you want to use the available space.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SAVE ANYTHING then change this to "Use entire
disk".  This should completely start you off from scratch.

If you are looking for salvaging data and saving the system the follow
Alexandra's post on recovering the password.  Hope this helps, good
luck.



-- 
Fred R.
www.fwrgallery.com

"Life is like Linux, simple.  If you are fighting it, you are doing
something wrong."