I am trying to uninstall Linux and install Windows XP Home Edition and I have no idea what I am doing. Can someone with experience please let me know how to do this? I would appreciate it very much if I could print a copy of step-by-step instrucitons. I have never worked with Linux before. Thank-you very much in advance.

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Originally Posted by confuZed2day

I am trying to uninstall Linux and install Windows XP Home Edition and I have no idea what I am doing. Can someone with experience please let me know how to do this? I would appreciate it very much if I could print a copy of step-by-step instrucitons.

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Step-by-step instructions applicable to the majority of possible scenarios the average Joe could encounter would encompass a book or multiple books. Here's a general overview instead:

1. Uninstall Linux You may not need to uninstall as a separate process. The easiest path is leaving Linux as it is and then erasing the drive or repartioning/formatting the hard drive during Windows setup, obliterating Linux. If you have data files to be retained, that becomes more complicated. I think the easiest approach is to copy them to removable media, copy them to another system, or emailing them to yourself first and then restoring them back once Windows is setup.
   
2. Prepare for Windows Installation Locate all the Windows device drivers and software that will be needed during Windows installation while you have a functional computer. Installing from a Windows CD will likely not result in a computer exactly the same as it was originally direct from the manufacturer when new. Installing from a Windows CD gives you a basic Windows installation. Drivers will probably need to be installed before all devices are functional. Supporting software necessary for a full Internet experience such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, Flash, and Shockwave will also need to be installed. You will also need a working Internet connection and the Windows' Product Key found on the Certificate of Authenticity originally attached to the computer.
   
3. Windows Installation The Windows CD is bootable. With the CD in the drive, turn on the computer. Computer should boot into Windows setup. If it doesn't, there may be a BIOS option that needs to be changed to allow the computer to boot from the CD drive or removable media. The BIOS entry key is usually displayed at startup during the computer's Power-On Self Test (POST). Common keys are F1, F2, and F10. Once Window's text based setup loads, there will be a prompt to press F6 if you have additional storage drivers to load. This may be needed if the computer has discrete SCSI or RAID adapters or has a recent motherboard that uses a storage controller which supports a RAID mode. Once Window's setup loads, there will be options for installation location and hard drive configuration. If Linux is still on the drive, delete all the existing partitions and then create a single partition for Windows and install to it. Once the computer reboots into the graphical setup portion, the product key will be prompted for and various questions asked about regional settings and networking stuff like machine name and components to install.
   
4. Post Installation The computer will reboot again into first run with more questions asked for firewall setup and registration. Once logged in, visit the System Device Manager in the Control Panel and verify all devices are installed. There may be some devices that require driver installation. A typical driver install sequence is: Motherboard chipset (important this is applied first), reboot, storage drivers (if any), reboot, video drivers, network adapter drivers, audio adapter drivers, other drivers. Once all the hardware drivers are installed:
   
   • Configure networking.
   • Activate the computer.
   • Apply Windows XP Service Pack 3.
   • Visit Windows Update and apply any remaining critical updates and desired optional updates (newer Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, etc.). Windows Update may need to be run several times to get all available patches.
   Once machine is patched up, it is safe to use the Internet and additional software installation can begin. I usually do system level things first such as firewall or antivirus software followed by major suite type applications like Microsoft Office, and then any individual applications. Microsoft Update should then be run if any Microsoft software was installed.

If you have a recovery disc instead of a Windows OEM disk, only the Post Installation portion above may be applicable after the recovery disc process is complete.

Good luck. Post a question if you get stuck or unsure about an option during setup, preferably before choosing an option at random.