Tough Lessons Learned On Researching What You Install

Today Rossgang asks:

Like other people getting bored with Windows and wanting to try out a new operating system, I downloaded Ubuntu Linux and burned it to a CD. Then , as the directions read, I placed it in my PC to try to load it up as a live-CD ( I think thats what its called) and then went to run it. I believe thats where I made a horrible mistake when I decided to not really read up into it at all and try to throw it right on to my family’s computer, which me and my sisters schoolwork revolves around.

Anyway, I put it in and installed it. It deleted Windows and when I turn on the PC all of these white words and check lists start running down a black screen and it asks me to sign in. This is where I found myself completely lost. Having little to no former experience with any forms of Linux I realized I made the horrible mistake of not reading up on it.

To make matters worse I bought a new version of XP home and tried to install it but nothing works. After it loads it says on a blue screen Windows can not be loaded check BIOS settings. I’m completely lost.

Please, I’m begging you, help me. What can I do to get this computer up and running with Windows again? Mind you, Windows was already installed in the system, can I restore it without buying a new hard-drive or have it professionally fixed for money?

To put this as gently as possible knowing you have been through a lot already, nothing I say here today is likely going to make this a super easy process for you. Normally I would walk you through some data backup solution, but normally using something like a Live CD would be one of the ways of doing so. This is not something that you are having much luck with, so never mind that. Short of slaving the hard drive to another PC, based on the experience shared with me, I would just stop and seek outside assistance.

Why not offer you a suggestion for self repair? Simple - because of the value of the data on this hard drive and the lack of technical understanding that has been illistrated by not fully being aware that when you boot from a Live CD, then choose to install and operating system, you need to know what is going to happen with the other one already installed. Of course, this is not your fault - it happens to people every single day. But rather than making this worse, I would get a pro to get the data backed up and then make sure you understand something very important - test out Linux on a LiveCD, or on a dedicated PC. Dual-booting without fully understanding on how partitions work, among other understandably new concepts are something to be learned carefully and on machines that are not critical to daily use. ;)

Rather than making this a learning experience, I would just stop - understand that you jumped into something new and did so without fully understanding the consequences of what can happen.

In the future, I would suggest that you take the time to fully read up on installing ANYTHING new to your PC. Again, I really sorry you had a poor experience, hopefully you will have success with having a local tech getting things back up and running for you.

Do you have an IT-related question? Perhaps you are just burnt out on writing on the walls with crayons? Whatever the comments may be, drop me a line, and you too can “Just Ask Matt!”