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Don't let an old, unusable version of Windows stop you installing Ubuntu on your PC
Q I have a Compaq desktop computer that has been sitting idle for some time. After buying a copy of the Computeractive Ultimate Guide to Linux I decided to have a go using this computer.
When I started Windows to check that the computer was working the following
error message appeared before the Windows logo had even appeared: 'Windows could
not start because the following file is missing or corrupt.
I do not have a Windows XP disc. Will this be a problem if I want to use Ubuntu?
Ernest Perkins
A The good news is this will not be a problem if you want to give Ubuntu a go. The LiveCD mode does not use the hard disk, so this error message will not affect it. This could present a problem if you want to move files off the hard disk before installing Ubuntu over Windows, however.
The Microsoft Knowledgebase article on this error message assumes you have a Windows XP disc. This is unhelpful in your situation, unless you know someone with a disc you can borrow.
You won’t be re-installing Windows with the disc, just repairing it. If there are files on the computer that you want to keep, Ubuntu can help there as well. Insert the Ubuntu disc in the computer and restart.
Press Enter to select English when the language menu appears and then a second time to select the top option: Try Ubuntu Linux without making any changes to your computer.
Click on the Places when Ubuntu has finished loading and there should be an entry for the hard disk. Left-click on this and a window just like Windows E xplorer will open.
You can now browse through the folders to find your documents. To move them off the computer, connect a USB memory key or hard disk to the computer. You can now drag and drop the files on to it just like you would in Windows.
You can find more help on using the Ubuntu file explorer with our online Workshop. If the PC is connected to your home network, you can connect to other PCs or upload the files to the internet.
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Ubuntu started as an experiment but I love it now
Ubuntu has become my main and favorite OS. I discovered Ubuntu quite by accident but am glad I did.
Posted by Indian-Art, 25 Jan 2010