Toshiba Tecra 8100 laptop question from a true illiterate.

[Skidmore]

My husband found one of these while dumpster diving. Well, it has Linux on it--something I don't know anything about--and neither does he. How does one go about getting Windows back on it? It has a DVD drive and a disk drive. I would like to use it. I can get to a log in screen but now further. How would you go about removing Linux?

[hobbit709]

1. If it works OK

the easiest is just to put the Windows CD in and install. It lets you remove existing partitions and reformat in Win2000 and in XP. If you use Win98 you will have to fdisk it and even then it may not remove the Linux. There is a DOS routine called debug you can run from the Win98 boot disk that erases all the boot sector info and then you can run fdisk and set it up to install Win98.

[Skidmore]

2. Do you mean the disks that would have come with the unit or

may I purchase a Windows XP program and just install it? We do not have the original disks, just the unit. Appears to work okay--turns on at least, has its power cord and a plugnplay disk drive too. I did find this site with downloads, but I have no idea what to chose from this selection of programs.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/su/su_sc_modItemList.jsp?moid=1073769806&ct=DL

Any suggestions?

[hobbit709]

3. If you buy XP

you can just install it but Windoze only is an operating system, you would have to get all the software like word processor, imaging, etc, separately. What do you plan to do with it? If you mostly want to surf the internet, email and word process, Linux has all that installed with it. Open Office works exactly like MS Office and in my opinion is better. If you get Windows it will cost you, Linux can be downloaded for free. If you want to use Linux I would recommend a new install since you don't know the setup configuration, password, etc on that setup that's on it.

P.S. The stuff on the Toshiba site is basically drivers and updates, none of them are really applications. Also what speed and how much memory and drive size. XP won't really work right with less than 256 Megabytes of RAM.

[RoyGBiv]

4. Back on it?

Don't assume it ever had Windoze on it.

As mentioned, if you insist on putting Windoze on it, you're going to need a Windoze install disc, which will require a purchase. NOTE WELL: What you typically find in computer stores are Windows upgrade discs, which require a former version of Windoze already to be on it to perform the upgrade. You need a disc for a full, new install. Depending on where you get it, these can cost twice as much as an upgrade, around $200.

You can buy an OEM version of Windoze, which is intended for install on a new PC, from places like Newegg.com, for around $100. Before you are allowed to purchase this, however, you must purchase some hardware along with it. Newegg stretches the limits of the license and will allow you to purchase one of these copies with a minimal hardware purchase. (A case fan, or something similarly inexpensive, was at least at one time all that was necessary.) I mention this merely to note you need to be careful what you're buying. Also, as noted, installing Windoze installs nothing but Windoze.

The phrase "allowed to purchase" just floors me, btw.

Anyway, you could just learn to use Linux, which is free. Obviously Linux works on the PC, so you have a head start there. There are also ways either to recover lost passwords or reset the administrator password, allowing you access to the machine to set up your own user accounts and use what is already there. However, this does require some degree of technical knowledge, so you could just re-install Linux by downloading a burning some install discs.

Do you know what flavor of Linux is on it at the moment? (Red Hate, Fedora, SuSE, etc.?) An opening splash screen should announce this.

[Jazzgirl]

5. If you have a full version of Windows 98 or 2000 or ME

you can buy an XP upgrade disk which will save money. You do not have to install 98, 2000, or ME but when you install XP it will ask for an operating system disk to prove you qualify for an upgrade. You have to have the full version of the qualifying product. I always buy the upgrade for XP because I have a full version of 98. When I install XP it asks for a qualifying disk, I take out the XP disk and insert the 98 disk then it will say to remove the 98 disk and reinsert the XP disk. It will continue installing on its merry way.

JG