Delete my XP partition:

[Anaxis]

We can definitely help. If you know how to use gparted, simply go to a terminal, and type:

Code: Select all

sudo gparted

This will give you access to the GNOME partition editor, wherin you can delete the Windows XP partition, and expand the Mint partition to where you'd like it.

If you need help, we're here.

[Anaxis]

That password is your account password. And don't despair that it looks like it's not typing, that's actually a security measure to prevent someone from guessing your password based on how many characters it has in it. Just ignore the fact that it's not showing anything when you type, and put in your password, then hit enter.

[Anaxis]

It's quite difficult to get rid of a Windows installation entirely, unfortunately. I'd suggest backing up all your data and starting over with a fresh hard drive.

[altair4]

i logged into terminal and can see all the partitions, i beleive that linux installed on the same partition as xp. is this a problem can i still delete any related xp files.... so i can strickly use linux
thanks

Since it's impossible to install linux into the same partition as windows I'm guessing you installed Mint using Mint4Win.
Did you install Mint while Windows was running and did you see a screen that looked something like this:

wubi-123.png

If so then you do not have a "true" dual boot and if you delete Windows you will delete Mint as Mint is just a file within Windows.

I may have misunderstood your quote above.

[Anaxis]

Okay, so your problem is that you used mint4win, the programme shown above, and you want to switch completely over to Mint?

Cos that's simple enough to do, if you've backed up your data.

Would you like a dual boot, or do you want a Linux-only machine?

[altair4]

i installed mint, It installed like the screen shot you posted, so form what i am reading it install in a folder within windows. do i need to install in a seprate location delete the windows partition and then reinstall on that newly erased drive?
is thier a way to startup from a jump drive install and erase the windows files...

sorry, hopefully the question comes off understandable

thanks
stilz-ink

Supposedly you can convert the mint4win install to a dedicated partition using LVPM. http://lubi.sourceforge.net/lvpm.html

Never used it myself. If it were me, I would boot into the min4win install, save whatever data I had to an external drive, do a real install of Mint by booting into the LiveCD, and copy the data I saved to the real install.

[Anaxis]

I would boot into the min4win install, save whatever data I had to an external drive, do a real install of Mint by booting into the LiveCD, and copy the data I saved to the real install.

I second this. Even using an external programme like LVPM can sometimes get muddled, especially when Windows and Linux know about each other. Windows doesn't like to play nicely, especially when something tries to delete it.

You're better off doing a clean install after wiping the drive, it's just a lot less complicated, and a lot less stressful, cos there's not too much that can go wrong unless Linux screws up. But at least Windows won't.