I have an old PC, and I want to try ubuntu on it. I need a software that will completely wipe the HD so I can install the os. looked at dban but they didn't supply an .exe to run it. Lat time I did something like this was back in the floppy disk days so I am basically a beginner at this. Thanks in advance.

 

Just install Ubuntu on top of the os it will delete the partition and all the data.

 

Both Ubuntu and DBAN come as ISO images, not .exe files. You need to write the ISO to an USB drive, here's instructions: https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

No need to wipe the hard drive for Ubuntu, but if you later on really need to (most likely not) you can use the same guide to write a bootable DBAN USB as well.

 

I formatted the drive, which I realize is not a wipe. It comes up and tries win 10 recovery. I put the files from the ISO on a thumb drive, and tried to make the system boot from the thumb in BIOS (boot order). seems to ignore the thumbdrive and goes to win 10 recovery. Obviously the recovery is still on the HD. I am thinking to mount the ISO on a disk and see if I can get the bios boot order to see the USB drive. I would be glad to let the OS handle the HD write if I could get it to recognize the OS boot to install it. If I can get it to do this, I would be glad to forget about wiping the HD. The HD has been formatted but obviously still has recovery on it. I appreciate the help!

 

Just follow the instructions here to make the USB bootable: https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

 

ms-dos always did a solid job for me

 

Wipe? Like with a cloth or something?

 

I have the rufus program. I will use it to prep the USB and hopefully it works now. The boot pretty much ignored the USB drive at boot so I must not be doing something right. Will try this. Thanks.

 

Yeah like you do your ass. Yep same thing.

 

One thing of note, when you've written the ISO to your memory stick using Rugus , and then you set your BIOS to boot from USB you might have options to "Legacy" or "UEFI" boot. You might want to try switching that if it still fails.

 

The curios thing is that it doesn't actually call it a thumb drive. I think the options I have for devices are USB CD/DVD or USB hard drive. I've been considering the thumb drive a USB hard drive. I think maybe rufus will make a difference. Hopefully I will have time to try this soon. I am hip deep in recording drums, so might be a littlewhile. I do appreciate the help.