Installing Fedora on "virus" wrecked Win7 laptop

*Complete and utter Linux noob with only basic Windows knowledge*

I am using a Compaq Presario CQ62 that had Windows 7 installed. It was rendered virtually useless by various spyware, virus', etc,...

Right now I am using a Fedora 18 64bit DVD live and I would like to install this OS onto this computer perminately to teach myself Linux but I am afraid to do so as I have not yet reformatted the HD to avoid new infection.

1. Should I be worried about Win7 infections effecting Fedora?
2. Is it safe to install Fedora onto the HD given the past virus' on Win7 without reformatting?
3. Can I view and use my HD files through Fedora safely without reformatting?
4. How do I reformat my HD through Fedora?
5. Are there any specifics bits of knowledge or hints I should be aware of?

Hi, again!

1. No. Only root kits are a concern, at this point.
2. Shrinking Win7 as much as possible with its utility is the first step. Use the space gained to partition at least one Primary (for / or root) and one Extended (in which place swap and /home ) for a total of no more than four partitions,including Win7's C:\ and/or its restore partition.
3. ntfs-3g or F18 equivalent is what needs installed to be able to do this.
4. Dunno -- I almost always use SystemRescueCD and its built-in gparted to do this, then choose "something else" or "manual" once the partitioning section of the install pops up.
5. See above and learn how to use Package Management along with the command line, is my suggestion.

pane-free

Appriciate the answers, very helpful. Just to make sure I am understanding this properly as my knowledge is presently limited.

I need to resize my C: partition which contains Win7 to minimum and then add 2 partitions for Fedora to use?
Should I then move my files from C: to the new partition for Fedora?

HunterTheRed said:

. . .
I need to resize my C: partition which contains Win7 to minimum and then add 2 partitions for Fedora to use?
Should I then move my files from C: to the new partition for Fedora?

Click to expand...

No, do not but leave Win7 separate from F18.

How many partitions will be on the hard drive total, counting any proposed Extended partition as only one?

Right now I believe there are three partitions, assuming I understand what a partition really is. That is just how the laptop came setup. I just used the File viewer of F18 and it lists 3 volumes. Just to reiterate, I am still running F18 as Live System User through a DVD.

How many partitions there will be in the future will depend on the answers I recieve here and through other guides and opinions. I would like to completely remove Win7 from this laptop, however, I have read that it is either unnecessary or impossible.

To be honest, I do not understand the idea of multiple partitions and extended partitions. I am simply going on the fact that you obviously know much more about this than I do. If I understand the what and why of partitions it is simply saving HD space under a name (ie: c:\ d:\ e:\) for the OS to access and to keep certain files seperate for recovery or, in this case, a new OS.

I apologize for my ignorance but this is my only way to learn and to have a running computer.

* Does F18 have an automated paritioning feature on install such as I have heard some other Linux Distros have? I am assuming not as we are having this discussion but I have not found much information else where. I would image this is due to the more recent release date of F18.

OP said,

"I would like to completely remove Win7 from this laptop, however, I have read that it is either unnecessary or impossible."

Last question,

"Does F18 have an automated paritioning feature on install . . ."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, fedora does have a partitioner used on install, as 99% of distros.

First part makes things easier. Just delete all existing partitions by dropping into shell when LiveCD begins boot and become root to issue a command to wipe the entire drive with zeros. Then partition drive into three Primary partitions:

/ or root of approx 16-20GB ; ext4 FS; flagged as Bootable

swap of 2GB (2048MB); swap FS (no choice)

/home of most or all of remainder of hard drive unless you want to keep just the shrunken C:\ drive and Win7 (as I incorrectly assumed you wished to do at first)

For me, it is easier to use SystemRescueCD to prepare hard drives. Do so by hitting F12 to get to optional boot in the BIOS and choose the optical drive containing the CD on which SysRescCD is burnt. Boot to it. Hit <enter> as default a few times until arriving at the multi-colored prompt on the page asking user to either enter "startx" or "wizard." Here, you type the command that wipes out all on the hard drive by overwriting it with zeros. See below


After this is done (it will take a while, so go watch a movie or something), you will see an output of about three short lines saying there is no space on the drive and numbers then how many GB were written. At the same prompt without leaving, type in the requested "startx" and end up at a yellow-colored window with another prompt. Here type in "gparted" to do the partitioning as noted above.

I do this to get rid of all traces of the ntfs FS as it is dirty and can screw things up, despite what others say. It is good practice when a clean hard drive is what is wanted so that Windows does not come back to bite you.

See How2 --
http://www.ehow.com/how_8659091_partition-linux-gparted.html

NOTE: if the PC you are working on is new and has UEFI instead of BIOS, all bets are off!

I really appreciate your patience and help with this. It will probably take me a while to actually go through all these steps because just reading it all it feels a bit over my head at the moment.

I am going to do a considerable amount of reading into this enitre process. I read through the page you linked already and it seems straight forward, but I just want to fully understand the material before taking the test, so to speak. It has been years since I have even used command prompt in Windows so I just want to refresh my basics before I go nuts.

Though at the same time this laptop was totally useless until I started this so I really would not be loosing anything if I screw up. Everything important was backed up on some USB drives.

You are welcome, HunterTheRed! Stick with GNU/Linux and this will become something second nature. This will not be your last time at having to install the OS on a hard drive, I can almost guarantee it. It's not near as bad a the BSOD (lol)! Glad to see you delving ahead!

Let me just say, that Windows viruses cannot affect Linux. If you format your hard drive viruses will be gone. Forever. To backup your data just boot into a live cd/usb and acces Windows 7 hard drive and put them somewhere, like another hard drive or USB stick. Then just format your hard drive and install Linux.

In most cases viruses are written to infect only one OS, Fedora will be okay. To use your Windows programs on Fedora you'll need wine.