My Simple Work Starts on Software

The software we use is the papyrus of the twenty-first century. While throwing all the papyrus in the fire is an excellent solution to eliminating the possibility of information misunderstandings, it is also something that should be done with care. The simple solution to a slow system, same as the solution to a cluttered office, is to remove all the cluttering objects. In the case of a computer the objects are known as software. I execute this process on my computer every year. Now that I am doing this on more than only my own computers, I thought I should document the process.

Don't Let things get too complicated

So how do we restart from scratch? First we need to copy all the critical information into a new location such as cloud storage, portable drive, or Disks. After this just take your new OS(Operating System) install Disk or USB, put it in, restart your computer, and follow the instructions. Simple, Right?

Maybe not as simple as I predicted: "My computer does not have a CD, DVD or Blue-Ray player on it", "My computer only boots from the hard drive every time, no matter what disk I put in", "Where did you get this 'new OS install' disk from?" and "How am I supposed to follow the instructions I don't know anything about this computer?" ...I think it would be wise to handle these discussions in the order of occurrence for a first time PC format.

1st - How to learn a lot about the computer you are using, in a small amount of time...

uname -a

Use ^the classic Linux method

Using windows allows you to access an open folder, such as the "My Documents" folder. Once a folder is open, on the left hand side of that open window will be a list of things. Programmers call these things objects. Some you might see include; 'Desktop', 'Downloads', 'Libraries', 'Network'. Right-click on the object represented by the icon named 'Computer'. At the bottom of the resulting menu created by right clicking on the 'Computer' Icon is 'Properties'. Once this 'Properties' option has been selected, the System window will open to give you all the critical information like current OS name and type, computer name, hardware the computer is made from and OEM(Original Equipment Manufacturer) Key.

2nd - How to get a 'new OS install' disk...

wget ftp://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/install/rocklinux/

We could buy a new OS install package. It is sad to admit this; I've seen people who have Genuine Microsoft tags, with an OEM code, go out and buy the exact software they own the OEM Key for. If you have made this mistake, don't feel alone, and remember you are helping the poor hard working software designers at Microsoft(See discussion below). An OEM code identifies to Microsoft that you paid money for your OS, or at least whomever made your computer paid money for it. Once the operating system itself is paid for you do not need to pay to install it a second time, unless you want to pay someone(like me) to re-install it. If you do not know what form of windows is meant to run with this OEM number, it should be listed above the number right before the letters OA (OEM Activation). So, to get a new install disk simply use Microsoft's download links to the install ISOs, listed below. These files are formatted as images according to the International Standards Organization. Images can be used to create specifically formatted disks for computers, in this case install disks or USB drives. The install disk files in ISO format for Microsoft's and other's OSs are listed below:

Windows 10

Windows 8

Windows 7

Windows XP no longer receives updates. If this OS has any security holes it is your legal problem not Microsoft's. This means it is a free OS to use. Many sites on the internet may make this OS available for download. Because the Contracts are done, this OS and all of Microsoft's Older OSs are not legally purchasable. Using these OSs is something you do at your own risk.

Once you have downloaded the software you or your manufacturer has paid for, burn the ISO files to new CDs or DVDs and use them to start installing.

Note, the ISO file cannot simply be opened and put onto the hard drive of the computer because all computers are different and need different settings to be generated by the process installation.

If you would like to use an Open Source or Free Software system, I recommend these web sites to get you started:

Ubuntu -Canonical, works hard to combine the convenience of a feature rich system, with the agility of a bug free system. This is a popular OS among programmers and other professionals.

Debian -The code used to develop Ubuntu was based on The Debian Project's additions to Linux.

Slackware is the flavor I started using in high school. Its stated goal: "producing the most 'UNIX-like' Linux distribution."

Red Hat -Recognized for being an enterprise OS developed by a well funded and publicly traded business.

SUSE -Another well know enterprise OS purchased and now developed by Novell now Micro Focus.

ArchLinux -tries to make Linux "lightweight" and easy to use at the same time.

Linux From Scratch -If you feel like you can handle it, try to make your own Linux.

Rock Linux -An older 'build Linux from scratch' option.

The Linux Foundation -Learn more about Linux OSs, and the efforts of the Linux community.

Berkeley Software Distribution -Other non-Linux options exist, BSD being one of the most well known right now.

GNU is Not UNIX -The Free Software Foundation has produced a 100% Free Software OS. This OS is apparently not UNIX.

3rd - How to make the 'new OS install' disk...

cdrecord -v -eject speed=48 dev=/dev/DVD $THISROCK.ISO

If you cannot use a CD or DVD on your computer, try using a USB drive. Some tools you can use to make the disks are listed below: (you don't need to download the source code)

Pendrivelinux is a universal USB installer has source code available on the website, right next to the executable download link. Pendrivelinux also lists many more possible tools.

Linux Live USB Creator has source code available on the website and uses SVN to manage the code at- svn://svn.tuxfamily.org/svnroot/lilicreator/dev/

Rufus has source code on the site, and made contributions publicly possible using Git on
GitHub- github.com/pbatard/rufus

Now that you have downloaded the tools to make the disk, and the disk ISO image of your favorite OS, make the disk. I'll give one last checklist for OS installation disk creation:

1. Make sure you have the right OS ISO file, and that you know what kind of OS you are installing.

2. Make sure you know what location on your computer that ISO file is (Eg. C:\Users\Admin\Downloads).

3. Make sure you know what drive you plan to format to make the install disk.

4. Use the creation software. Look for a selection of each of the three items above and make sure you have selected the correct details for each of them. Then hit "make", "record", "format", "the big red button", etc...

4th - The boot process...

grub> root (hdc0,1)

Boot sectors and BIOS(Basic Input Output System) Integrated Circuit Chips have changed many times. Like Linux flavors boot sectors also come in many flavors. The BIOS on the other hand is based on your hardware choice. To observe your BIOS a specific set of keystrokes must be held or typed during the power on procedure of the computer. Most often this amounts to holding down 'esc', 'F2' or 'delete'. If your motherboard or computer came with a manual, the keys to get to the BIOS will be stated in such manual. Once you can observe the BIOS GUI(Graphical User Interface), you can navigate in the GUI to changing the boot procedure so it will boot from the USB or some other drive. Some PCs will let you select a boot disk like a USB for temporary boot without entering the BIOS. You can do this by holding down on a key like 'F12'. Don't forget to learn how to reset your BIOS first or reinstall new firmware, in the case of anything going wrong.

The Boot Sector-Loader is the first part of the hard drive to be read by the BIOS, it defines the possible operating systems that can be booted from the hard drive onto the PC. If you use only windows, this is not something you need to learn about. Otherwise I would recommend learning about GNU-GRUB, it can boot just about anything. However, it cannot keep itself in the space on the hard drive called the Master Boot Record. The Master Boot Record is unnecessary on most systems today as most BIOS chips now use the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) System partition (ESP), a UEFI standard. For fun one could learn about other boot Loaders like: Lilo, MasterBooter, GAG and Redboot.

Once you have booted you now have a machine that can run all kinds of amazing software. To do these tasks for you, I am now charging only $100. One hundred percent of this money will go towards taking care of people's food, shelter, clothing, and work transportation needs.

I am very grateful hard working individuals make such simple to install and use software, to maximize the use of our PCs with minimum effort. I look forward to getting into more details about the amazing software I like to use and the software I have been starting to work on and improving. For now this will suffice as some of the simple work I do and am happy to teach others.