I wish to bring the computer to the DOS prompt using a floppy, format from DOS, and start from scratch.

I have other computers that I can create the boot disk.

Been to bootdisk.com, can’t seem to figure out where to go from there, would appreciate more specific direction or another way to do it.

Thank you in advance

Okey-dokey: I brought out a spare, and formatted a partition specially for the Linux, much as I had before. After answering all sorts of ridiculous questions- I mean, why can’t we just click a button- okay, maybe three or four, just for fun- and be done? But no, they had to know everything this side of my Blood Type. “Do you want to Install in this Partition?” “Yes!” “But don’t you know- before you can do that, you have to do the Hokey-Pokey and stir it all around?” “No, I did not know that-!” “Aha! you said “No! Right, no Linux installation for you!”

After several hours over three days (we have frequent power cuts in our country,) it finally installed.
That is, I am reasonably sure that it installed. I am gun-to-my-mouth-pull-trigger, because I-am-fed-up-and-want-to-die sure, that the Ubuntu Linux 11.04 really did install this time.

However, as I shut down, there was this message I didn’t have time to copy down, that said that if I wanted to boot- from Windows (I suppose they must have said,) that I should “use the Argument…” and a programming formula of some kind followed, which I totally failed to copy nor memorize, because:

1. I don’t know any programming language this side of enough HTML to draft a web page with my name and picture on it.

2. Real Life intruded rudely- I had to go to work, and couldn’t use any more time on this.

3. I shouldn’t have to argue anything, because wouldn’t I just have to open System Properties => Advanced => Startup & Recovery, and select the Operating System I wanted to boot with- like Human beings plan for their fellow sentients?

4. How can anyone view Penguins and objects of abject terror?

Well, when I came back home, my apartment was secure, so I knew no one could have been at my desktop. But my Windows completely disavowed all knowledge of any Linux on my Hard Disk.
As a matter of fact, it poker-facedly informed me, No Such Partition Existed, ever existed, nor would ever exist: Would I kindly go get knotted?

I know my mistake- I should have turned left at Albuquerque, right?

Isn’t there some sort of Code I am to enter somewhere that will make everything All Right?
(Please, nobody tell me to go to a prompt and type: FORMAT C: It isn’t funny any more.)
Dear MARTIN WILTS: Thank you for your prompt answer.
I think that what works for Windows VISTA should work for XP, also, right?

I will try and see.

Also my laptop comes with 2 40GB harddrives – will this create problems when I partition with the boot disc?
Well then if I can do both, which is best?