I'm considering installing Ubuntu on a laptop that I bought for college. I haven't used it much and created new IDs for everything. However, I downloaded some software from sketchy places, and I'm worried there might be malware on it. If I install Ubuntu, will that completely wipe out Windows and any potential viruses?
5 Answers
Yeah, installing Ubuntu should do the trick, unless you somehow picked up a really rare firmware virus, which is unlikely unless you've got some serious enemies!
Yes, it will definitely remove everything if you select the right option for installation. Just make sure you really want to lose everything before proceeding!
Will choosing the 'Erase Disk and Install Ubuntu' be enough or are some other advanced settings needed?
You will need to format the drive during the installation, which removes all the data. So whether it's Windows or Linux, formatting is what ensures everything's gone. The piracy subreddit is generally safe too, as long as you follow the right threads and guidelines!
I wanted to shift to Linux.
Yes, installing Ubuntu is a solid solution! I've saved a bunch of my old infected PCs by switching to Linux, and they all run great now.
It'll wipe the drive you install Ubuntu on, but if you've got other drives, you'll need to wipe those yourself. You can use tools like GParted or wipefs in the terminal to do that.
Fortunately, my laptop only has the C drive.
Will choosing the 'Erase Disk and Install Ubuntu' option be good enough?
Good to know, my beef is only with Xi Ping.