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I'm awful with computers, I have ubuntu 10.10 and don't understand partioning etc. I want to wipe my drive,everything EXCEPT the operating system (and auto boot obviously), without having to use a memory stick external hard drive etc, just leave ubuntu OS on but delete EVERYTHING else, is this possible?

Thank you so much in advance :)

PS. I have a format drive and format volumes option if this helps. drive says something about master boot record, volumes says something about linux(0x83), which my computer once was or ubuntu 10.10 is? :)

Disk /dev/sda: 8069 MB, 8069677056 bytes 
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 981 cylinders 
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes 
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes 
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes 
Disk identifier: 0x0008fa72 

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1 *             1         933     7490560   83  Linux Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2             933         981      387073    5  Extended
jrg
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  • We will need more information. Would you please open a terminal and post the result of "sudo fdisk -l"? – desgua Apr 02 '11 at 00:52
  • Disk /dev/sda: 8069 MB, 8069677056 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 981 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes Disk identifier: 0x0008fa72

    Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sda1 * 1 933 7490560 83 Linux Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary. /dev/sda2 933 981 387073 5 Extended

     –  Apr 02 '11 at 00:57
  • Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary. /dev/sda5 933 981 387072 82 Linux swap / Solaris –  Apr 02 '11 at 00:58
  • King, it seems you only have two partitions: one of the OS and one for swap. So you don't have to format any partition. Do you want to wipe or just delete the files? – desgua Apr 02 '11 at 01:24
  • pretty much delete all files, but i figure if i wipe, then it'll delete all virus' and malwear? –  Apr 02 '11 at 01:29
  • ps. whats swap? –  Apr 02 '11 at 01:35
  • The swap partition is where the OS "saves" the "files" when it is out of RAM memory. The difference between wipe and delete is that someone may recover the files (e.g. a txt file with passwords) that were deleted but not the files that were wiped. If you want to get ride of virus and malwares, you could use an antivirus, wouldn't you? – desgua Apr 02 '11 at 01:59
  • It sounds like the problem you are trying to recover from is spyware/malware. Is this correct? – Russell Apr 02 '11 at 02:13

1 Answers1

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The easiest way to wipe all your information is to reinstall Ubuntu. It'll take about thirty minutes, and wipe everything that you've added. I think you'll be hard pressed to find a quicker and simpler method. If there's a reason you don't want to reinstall, comment here or edit your post.

djeikyb
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