[sunnny]

I've got a Dell Dimension XPS T450 with win2000 that has an error
in the windows appearently missing a file. I've got a copy of
Linux and I was wondering if it would work in this computer and
if so how do I install it and get it running?

[CouchMaster]

Grab some Linux live CDs and try them out - the distro that finds and works with all of the hardware on the laptop is the one you want to install...

[sunnny]

Do I need to format the harddrive? If so how do I do that?
I already have a copy I just haven't known how to install it!!

[CouchMaster]

No! Put the Linux live CD into Cd drive - reboot the computer and it should run...
If everything works, and you like it, there will be an option to install. Make sure you can get on line, that the screen resolution is what you want etc. before installing anything.
Most will ask if you want to repartition (shrink the Windows partition for a dual boot) or install using the entire HD.
If you don't like it, Windows wont be affected and you will be right back where you started from...

[sunnny]

It will not boot up that way! Like I mentioned I have an error
with the operating system! It does not recognize a cd in the drive!

[CouchMaster]

Go into the BIOs (while booting up you would press one of the function keys - I don't know which one on a Dell) - change the boot order to CD first, floppy second, and HD third...then try again.

[sunnny]

Nothing is working!!!!

[CouchMaster]

If nothing is working, and you can't get into BIOs, and you really want Linux, then boot with a Win98 boot/install floppy disk (free on the internet) and format the HD. Doing that should give you a fresh start provided nothing else is wrong with the computer.
Almost all computer will boot with a floppy disk bypassing the OS.

[Cappi]

On boot-up press the F2 key

[sunnny]

Ok I've only managed to get one boot disk to work but it is saying Windows 98 has detected that drive C does not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition. There are several possible causes. Then it goes on to say 3 dfferent causes.
It does say that the diagnostics tools were succesfully loaded to drive C.
Do I need to partition the hard drive or what. If I need to partition it, how do I do that?

[Intranick]

Your hard drive might be bad, or something ate the partition.

You can run fdisk off of that boot disk to partition it, I can't remember if the dos fdisk has an auto partition mode or not.

There is a floppy bootloader that would potentially help for booting off the cd that comes with slackware, i cant remember then name though..

[sunnny]

Another question, is there a limit to what size hard drive I can put
into this system? It's a Pent 3 550 processor. I appreciate the help
and answers to my questions!

[CouchMaster]

Use the floppy disk to delete all non-DOS partitions and format; that should erase everything and allow the Linux disk (or any other disk) to boot. Make sure that the BIOs is set to boot from CD first and floppy second.
If you have a really large HD you might want to partition it into smaller parts for a number of reasons - multi OS is a good one...

[sunnny]

I can't figure this thing out, try formating and it saids format not
supported on drive c:. I guess I'll have to see about getting
another hard drive and try that!!

[CouchMaster]

format.exe has to be on the floppy disk! You need to make sure that the floppy has all of the stuff needed to do what you want to do on it - so open it up and look...
I don't think you need another HD but if you have the bucks then by all means go for it. With a new HD you won't need the floppy for anything.
Good luck