Format this system.

[orgman15]

I received a computer for free from a local school I did some work for.

It was used as a unix server to save the webpages that were visited on the schools network so that they loaded quicker I was told. I have no idea what this is except that it is called something like a G-Proxy server.

When the computer starts up it just goes through a heap of writing and then stays on a screen that has some writing on it. This is all it did at the school but they just recieved a new one to replace it.

Would a system like this have windows on it, and if it does can anyone suggest how to get to it. The writing on the screen is not dos prompt by the way. Would I need to format the harddrive to get it to work like a normal windows system. If I do this do I just put in the windows CD and restart the ccomputer to start the formatting of the harddrive?
I can purchase a student edition of windows XP if i need to for fairly cheap I think so I am willing to do that if needs be. I really don't want to spend much more money on it than that because it will only be used as an internet system.

I think it is Pentium 3 800MHz with 256MB of Ram and a 15 gig harddrive. Not bad for a freebie with a 17" LG CRT monitor and a keyboard and mouse.

Thanks for any help on this.

 

[Cares]

What you should do is put in a Windows CD and then boot from the CD instead of the hard drive. Then while running your Windows installation, have it format the hard drive first before installing. That should work.

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: AlphaQ
What you should do is put in a Windows CD and then boot from the CD instead of the hard drive. Then while running your Windows installation, have it format the hard drive first before installing. That should work.

 

[Brent of Liquid5th]

Windows will automatically want to format the drive, since it cannot read any of the partitions as it stands. Just get y ourself a WinCD and install. Unless you'd rather run an OS that doesn't suck