ubuntu

[peanut]

I recently found a discarded computer in the trash. I've picked up several of these recently to put the parts together and make a working computer. Its just for fun, i already have several computers that work perfectly. The hard drive on the computer I just found has UBUNTU on it. The problem is that when the computer starts, it wants a user name and password. can this be bypassed? I've never had Linux before and want to at least see how it runs before I erase the hard drive to put my own OS on it.

[HWKE]

This should help:
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-36 09.html

[fo3nix]

If you already have several good computers, why not consider using ubuntu on this one? It could be a great way to get used to how it all works, and you may really like it. It's totally free, and you can simply download a CD from the website and then stick it into the computer's drive to install it.

It'll run better than Windows on the machine too.

[peanut]

Maybe I will do that, but is there a way to get the copy thats already there to work?

[fo3nix]

You can do what's suggested in the link HWKE posted and reset the password, then download updates to get to the latest version, but you'll also likely have all their stuff on the drive. It's easiest just to download the CD image, burn to a CD and run that. The CD is also a liveCD so you can run it from the CD-ROM drive and try it out before deciding to install it on the hard drive.

[peanut]

I tried the link provided by HWKE and the steps do not work, the computer does not reboot. Guess I will make the cd, Thank you both.