does not boot , would like to install linux

[lavald]

Not being a computer savy, I have wrongfully erased things... now it will not boot but comes up with a savescreen picture. Now it will not boot

[TheOldMan]

If you wish to install Linux, it may be still possible.  The computer being able to boot is may not be necessary if you wish to install Linux.  If the reason you wish to install Linux is because the Windows install is corrupted due to "I have wrongfully erased things", it may be possible to return the Windows install to a functioning PC.

Do you know which "flavor" Linux is under consideration?

Please elaborate and also post the PC model number.  

[lavald]

Hello Old Man and thanks. I am not computer savy but I try to follow the game. On this PC Ubuntun Cinamon is in use. The culprit PC is a near 20 years old HP Pavilion P23 handed over by my daugther in law who told me it was very very slow... When I add a win7 disk in the drawer, upon switching on to boot, I hear the disk running a bit and then nothing happens until finally the save screen picture shows up . Tried Esc, F10 , Alt+R etc with no useful result- some one suggested to open the beast and move some connections for to boot but have not touched that yet. My wish is to kick windows out and add a Linux flavor. I could take and add some photos of the display if that would help. Your input will be most appreciated. 

[lavald]

well I have yet to boot the beast but unable, tried sc with F10 and many others suggestions. Read that removing the CMOS battery may help putting things in order, another suggestion was to move some jumpers, just opened the machine's back and cleaned it, will try to find a manual so as to see the cmos first. Hopefully you are still on line Old Man. 

Then about Linux I use Mint 23

[TheOldMan]

Well now, if the PC is twenty years old, this might be too new of a trick.  I had an HP that long ago, but do not remember how it worked to get into the BIOS.

On the slightly newer ones, I always tell users to:

Start tapping the Esc key BEFORE starting the PC and then press the start button.
Keep tapping the Esc key until a popup menu shows. Then you can pick from the popup menu, which allows you to boot to another OS install media, or do other settings. on a PC that old, it probably has a DVD drive which is the way the OS was installed back then.

Removing the CMOS battery will only clear the CMOS settings.  If you do that, then you will need to enter the BIOS to reset things to default.

If that helps any, you can paste a picture in the forum by using the camera icon above the box where you are typing a reply.  That will open a new window where the picture can be inserted.