exactly what i have been saying. also free
The OP has decided on a course of action based on advice here that I am not sure he/she understands. I may be wrong.
I hope the OP reports the outcomes coz this is gonna get messy...
Let us imagine, for a moment, we are in a parallel universe, where Linux operating systems were the norm, not windows ones. Both are still the exact same, just Ubuntu became more popular. Would you then be swearing that XP is a waste of space because it is too hard and Ubuntu is the way to go, just because that is all the majority know?
Assuming, and I don't mean offence to the OP about this, that the OP is fairly computer illiterate, it can be assumed all the knowledge needed would be how to open up the internet (firefox icon on the taskbar at the top), how to use a word processor or other office software (comes with open office, find it in the menu) and maybe, maybe, find files and folders (go to the system, same way as Windows).
It isn't like OP is trying to do the most intricate things. Just by looking around a little, most "essential" things can be learned in a couple of days, it really isn't difficult to use at all and like most other operating systems, is pretty self explanitory.
So, let us assume something else. Let us assume that OP installs Ubuntu, or another Linux distro, and thinks "this isn't for me". They are back to where they were before and can format the drive and try the XP method. It doesn't really matter does it, not like anything is lost, if anything something is gained, as OP will have learned how to format a drive, how to install an operating system, how to use an operating system that isn't windows, even if just a little, so it isn't the massive "messy outcome" you are making it out to be after all
