currently has windows NT 4.0 would like to erase and install Linux Ubunta 8.04. what is the best steps to make this successful. Put in the Ubuntu CD, boot from it, and format the hard drive to install the Operating System.

Curious though, what are your computer specs? (RAM, Processor Speed, Hard Drive Capacity)x86 family 15 model 0 stepping 10 at/at compatible ram 26,300 kb 4.00-1381 ie 5 60.02600.000, intel petinum 4. I have installation cdfor window x p home edition that is no longer installed in any of my computers. This one is old computer not SURE if I would have alot of problems. to erase the hard drive in md-dos I have to put in fdisk to erase.
just do it carbon's way to get ubuntu onto your computer, forget about ms-dos. That's not important if you're leaving the windows world entirely. I actually highly recommend you do NOT put Ubuntu on that computer. 26MB RAM? Can you confirm that?
Also, can you find out your processor speed? (e.g. 2.4 GHz)
What about your hard drive size? (e.g. 70GB)

These are Ubuntu's System Requirements:
http://www.easy-ubuntu-linux.com/ubuntu-system-requirements.html

Right now, the computer doens't MEET the requirements. IMO, if Windows NT works, I would leave it.It's unlikely a P4 has that amount of RAM....probably 256 with some being borrowed by the vid card perhaps...what's wrong with win NT? Don't like it or something? You might want to pick up a live CD and TEST it out to see its performance on your pc. Live CD definitely not as good as the OS installed directly onto hard drive but it gives you an idea without you losing windows then finding that linux is not performing well on your MACHINE and you can't go back without more work.