I am guessing here because you don't tell us about your computer or OS. My guess
is that you have Ubuntu 8.04 because this an Ubuntu group and your computer is 5
months old, which is too old for version 8.10. Is this correct?

The OS is likely intact provided that you did not destroy it with the disk you
got. You probably don't need to re-install if this is the case because Ubuntu is
very durable and forgiving of crashes, etc. Please let us know more so that we
can help.

What do you see on the screen? What happens when you don't put in the disk? What
happens when you put in the disk? What error messages do you see, if any? Tell
us anything that may be of use about your computer, such as the number of drives
or partitions. I ask this because sometimes there is a recovery console
installed on a second drive or partition and you press a Function key to get
into it. It will be in your documentation.

The biggest problem that I could see from what you say is that you may have done
something with the disk to erase your original installation and there is no OS
on your hard drive which is why it does not work with the disk.I am not sure
what the instructions were or what you did, so this is all speculation. Best
case scenario is that it is all there, but it is not booting due to an error of
some kind.

have the Ubuntu 7.10 system, I have a Everex stepnote laptop cy-m. As for
the disk, I didn't get it with the computer..I had to call the company to get
it. When I start it up without the disk. The memory thing starts up, which keeps
going..When I put in the cd and start it up, it boots up and get to the part
where it says I have a bug or had one in the bios thing..I can't get it to stay
on long before it goes to the startup page. I have tried to use Snaptic Package
mgr. But..when I go to install the new updates..it says it can't install some
of them, because they are outdated. Software Source does the same thing. it has
well over 173 updates! But, they say I have to delete the older ones..but when I
do..they just come back? then, I tried to automatic updates..and it doesn't do
that? I hope this helps so I can fix this computer..

I do not know for sure, but it sounds like:
1) you are running from the CD and not from your hard drive
2) you need to install an OS to the harddrive
3) Ubuntu 7.10 is over one year old and you should request a new disk from
Canonical. They pay the entire cost. See below.
4) if time is critical, then you should go ahead and install 7.10 and then
update, provided you have a broadband connection. If you use dial up, then
request a new CD from Canonical as this will mean fewer updates at:
https://shipit.ubuntu.com. The latest version is 8.10.

To install 7.10 you need to click on the icon on the desktop. If there is
nothing else on your computer just accept the defaults, only changing your
location and keyboard.