Re: Win98SE and fdsik.exe, will this properly reformat an hdd that has had Linux installed?

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StargateFanWrk wrote:
"Jim" <j.n@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:uGe7KDJaKHA.5472@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"StargateFanWrk" <NoSpam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:OSlkqyIaKHA.4312@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I read the instructions in the MSKN re reinstalling Windows and it talks about a boot floppy with fdisk on it. I, unfortunately, don't have a floppy disk drive in my current box. But another thread that I found by googling mentioned that a Win98SE with fdisk.exe on it would do the job if the BIOS (believe it's the BIOS?) is set to have the CD as the first item that boots, which I do.

Does this seem reasonable to restore Windows after a complete Linux install (not to do a dual-boot or anything like that but to completely install Windows while removing Linux)?

Thanks. :oD


An XP install disk contains all you need to install the OS. If the disk happens to be an upgrade, then you need a 98SE disk just to prove that you can upgrade.

Yes, you tell the BIOS to boot from the CD first.

Jim

Jim, hi. Yes, one would think so but apparently Linux uses partitions a bit differently, or something, so that when Windows comes along afterwards, there's lost space (if I've understood correctly) since "headers" (or something) aren't detected the same by Windows. I can't find the reference tonight, but I did read that this morning on one of the threads I found. Yes, Windows will install, but with some blank spots or something where Linux paritioned, somehow. However, there is bit of conflicting information on the web, too, though I'm also trying to take into account the KB article ... If anyone knows firsthand, just want their opinion re the Win98SE disk. There might be unforeseen problems that I'm not familiar with so just wanted to check beforehand. ... Ah, here's part of the KB article:

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From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/247804:

"To install Windows on a system that has Linux installed when you want to remove Linux, you must manually delete the partitions used by the Linux operating system. The Windows-compatible partition can be created automatically during the installation of the Windows operating system."
... (okay, do we have to remove it manually, or, will Windows do it?? A bit unclear here though it seems that we must first do one and _then_ Windows will create the partitions it understands. And that's where fdisk comes in, I imagine ... but then it does add the following ... )
"Linux file systems use a "superblock" at the beginning of a disk partition to identify the basic size, shape, and condition of the file system."

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[source: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314458]

You can also use an MS-DOS version 5.0-or-later boot disk, a Microsoft Windows 95 Startup disk, or a Microsoft Windows 98 Startup disk that contains the Fdisk utility to remove an operating system from the hard disk and install a different operating system. When you start Fdisk and multiple drives are installed on your computer, you are presented with five choices; use option 5 to select the hard disk that has the partition to be deleted. After that (or if you have only one hard disk), select option 3 (Delete partition or logical DOS drive), and then select option 4 (Delete non-DOS partition). You should then see the non-MS-DOS partitions that you want to delete. Typically, the Linux operating system has two non-MS-DOS partitions, but there may be more. After you delete one partition, use the same steps to delete any other appropriate non-MS-DOS partitions.

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Okay, this really does seem to be the course to follow if one doesn't have a floppy drive to use the boot disk with and use fdisk.
I just wanted to check with you folks first. I'm sorry to say but I've been disenchanted with Windows for a long, long time, particularly once I had to switch from Win98SE to WinXP. Win98SE was just fine, I really liked that OS but XP is an even more full time job what with daily antivirus updates and several hours checking to anti-malware scanning and the firewall, etc. and then the reinstall every few months 'cause I can crash my system fast since I test out software rather frequently. I like the more secure feeling that Linux gives just because of how it's structured. Also, my family is in dire straits. My uncle can't install anything anymore on his laptop, so eventually he'll have to do a wipe/reinstall (which I'm not touching); a friend can't burn anymore, she's on my old Win98SE box so I'm going to have to do the wipe/reinstall on next visit; my sister's system completely crashed a month ago. She's been completely without a computer in all that time. Yes, she was on risky sites doing all those surveys for money. I warned her once then shut my mouth because I've learned that the concepts of having to keep up-to-date with security in Windows is not something lay-people are comfortable hearing. But now she's completely down. In all these cases, except for me, the family just needs to email, really, and maybe do up the odd document. Linux is perfect for them since they don't need to buy a whole new computer (i.e., Mac) and security issues are a whole lot less just because of how it works. But I won't touch anything until I can remove Linux and reinstall Windows if they decide to go back to Windows. I've been testing various Linux distros for several days (I tested Linux 2 years ago but still not GUI enough for me. Now situation is different.) I'm now comfortable enough with Linux so I'll transfer all the stuff off my partitions to an external hard drive and then raze everything on the hdd down to dust! Then I'll install Linux completely. But then I'll remove Linux and reinstall Windows just so that I know how to do it. I kept the original Win98SE disk for safekeeping because I didn't trust my friend to know its importance. So we're good to go with the experiment.



So that's in in a (large) nutshell <g>.

Thanks for any help. I didn't want to ask for help under false pretenses either.

Cheers. :oD





No problem

just boot with your XP cd and delete all the partitions


then recreate one NTFS partition...take the full format option
and let the XP installed work
.

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