How to get rid of a total linux install ? (super newbie)

[akuma]

Can someone help me out here i have linux mandrake 8.0 on this computer only. i need to put windows back on here for a few resons but i can't get linux off of here. i have done "fdisk /mbr" then wiped the HDD plopped in the win2k cd & it goes ok right up to when it begins to install. then i get an error (kinda like the blue screen of death) i first thought i ****ed the drive but then i plopped the mandrake 8.0 cd in there & installed linux fine.


anyone know why this may be happining? and how to fix it ?

im a newbie to linux
(wanna run both linux & win on the same machine is the ultimate goal)

[bondo]

Dude try a win98 startup disk ...from command prompt Type "LOCK" and see if you can lock your drive ... It will give you a warning along the lines of " if you lock this drive you will lose long file names " you want to do this ... I dont know why but NT/W2K OS's react badly to this old DOS command .... Also try deleting the partion tables and FORMAT /s from the 98 startup disk before installing ..... Hope this helps .....bondo

[Twelveguage]

Take a windows startup disk and use fdisk to delete all the partitions (if this what you want to do). Then type:
format /u c:
(I think that is what you type).
Now install Win2k and install it to C:. After win2k is installed, boot the mandrake CD and use its partitioning tool to resize your win2k partition and add the linux partition and swap partition. Mandrake should automaticly add windows to the lilo and all and when your done and boot up your computer, it will give you a list and you can choose if u want to boot linux or windows :cool:

[Syngin]

Just curious, is this the Akuma from Cryptics? :eek:

[akuma]

Thanks ppl ill give it a shot if it dosent work or i can't get it to work ill be back in here askin again :D


(And im not the akuma from cryptics im the akuma420 from -=VpR=- :p )

[Jim Martin]

Akuma: I think all of the pieces of the puzzle are spread across the posts you have received, but most of the messages miss one thing or another.

Fdisk /mbr is strictly a "fix the master boot record" command. As someone stated, you do need to use fdisk to DELETE your linux partition(s). Then use it to create partition(s) for your Windows install.

I think it's pretty normal these days to end up with a smallish DOS partition; an NTFS partition for Win2k or NT workstation. And later, as has been mentioned, you can use some of the tools you now have to resize a partition and make room for a Linux partition, and create a dual boot install. Lots of messages out there on how to do that.

To be honest, i cannot recall whether you will have to use "format /s" (not /u, "unconditional" is not particularly helpful at your stage-- the /s puts the system on the drive so it can boot) before you do the Win2k install... I think it will probably figure out you need it and do it for you. But if it dies again, that's the step to add after removing any Linux partitions and setting up at least one DOS or Windows partition. HTH-- Jim

[Rickdog]

When you boot up press "del" or whatever button your startup screen tells you to use to run your BIOS setup screen. Check to see how your boot drives are configured. If they are set to boot from C,A, SCSI for example, then you won't be able to boot from CDROM. This may or may not help, but it won't hurt to check it. When installing Redhat and Windows 98 I have to keep switching the Boot drive config in the BIOS so that it will boot from what ever drive needs to be seen first. Hope this helps. Rickdog