Reinstalling windows and keeping Linux?

[aragorn77]

Hi all,
I have on my first hard drive two partitions:
1 - Windows ME 2.5Gb
2 - Linux Mandrake7.2 3.5Gb
Now I would like to format the first partition and reinstall M$windowsME. Two questions:
a) I'm not able to format the first partition from DOS FDISK because it's the primary one, and I should first clean the secondary (where Mandrake resides) ; but here again FDISK says that there is no logical partition on the secondary while it seems to be according the table shown in option 4 of main menu .
b) can I do it from Linux? how? will I have problems with GRUB afterwards?
(I'd like to have again WindowsME on first partition and Mandrake 7.2 on the second without using my second HD dedicated to data; I already have a boot floppy for Linux and one for Windows ME).
Thanks in advance for any reply.
Best regards and Merry Christmas.
Aragorn77

[mdwatts]

Dos fdisk does not recognize Linux ext2 partitions or may report as non-dos.

If you do not need to resize your Win primary partition, then maybe reformat C: and install ME. You will need to reinstall Grub in the MBR to boot ME and Linux.

Search for Grub here http://support.calderasystems.com/caldera to find out how to reinstall Grub and setup another os to boot.

You said you are not able to format the first partition using fdisk because it's a primary. Have you tried? I don't see why it would not work.

[Shad]

You won't be able to delete the primary partion, but no reason why you can't reformat. The only problem with reinstalling Windows is you will have to reload your bootloader (make sure you have that boot floppy for linux.)

Why do you want to redo Linux? If you want to change partion sizes there are some utilities out there. I think a search on http://freshmeat.net will locate them for you. If for some reason you want to delete and recreate your primary active partion, linux fdisk or cfdisk will do the job. Read the man first to understand all the switches though.

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Just a Tuna in the Sea of Life

[DeadDodo]

http://www.linux-mandrake.com/images/util6.gif
this partioning.... & moving your precious data can be monitored & controlled easily using partition magic...PM 5.0

having a visual outlook at what u are doing, while moving the DATA is extremely useful

the only thing is that restoring data & drivers for windows will take quite some time...[b][should u decide to start *Clean & WIPE OUT* everything][b/]

l Simply hate setting up & restoring my Friends Windoze settings.
have a plan laid out & have Backups READY...~!

all the best to ya.... http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/eek.gif

[aragorn77]

Thanks for the replies. I can format the first partition, and i've now seen how to do it.
I wasn't thinking i had to reinstall GRUB because i thought the floppy could do it.
Uhm... I'll have to read more...thanks for the link mdwatts. Shad I'll have to read those man twice...I wouldn't like to make mistakes.
Anyway thanks to all of you.
Regards
Aragorn77