NTFS and Windows/Linux Prob..

[speedy0070 0]

Hi i bought a laptop and it had a pre-installed Linpus Linux Os.

I wanted to remove that and install Windows Xp.So on boot up, i deleted that partition and formatted it to NTFS.(b'cuz there wasnt anyother option)..Windows XP files were copied by the XP Setup and when the computer re-booted, it displayed an error like ..No System Disk...and if i boot from the Cd, it takes me back to the SETUP.

In this 80Gb drive,there are 2 partitions..however, therez another 8Mb Partition, which i cannot delete..PLEASE somebody help me..Ill be greatful.Thanks!

N plz can any1 help me with NTFS prob..I want my drive as Fat32.n no partitions.Thanks!

[humbll 0]

Hi,

You did not provide much info but i will attempt to help you anyway. I am curious as to what you tried as far as deleting that partition you said you couldn't delete. It MAY be that partition contains system tools needed by the laptop, but i doubt it. Is it at the very beginning or somewhere in the middle or end? In any case, You should be able to boot up the windows xp disk and tell it to do a BRAND NEW installation. then when you get to the part about the partitions tell it you want to do it yourself. Then you should be able to delete ALL the partitions (do not try to make new ones) and then reboot and tell it to do a brand new install again exept this time let windows do EVERYTHING including making/formating the partition. If you are still having difficulties email me humbll@bellsouth.net and give me as much info as possible about the laptop (make, model , year etc, what discs you have (linux AND Windows) so i have some idea what tools you have at your disposal, and also what EXACTLY you have done step by step and what happened at each step. Good luck..

[danleff 0]

Linpus is a little lacking on information on their website, but it is based on Fedora, so...

 

If the partition that you can't delete is at the begining of the drive, with the MBR previously occupied by a ext3 partition to boot, then this is likely the issue.

 

What hard drive make and model do you have? You can use the manufacturer's utility to zero write the drive and make one single fat32 partition, then install Windows.

 

The issue is that generally you can't just try and delete the partition(s) easily with a utility that doesn't recognize all Linux partition types then try to install Windows on the drive, leaving the errant partition is on the drive. Many folks make the mistake to think that this will work, just deleting the apparent Linux partition, then installing Windows.

 

But, humbll is correct, what utilities do you have available to erase the apparent Linux partition and make one fat 32 partition. I suggest posting your information here so that users can respond and walk you through a solution.