looking for solution

[317]

i have manage to install linux operating system called mandrake 6.5 version on my pc for a trail i had this learning kit from a bookshop having complete 3 cd of operating system software. after installation i decided to delete the linux operating system to install windows 98se operating system . i try to use dos fdisk command to partitioned but the linux cannot be deleted from the harddrive , ihave also try other software for partitioning but nothing is able to work for me to be able to install the windows again . What can i do to solve this problem?.
thanks looking for helper to solve my problem.

 

[smah]

Have a look at

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2094-8838570.html?tag=lst-0-1

This will remove all partitions from your primary master hard drive. Then you can use fdisk to create new partitions.

 

[bmulvey]

Hi,

As wreck is not freee, you could try fdisk /MBR

which is supposed to replace the master boot record on the disk.

Windows does not like this after Linux has been installed as it has either the LILO or GRUB boot Loader

 

[clonny2]

You should be able to delete non-dos paritions using fdisk for windows.

Next, like bmulvey, you need to fix the MBR (Master Boot Record) which tells how to boot.

To be able to use windows 9X again, then use fdisk /mbr.

To use NT or 2000, then the MBR will get over written anyway.

 

[flugh]

I know the situation 317 is in. MS fdisk doesn't want to delete the extended partitions that have the non-DOS logical partitions. The 'fdisk /mbr' will rewrite the booot record, fixing which partition is active, but not rewrite the FAT, partition table, etc.

I have gotten around this in the past by keeping a bootable distro install CD, booting into the installation program. Next, use the gnu fdisk (or is it cfdisk?) program to delete all partitions, and create a new partition (entire disk in size) with type '0b' (fat32 lba). Next, set it active, then reboot. For safe measure, I'd use DOS fdisk to verify the partition type was right, reboot, then use DOS format.

I had a script laying around here a few years ago that, when fed to DOS debug command, would zero out my partition table on my laptop. May try to dig it up, as the above process sounds like there's a lot of room for improvement ;-) --
JR