9three Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Hey guys I installed Ubuntu. Unfortunately I need some programs that only run under windows. The problem is that I deleted my partition for the recovery that my laptop brings. I've been trying for nearly 5 hours to figure how to delete the linux partition and install windows again. I can't install windows when I pop the CD in because it's not partitioned for windows. So what I'm trying to do is format my HD completely and then install windows. I am unable to do that though. I don't know if there is a way to go into the command prompt from the boot screen and type in a command to delete the linux partitions? I used openSUSE to remove the partitions but it wouldn't let me remove one, which I think it's whats stopping me from executing Windows. I also tried Ubuntu to do the same but I can't figure it out. I need to fix this asap, as I might have to start a project tomorrow morning :-/ edit: I understand if I can somehow reach the command prompt without booting to the desktop that i can use: sudo mkfs /dev/sda and it will delete evertyhing. I cant do that while in the desktop because its in current use Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 First off, mkfs probably wouldn't help you unless it can do NTFS or FAT32 (ewwww FAT). Second, the Windows XP and Vista installers can both erase/add partitions. I've done it before. Last resort could be a live CD that has NTFS formatting capabilities. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-740860 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 It doesn't work for me using my Windows XP cd. It says that there was an error and the process had to be stopped. It also says that I should check for viruses and check the fdisk to make sure everything is correct. Non of those really match anything I have done. There is no virus because well, its a new OS with nothing else. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-740920 Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 You boot from the Windows CD and it tells you that? Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-740949 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zane Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Yeah, you should be able to boot from a Windows CD regardless of whether or not you have Linux installed or not. Most likely you're CD is just...not good Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-740989 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 I have two CDs. Both with Windows XP SP2. The 2nd CD I just downloaded it from school. I highly doubt that it's the CD. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741295 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maq Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Why can't you just use WINE? Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741302 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Because I preffer windows. And some programs can't run under WINE. My video card drivers dont exist for Linux, so I run under 24 bit colors instead of 32. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741335 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maq Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 What about using a virtual machine? On linux you can set up multiple desktops (1 with windows 1 linux) and rotate back and forth. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741350 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 how do i do that? Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741449 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maq Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 For a VM you can use VMWare and Ubuntu comes with a rotation feature but Compiz is very cool Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741454 Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Virtual machines often have performance or driver issues. And sometimes they work perfectly fine with very little performance hits. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741785 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zane Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 why would your computer not boot from a Windows CD? your BIOS is set to boot from CD first, right? Well, if all else fails....and you have a spare working computer with a CD burner on it. I would download Hiren's Boot CD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb5zYMaCnm8 click the More Info button when you get there Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741816 Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Oooo nifty. And the guy uses Notepad++ ;p. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-741834 Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviewdr Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I have seen issues before with a Windows install cd balking when there is a linux partition on the hard drive. The windows installer just stalled on me. If you load up a LiveCD in linux etc. run: cfdisk and delete all the partitions. (note, you are going to wipe everything and there aint no going back). I managed to get around it by using another hard disk, so I dunno if cfdisk will work. -steve Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-742145 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 I have seen issues before with a Windows install cd balking when there is a linux partition on the hard drive. The windows installer just stalled on me. If you load up a LiveCD in linux etc. run: cfdisk and delete all the partitions. (note, you are going to wipe everything and there aint no going back). I managed to get around it by using another hard disk, so I dunno if cfdisk will work. -steve Which LiveCD would you recommend? What commands would I have to input? cfdisk, what else? or is this a press [1] for partitioning [2] to view partitions on the HD, etc? Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-742982 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomfmason Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I have seen issues before with a Windows install cd balking when there is a linux partition on the hard drive. The windows installer just stalled on me. If you load up a LiveCD in linux etc. run: cfdisk and delete all the partitions. (note, you are going to wipe everything and there aint no going back). I managed to get around it by using another hard disk, so I dunno if cfdisk will work. -steve Which LiveCD would you recommend? What commands would I have to input? cfdisk, what else? or is this a press [1] for partitioning [2] to view partitions on the HD, etc? I use the gparted live cd for things like this. Also, you could hide the linux partition and install windows(may have to edit boot.ini for windows). Then fix grub. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-743806 Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviewdr Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Which LiveCD would you recommend? What commands would I have to input? cfdisk, what else? or is this a press [1] for partitioning [2] to view partitions on the HD, etc? Any LiveCD. Ubuntu will do fine. Open a Terminal. type: sudo cfdisk (or just type cfdisk). Its press [1] etc. tool. How about just put in another hard drive and test???? -steve Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-744204 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'm running on a laptop and I don't have another HD around. I downloaded GParted but I'm noticing that when it partitions, it doesn't delete the Linux directories. So I think that /dev/sda will always exist, and I think thats where the problem is. How do you hide the linux partition? Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-745071 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 I currently have no OS installed on my system. Here is the screen shot of gparted. If you notice /dev/sda always exist =/ [attachment deleted by admin] Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-745137 Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 But it's unallocated. Does the windows installer see it? I bet it does. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-745148 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Apparently Windows XP SP2 has problem with HDs greater than 137gb. So I tried to install Vista and it worked fine. But my recovery discs came in anyway so I'm back on Windows now. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-745647 Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 XP has probs with HDD's bigger than 137GB? Never heard that before. Weird. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-745742 Share on other sites More sharing options...
9three Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Yea first time I hear that myself. So I borrowed Vista from a friend this morning until my recovery disks would arrive and it worked just fine. I'm also behind my work by 4 days now heh =/ Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-745753 Share on other sites More sharing options...
corbin Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Hrmmm seems you just have to update or install a driver and it's fixed, but if that's your only computer that would be a pain since finding the driver would be impossible lol. Quote Link to comment https://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/141534-solved-format-linux-install-windows/#findComment-745755 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.