windows and linux

[bujums]

I have a compaq laptop and i want to have window and linux. I did creat a recovery disk for window but now that I have installed linux i can't re-install window. I am using the recovery discs that i made from the laptop and trying to re-install but it thinks I am putting it in to another computer... somehow installing linux changed something so now the recovery disk wont install because it is only supposed to install on the same laptop. Sorry if this is confusing. I got tired of talking to people in India... so I am trying forums.

[wowbag1]

I am assuming and correct me if I am wrong that you want a dual boot laptop, if you do it is best to install windows first and then Linux.

That said when you say it thinks I am putting it in to another computer - what is it trying to do.

[mdnayeem]

Its always a good idea to install windows first and then Linux on a dual boot machine. If possible then I would suggest to wipe off the Linux and install window first in one partition and then Linux on the second.
Bytheway, what error message you get when you insert the windows CD? Also, are you sure that your windows CD is OK?

[bujums]

yes I want to do a duel boot, I have done this on several other computers over the years. So I have tried to reinstall window (so I could later install linux for the duel boot) but the disk I created with the laptop when I got it does a check to see if it is being put in the same computer it came from. then it refused to even begin to install. So instilling linux has changed something that the disk is looking for.

[oz]

Download the PartedMagic LiveCD, burn it do disk, boot from it, go to a terminal and issue the following command:

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=512 count=1

That will wipe the drive of all content giving you a totally fresh start.

You can then install Windows, then Linux.

Note that if you have a SATA drive, you might need the drivers for it to reinstall Windows if they aren't on your recovery CD.

[bujums]

How will I know if I have a SATA drive?

[Jonathan183]

What error messages do you get when you try to restore windows? You may want to try backup of your Linux and Windows data, then restore the machine to Windows only. You can use the PartedMagic CD to remove the Linux partitions and resize the Windows partition(s) to original size. The SuperGrub CD can be used to restore a Windows MBR. You should then be able to get your Windows restore CD to work.

If you have the Windows install CD it might be easier to backup the Windows data to the Linux partitions, reinstall Windows (make sure it only writes to required partition), then use the Supergrub CD to restore the Linux bootloader.

[Jonathan183]

How will I know if I have a SATA drive?

In a root terminal type

fdisk -l

if this returns entries with /dev/hda1 etc then it is not SATA, if it returns entries like /dev/sda1 then it probably is.

[bujums]

I will try with PartedMagic CD and the SuperGrub CD and see if I can get windows back on there. I already have importand data backed up. I seem to just mess with operating system lately...

[Jonathan183]

I will try with PartedMagic CD and the SuperGrub CD and see if I can get windows back on there. I already have importand data backed up. I seem to just mess with operating system lately...

I'd try the method I listed first ... it may take a bit longer ... but if it does not work you can try ozar's method after ... I'm not entirely sure how Windows restore works so would try to put partitions back as they were first & see if that works.

Let us know how you get on.