some questions, Windows + Linux

[V7iktor]

Hi everyone.

I am planning to install Linux Redhat 9 on a laptop machine. And have some questions.
First I want to use the Windows boot manager and not GRUB or LILO or anything else. I found instructions on how to do that here:

http://www.tprthai.net/bootmgr.htm
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/multib..._win2k_fix.htm

Does this work? I will be dual booting with WinXP Home (not Win2000 or XP pro).

Second what if I want to 'uninstall' Linux? Will I be able to simply format the Linux partition back to FAT32? Last time I tried that with a Win98 boot disk and the fdisk tool - it didn't work (it couldn't format the linux partition). Why was that? What should I use instead? Maybe the formatting tools on the redhat cd can do this? Or do I have to use something like Partition Magic.

[daveo]

Hi everyone.

I am planning to install Linux Redhat 9 on a laptop machine. And have some questions.
First I want to use the Windows boot manager and not GRUB or LILO or anything else. I found instructions on how to do that here:

http://www.tprthai.net/bootmgr.htm
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/multib..._win2k_fix.htm

Does this work? I will be dual booting with WinXP Home (not Win2000 or XP pro).

Second what if I want to 'uninstall' Linux? Will I be able to simply format the Linux partition back to FAT32? Last time I tried that with a Win98 boot disk and the fdisk tool - it didn't work (it couldn't format the linux partition). Why was that? What should I use instead? Maybe the formatting tools on the redhat cd can do this? Or do I have to use something like Partition Magic.

Well, I don't know if that option works described on the website, I didn't try it ...

* Uninstall linux is easy, just rm -R / and the "filesystem" is empty from files when done. But the partition still exists.
* As far as I know you'll need to delete the partition and not format it. I think when you open fdisk (from windhooz) it will display a unknown partition or something. Delete the partition then make a new partition format it, if it's bigger than 2024mb it's automatically fat32.
* Correct me if i'm wrong but the command and tool format is only windhooz related ....

Hope this helps,

[V7iktor]

I really messed something up the last time. I remember I deleted the partition, and then couldn't get that disk space back. fdisk just couldn't do it. Then I used disk druid that is on the redhat cd and used the -o option (IIRC) and that deleted all my partitions and I was able to reformat the whole drive to FAT32.

I'm sure I could have just reformatted the linux partition. But if you say I have to delete it and then recreate it then ok, sounds good. But I hope that doesn't affect the existing Windows partion?

[daveo]

I really messed something up the last time. I remember I deleted the partition, and then couldn't get that disk space back. fdisk just couldn't do it. Then I used disk druid that is on the redhat cd and used the -o option (IIRC) and that deleted all my partitions and I was able to reformat the whole drive to FAT32.

I'm sure I could have just reformatted the linux partition. But if you say I have to delete it and then recreate it then ok, sounds good. But I hope that doesn't affect the existing Windows partion?

* We'll I'm almost sure that you can't format an existing linux partition back to a fat32 filesystem. Is this option possible within fdisk from windows?
* I experienced in the past that fdisk from windows, isn't working that good. For example, try to delete a logical dos partition when you've already deleted the primary partition...You won't be able to delete it
* Be aware that if you split up your disk correctly and you change something on a other partition (not the mbr) then it should never affect your other partition.... i

Hope this helps,

[V7iktor]

fdisk can't format anything, true, you need to use the format tool. And format won't recognise the linux partition. Sorry for not being clear.

I have to figure this out before I go any further (that would be burning Redhat cds LOL). I am not experianced with partitioning so I have a lot to learn. Thank you for your input daveo

[kpzani]

you will need to run fdisk delete the partition. the problem with fdisk is that you need to choose the correct partition type when deleting it. It should be non-dos partition. then create a second partition. and format it.

if you have installed the linux bootloader then you will need to run fdisk /mbr to overwrite the master boot record.

If you are removing linux from a dual boot scenario then i recommend using partition magic to delete and recreate the partitions as it is much easier.

[variant]

run the linux version of fdisk, also called fdisk and a slightly nicer version of it called "cfdisk" you can use it to format a linux partition and change the filesystem back to fat32. it should be included on the distrobution disks.