HELP! Formating computer from linux to windows

[Brian_D]

Hello,

Linux ver: Sabayon Linux x86 3.2
Computer: Dell inpiron 1100

Im sure most of you are wondering why someone would want to use windows over
linux, well its for a older person and they want windows so its what they are getting.

When i put in my windows xp installation disk and choose to boot from cd
all is well until it says its system is inspecting.. ect ect.. blah blah.

Then the screen just goes blank and does nothing..

Here is my steps so far.

Power pc
f12 boot menu
choose cd rom
press any key to boot from cd
system is inspecting.. ect ect..
Then blank screen, nothing happens...

Help???

Thanks,

Brian,

[rokytnji]

you could make a Parted Magic live cd and delete everything on the drive with gparted till empty. Then install Windows to unformatted drive.

If this is a sata drive computer. Windows XP (vanilla) has no sata drive support also. You will need to install sata drive support during XP installation. Easier if you had Vista or Windows 7 for sata drive.

[rokytnji]

To show what I mean

Install Windows XP on SATA without a Floppy (F6) - Softpedia

[Brian_D]

you could make a live cd and delete everything on the drive with gparted till empty. Then install Windows to unformatted drive.

If this is a sata drive computer. Windows XP (vanilla) has no sata drive support also. You will need to install sata drive support during XP installation. Easier if you had Vista or Windows 7 for sata drive.

Im guessing the normal setup should work the original os was xp.

this laptop is pretty old it came out in 03.

ill give this parted thing a try,

Thank you!@@

all other ideas are greatly appreciated as i know nothing about linux hehe.

Brian.

[rokytnji]

Gparted how to below. Showing you the page for deleting partitions. Gparted is included in Parted magic iso.

GParted partitioning software - Full tutorial


Edit: After googling Dell 1100 I see that it is a IDE hardrive it uses so XP should go on there just fine if your disk and cdrom are any good.

[devils casper]

In a few machines, Windows Installation CD doesn't work after Linux installation. I have 7 out of 21 machines in my Lab having same problem. You have to remove Linux boot loader (GRUB) first.
Either wipe MBR ( this will remove all partitions and data ) of Hard disk using dd command or try Fix Windows Boot option of SuperGRUB CD.

Do you have any data in Hard disk? Is it possible for you to wipe it?