Linux Mint Format and Install of XP

[kiank]

Hi, I'm super new to Linux. Just last week I installed Linux Mint onto my (new) Dell Inspiron 15. Im running Linux on another computer, and have found that it's easier for collaboration with people at work to just be using windows. Anyway, I tried to reformat using Parted Magic. I went into it, and formatted the main partition to FAT32 and NTSF (i think..., the one that is like that)

I rebooted with the Windows disk and it said that stuff was starting and installing and checking. When it went to the "booting windows" it BSODed on me.

So... I tried booting without it and got GRUB error 17.


...No. Idea. If anyone could please please please help me, I would be very appreciative.

[nujinini]

Hi, I'm super new to Linux. Just last week I installed Linux Mint onto my (new) Dell Inspiron 15. Im running Linux on another computer, and have found that it's easier for collaboration with people at work to just be using windows. Anyway, I tried to reformat using Parted Magic. I went into it, and formatted the main partition to FAT32 and NTSF (i think..., the one that is like that)

I rebooted with the Windows disk and it said that stuff was starting and installing and checking. When it went to the "booting windows" it BSODed on me.

So... I tried booting without it and got GRUB error 17.


...No. Idea. If anyone could please please please help me, I would be very appreciative.

Hello & welcome kiank!

Please allow me to help clarify some things that can get you the help you need.

Did I get it right when I say that:

1) You have installed Linux Mint on your new Dell Inspiron?
2) You want to completely remove Linux Mint and replace with XP for work purposes?
3) And you used Parted Magic to reformat your disk to FAT 32 & NTFS?
4) And when you were going to install the XP using the CD Installer, your got the BSOD?
5) And when you tried to reboot without the XP CD you got a Grub 17 error?

If you can please make your point clearer, the gurus in this forum will be most willing to help. I am speaking from experience.

Cheers!

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

It sounds like GRUB is still residing on the MBR as the bootloader. To remove it, use your Parted Magic live disk again to go to a terminal and enter the following command:

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=446 count=1

You should get a short message about records in and records out, and GRUB should be cleared from the MBR.

[kiank]

Hello & welcome kiank!

Please allow me to help clarify some things that can get you the help you need.

Did I get it right when I say that:

1) You have installed Linux Mint on your new Dell Inspiron?
2) You want to completely remove Linux Mint and replace with XP for work purposes?
3) And you used Parted Magic to reformat your disk to FAT 32 & NTFS?
4) And when you were going to install the XP using the CD Installer, your got the BSOD?
5) And when you tried to reboot without the XP CD you got a Grub 17 error?

If you can please make your point clearer, the gurus in this forum will be most willing to help. I am speaking from experience.

Cheers!

Okay, I'll try to make it super clear

1. Yes, I installed Linux Mint on my new Dell inspiron
2) Yes, I want to remove Linux and install XP for work purposes
3) I initially used Parted Magic to reformat my disk to Fat 32, but last night after more trouble shooting a friend told me to delete them completely, so I did. So now my entire partition is unallocated.
4) When I boot with the XP disk, it is on the blue screen for a few minutes, then I get the BSOD.
5) If I try to boot without the XP disk I got Grob 17 error.

[rokytnji]

Well. For me when starting from scratch. I use Active@ Kill Disk Hard Drive Eraser. Low Level Format. to wipe the whole drive to OO so as to start fresh with any install with no errors.

[yancek]

Here's the Grub Error 17 from their documentation page:

Cannot mount selected partition
This error is returned if the partition requested exists, but the filesystem type cannot be recognized by GRUB

.

I'd recommend you follow ozar's advice. You still have the stage1 file of Grub in the master boot record. It is looking for the remaining boot files which are not there and you have reformatted to ntfs which Grub does not recognize which causes the error. The master boot record is located at a specific CHS on your hard drive which is not on any partition. You should be able to then use your installation CD for xp.

[D-cat]

I use Active@ Kill Disk Hard Drive Eraser. Low Level Format. to wipe the whole drive to OO so as to start fresh with any install with no errors.

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=1M

from a live CD boot accomplishes the same task.