Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 36054 2003-07-29 21:32:00 How do I ...... JJJJJ (528) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
163760 2003-07-29 21:32:00 I have a spare hard disk that I want to use as a back-up.
The problem is that this disk has Linux installed on it along with a lot of other rubbish.
The jumper is set to slave and when I install it it is recognised by the bios.
BUT, I can't delete or format the rubish. I have tried several versions of delete, deltree and fdisk. All I get is a message saying "wrong Dos version"
How do I clear the disk?
JJJJJ (528)
163761 2003-07-29 21:52:00 According to this thread (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz) Chilling_Silently says to do this:


You're gonna want a 98 boot disk unless you're installing Win2K or WinXP, coz they can remove partitions from within the installer!

Boot off the Disk and run Fdisk /mbr
This will clear the master boot record of the Linux boot loader
Then run Fdisk
You want to Remove Non-DOS partition, and then create a Primary Partition (Using all available space). Keep in mind there's likely to be 3 or so partitions to remove.

From there, begin as normal


Do check out that thread for more details as well. :-)
Susan B (19)
163762 2003-07-29 23:30:00 Can I boot from the floppy and then go straight to my slave drive (D)?
I don't want to interfere with C drive. It has XP on it and it's running perfectly at present. Don't want to give it an excuse to play up.
JJJJJ (528)
163763 2003-07-30 00:07:00 Yes, fdisk has a menu item "change drive" if more then one drive. Pheonix (280)
163764 2003-07-30 00:35:00 I believe its called something like "Set Active Partition"

Take ya pick, and change it back as you please :-)
Chilling_Silently (228)
163765 2003-07-30 03:57:00 Completely disconnect the primary (master) drive.

Connect the backup (slave) drive.

Ensure the second (slave) drive is detected in BIOS.

Boot from a Win9X startup disk.

Use FDISK to remove all partitions - DOS as well as Non-DOS partitions.

Remove the startup disk.

Reconnect the primary (master) drive.

Ensure all drives are correctly detected in BIOS.

Start Windows XP and partition the second hard drive using the utilities in Disk Management.



All care and no responsibility.
Do at your own risk.
Backups are recommended.
Merlin (503)
163766 2003-07-30 04:49:00 Yeah.. or you could do it the long way round... Chilling_Silently (228)
163767 2003-07-30 14:15:00 Good - you are learning to follow

Men are four:
He who knows not and knows not he knows not, he is a fool--shun him;
He who knows not and knows he knows not, he is simple--teach him;
He who knows and knows not he knows, he is asleep--wake him;
He who knows and knows he knows, he is wise--follow him!
- Lady Burton (wife of Sir Richard Francis Burton), given as an Arabian proverb
Merlin (503)
163768 2003-07-30 16:49:00 Only a fool knows everything. A wise man knows how little he knows.
-- Unknown


If you are all wrapped up in yourself, you are overdressed.*- Kate Halverson

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him
-- Bible, Proverbs 26:12
metla (154)
163769 2003-07-30 20:41:00 I have had trouble with ext2 and ext3 partions (linux) with fdisk, I now use delpart ( it does not care what file system is on the disk, haven't tried NTFS yet though )it is free and downloadable off the net. It only does one thing deletes partions. Also if you are lucky enough to have drive image there is a folder on the cdrom called dos, in there you will find their version of fdisk very powerful beama (111)
1