Best way to Reinstall XP

[jimster1982]

Hi guys,

i'm having a few problems with XP and i want to reinstall.
I have a linux partition so would it be advisable to go in through linux and simply wipe my XP partition and start through there?


(I have an additional partition [created on first xp install] on which im planning to store all my valuable data)


I dont think it would present too much of a problem would it? I have heard things about XP boot loader?


the jimster!

 

[Jump1ng]

You can repartion your drive during the windows setup phase. Delete the current windows partions and set a size for your system part, then once windows is installed you should fire up the diskmanager and partion the space that you left for your data partition.

If you wan't to have linux accessing your windows partition I would format them with fat32. Not sure since ite years I played with linux if its possible to mount NTFS partions for R/W but you can do that with FAT32.

What you need to do is make sure you put your linux bootloader on a floppy so that you can access it. Because the windows bootloader will probably overwrite your linux one and then you don't have a way to get into linux.

I used to have linux on my box and after I sorted out the linux loader that dissapered during windows setup my system booted up to lilo where I could chose Linux or windows, it would then if I chose Windows bring up the Windows bootloader where I could chose between win2k and windows 98.

 

[jimster1982]

hi,

i have c and d (C BEING MY WINDOWS partition, and d being my "data" drive) so if i wipe c then would it affect the d partition?

could i simply then reinstall windows onto the "fresh" drive?




the jimster!

 

[Jump1ng]

If you wipe c it will leave your d drive intact.

The windows installer should see your partitions during setup and you can chose to delete your c partition and then reformat it leaving the rest of the hard drive the way it is.

It will overwrite your bootloader and install the windows loader. But the rest of the hard drive will not be touched.