Need to go back to NT From Linux

[atowngreyhound]

I need some help in finding out the best way to format the hard drive on a computer that has linux red hat already installed upon it. I can't seem to bring back or format the section in which Linux was being stored. There are two different partitions and the active partition is two small to do install of.

 

[wahooguy]

I've had the same problem. For some reason, Microsoft's fdisk does not want to remove the ext2 partition. Here's the only way I found to work around it. Try to install RH as normal. When prompted to partition the drive, use Disk Druid. Remove all partitions that are shown (it will also show any FAT16 partitions , if you want to delete those as well). Choose done and save the partition table. Shutdown the system (may not be the best thing but I only did it once!) HDD should be clean of partitions and ready to go.<br>
The only drawback is if you don't have RH!<br>
<br>
May not be the best advice but, like I said, it worked for me. Any other ideas??

 

[atowngreyhound]

I agree that it may not be the best way, but I tried it and like you it worked for me. Sometimes if it works just go with it. Does anyone know of a better way possibly.

 

[Tool]

Yes...boot your system off a DOS boot disk with the utilities fdisk, format, debug, and basic dos boot files. At the C: prompt type debug. NOTE: "This should only be used if you want to start fresh on a hard drive." Follow step by step;<br>
-f200 L200 0 "enter"<br>
-a 100 "enter"<br>
mov ax,301 "enter"<br>
mov bx,200 "enter"<br>
mov cx,1 "enter"<br>
mov dx,0080 "enter"<br>
int 13 "enter"<br>
int 3 "enter"<br>
"Press enter again"<br>
-g=100<br>
-q (quits back to DOS)<br>
This debug utility will clean everything off your harddrive including viruses.<br>
<br>
Any questions ask me<br>
Tool

 

[Alt255]

Uh, Tool, this script appears to overwrite the boot record on the first fixed disk. It only "cleans" 512 bytes and deletes all partitions. Atowngreyhound, my guess is that DOS doesn't understand the value stored in one of the following boot sector offsets: 1C3h, 1D3h, 1E3h or 1F4h. They contain the Operating System indicators for the partition records. Fdisk won't recognize a partition marked with an "invalid" byte in those locations.<br>
URGENT P.S. &gt;&gt;&gt; Don't try this at home. Leave the work to the mad scientists of the world.

 

[Alt255]

Oops, those offsets were offset. See what I mean? It's too easy to make a mistake. Don't mess with the boot sector unless you're working with a throw-away hard drive on a toy system.

 

[Alt255]

Whahooguy, Go TRIBE!!!!<br>
Hmmm, you might resolve the issue by placing 06h in the fourth offset of the appropriate partition record. That should make the partition visible to fdisk. Sorry about the endorsement but, GO TRIBE!<br>
<br>
vorpal1@raex.com<br>