Jim said:
An XP install disk contains all you need to install the OS. If the disk
happens to be an upgrade, then you need a 98SE disk just to prove that you
can upgrade.
Yes, you tell the BIOS to boot from the CD first.
Jim
Jim, hi. Yes, one would think so but apparently Linux uses partitions a bit
differently, or something, so that when Windows comes along afterwards,
there's lost space (if I've understood correctly) since "headers" (or
something) aren't detected the same by Windows. I can't find the reference
tonight, but I did read that this morning on one of the threads I found.
Yes, Windows will install, but with some blank spots or something where
Linux paritioned, somehow. However, there is bit of conflicting information
on the web, too, though I'm also trying to take into account the KB article
.... If anyone knows firsthand, just want their opinion re the Win98SE disk.
There might be unforeseen problems that I'm not familiar with so just wanted
to check beforehand. ... Ah, here's part of the KB article:
**************************
From
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/247804:
"To install Windows on a system that has Linux installed when you want to
remove Linux, you must manually delete the partitions used by the Linux
operating system. The Windows-compatible partition can be created
automatically during the installation of the Windows operating system."
.... (okay, do we have to remove it manually, or, will Windows do it?? A bit
unclear here though it seems that we must first do one and _then_ Windows
will create the partitions it understands. And that's where fdisk comes in,
I imagine ... but then it does add the following ... )
"Linux file systems use a "superblock" at the beginning of a disk partition
to identify the basic size, shape, and condition of the file system."
**************************
[source:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314458]
You can also use an MS-DOS version 5.0-or-later boot disk, a Microsoft
Windows 95 Startup disk, or a Microsoft Windows 98 Startup disk that
contains the Fdisk utility to remove an operating system from the hard disk
and install a different operating system. When you start Fdisk and multiple
drives are installed on your computer, you are presented with five choices;
use option 5 to select the hard disk that has the partition to be deleted.
After that (or if you have only one hard disk), select option 3 (Delete
partition or logical DOS drive), and then select option 4 (Delete non-DOS
partition). You should then see the non-MS-DOS partitions that you want to
delete. Typically, the Linux operating system has two non-MS-DOS partitions,
but there may be more. After you delete one partition, use the same steps to
delete any other appropriate non-MS-DOS partitions.
**************************
Okay, this really does seem to be the course to follow if one doesn't have a
floppy drive to use the boot disk with and use fdisk.
I just wanted to check with you folks first. I'm sorry to say but I've been
disenchanted with Windows for a long, long time, particularly once I had to
switch from Win98SE to WinXP. Win98SE was just fine, I really liked that OS
but XP is an even more full time job what with daily antivirus updates and
several hours checking to anti-malware scanning and the firewall, etc. and
then the reinstall every few months 'cause I can crash my system fast since
I test out software rather frequently. I like the more secure feeling that
Linux gives just because of how it's structured. Also, my family is in dire
straits. My uncle can't install anything anymore on his laptop, so
eventually he'll have to do a wipe/reinstall (which I'm not touching); a
friend can't burn anymore, she's on my old Win98SE box so I'm going to have
to do the wipe/reinstall on next visit; my sister's system completely
crashed a month ago. She's been completely without a computer in all that
time. Yes, she was on risky sites doing all those surveys for money. I
warned her once then shut my mouth because I've learned that the concepts of
having to keep up-to-date with security in Windows is not something
lay-people are comfortable hearing. But now she's completely down. In all
these cases, except for me, the family just needs to email, really, and
maybe do up the odd document. Linux is perfect for them since they don't
need to buy a whole new computer (i.e., Mac) and security issues are a whole
lot less just because of how it works. But I won't touch anything until I
can remove Linux and reinstall Windows if they decide to go back to Windows.
I've been testing various Linux distros for several days (I tested Linux 2
years ago but still not GUI enough for me. Now situation is different.)
I'm now comfortable enough with Linux so I'll transfer all the stuff off my
partitions to an external hard drive and then raze everything on the hdd
down to dust! Then I'll install Linux completely. But then I'll remove
Linux and reinstall Windows just so that I know how to do it. I kept the
original Win98SE disk for safekeeping because I didn't trust my friend to
know its importance. So we're good to go with the experiment.
So that's in in a (large) nutshell <g>.
Thanks for any help. I didn't want to ask for help under false pretenses
either.
Cheers.
D
