Re: How to format screwed-up hard drive and reinstall OS.

Thank you, Aaron for your kind reply.
  
  I tried to reinstall just Linux, and it gave me an error saying "No  Drives Found." I believe the msg said there was no valid device on  which to create new file systems.
  
  I also tried to fix grub, but wasn't able to mount /mnt/sysimage.  Partitioning with PartitionMagic somehow got really messed up -- I  really don't have a clue. -- I think the only possible way to fix this  problem is format the whole thing and reinstall Windows again. (I can  then add Linux later. Luckily I backed up most data on to another Linux  machine.)
  
I still can't find the right way to format the hard drive. My computer just refuses to let me do that... :(
  
  Thanks in advace for your help.
  
  --peter
  
  
[email protected] wrote:  On Tue, Nov 15, 2005 at 03:30:09PM -0600, [email protected] wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 15, 2005 at 10:30:33AM -0800, peter wu wrote:
> > Hi,
> >   
>  > I have a dual-boot system (WinXP & Linux), but during further  partitioning, for some reason it got really hosed up. Now I lost access  to Linux, and I can only boot to WinXP from GRUB. So, I need to format  the hard drive and reinstall Windows, but the reinstallation method  provided by Dell (my computer manufacturer) doesn't work on the  machine. Where can I find help for formatting screwed-up hard drive and  reinstalling Windows?
> >   
> >   Thanks for your help, in advance.
> >   
> >   --peter
> Well I have several things to say:
> 1. If Windows works all you have to do is to install Linux. At at this
> point I would install Fedora Core 4 rather that RH 9, but the choice is
> yours.
> 2. The installation of any Linux will allow you to format the
> partition that will hold the Linux.
> 3. During the installation of Windows you can format the partition for
> Windows as part of the installation.
> 4. I don't see what Dell has to do with it.
Well I guess I have to say a few more things.
1. If you are trying to boot or install Windows restore CD from
Windows it is not designed to reinstall Windows. You need a real
Windows CD.
2. If the Windows works leave it alone and either:
a. reinstall the Linux. The installation will allow you to re-format
the Linux partition.
b. Just fix the grub as follows:
  i. Boot the rescue CD or boo the regular CD 1 and type linux rescue.
  ii. Eventually your linux system will be mounted on /mnt/sysimage.
  iii. Restore your /etc/grub.conf file to something like
  this:
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You do not have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg.
#          root (hd0,2)
#          kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda3
#          initrd /boot/initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,2)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Fedora Core (2.6.14-1.1637_FC4)
        root (hd0,2)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.14-1.1637_FC4 ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet
        initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.14-1.1637_FC4.img
title Other
        rootnoverify (hd0,0)
        chainloader +1

This is a FC4 grub.conf but yours should be similar. The Other clause id the one for Windows. 
 iv. Run: grub-install /dev/hda   <- it may not be hda in your case.
 v. reboot and things should be ok.

Once again bite the bullet and install FC4 instead of RH 9 is my advice.
Ther is much more traffic on the fedora-list than the shrike-list of you need further help.
-------------------------------------------
Aaron Konstam
Computer Science
Trinity University
telephone: (210)-999-7484

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