Hi, I recently tried linux and had no trouble installing this OS. However, I'm finding that my needs would be best served using windows xp instead of the vista that was installed. I've checked that my system is set to boot from the cd rom, just as I did when I installed linux and its here were things don't go to plan. my pc starts to boot and reports that it is doing a hardware check of my system and thats as far as I get.
Please can you help
regards
paul

That sounds odd. Maybe try deleting all of your Linux partitions first using your Linux install CD as a Live CD.

Hi thanks for replying,
Your suggestion has occured to me, I've fumbled my way through another set up but I'm not sure of what it is I need to do. I think that if I could erase the linux format and start with a blank drive, that maybe windows would install its self as if it were a new hard drive. Do you know how I might achieve this?
kind regards
paul

Do you just want to replace Vista with XP (keeping Linux as well), or trash the lot and only have XP ???
From a Linux terminal session, enter this command and post the full output here

Hi,
Thankyou for your help in advance.
I'm studying Digital Signal Processing (DSP), and the development platforms use either a Linux OS or a Windows XP OS not Vista. I need a fast operating PC in order to evaluate real time signals so I have purchased a new quad core processor PC which came with Vista. I installed Linux and had no trouble doings so, but feeling like I may have missed something first time I've re-installed Linux and again had no trouble. Ive heard that I can construct a dual boot system but now I'm struggling to understand what I need to do. Having read a few forum links it all seems very confusing, thus I've just given up and resigned to Installing Windows XP and just run this OS. So I put my newly purchased XP disc into my cd ROM and set about installing it. I start the boot from cd ROM process and it appears to come to a stop after giving me the "checking hardware" message. I'd like to have a dual boot system, but if I can only have one OS then I'd prefer to have Windows XP.

I copied your command and from the Linux toolbar pasted it to the 'Application' -> 'System tools' -> 'Terminal' and pressed return:

[paul@localhost ~]$ /sbin/fdisk -l
[paul@localhost ~]$

I feel like I'm making a blundering mess of this too, as I'm unfamiliar with Linux. Do I need to be entering this command somewhere in the boot routine?

Regards
Paul

Run fdisk as root.

Hi,
I'm sorry but i'm lost now.
Could you please be more specific as to where i should be trying to enter this command and what it will/should achieve.
I've tried a few things and I'm not sure as to what is expected.
I can get my system to fail to boot now :-) I suppose thats something.
(Joke)
Regards
Paul

There are certain hard drive interfaces that are supported by Vista and Linux, but not XP. If your CD-ROM is connected to one of these, you are out of luck.

Hi,
Ahh...
Now that might make some kind of sense.
I'll try instaling Vista again, when I can get a copy.
I didn't create a back up because I didn't want a Vista OS.
If it works i'll try to create a dual boot system.
Is there any advise you can give to set me on the right path.
I'm aware that it can be confusing to attempt.
Regards
Paul

Happens to us all ...
Sounds like a KDE system - see if you have a "Root Terminal" option under system - run the command from there. Else use "su -" first (you'll probably need a root password - will be your own password if you have no root user), then the fdisk.
XP might just be complaining because it can't find a partition it can recognise (i.e. non Linux). The fdisk will give us an idea.

If you have a working Linux (tell us what distro), and some unallocated space, dual boot is easy enough to do, but a little messy.
Best is to install Windoze first, and not use all the space. Then install Linux - most Linux installs these days will do the right thing and build a boot list including the 'doze as an option.
Easy.

Don't go with Vista until you can get away with Xp. Vista is a lot of crap (at least from my experience). You can use http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php and allocate free space for Windows. Then install Windows into this free space. Later rerun your linux installation, but only the script, which configures and writes your bootloader.

To syg00,
I'm using the new release of fedora 8.
Linux Kernel 2.6.23
gnome 2.20
KDE 3.5.8

I have a working Linux system and I looked for a "ROOT TERMINAL" system option from the top tool-bar and its not there.
What is "us -" I can't use what I don't know. Sill not able to do fdisk.

As for un-formated free space, I have no reason to believe that my installation has any. I used the defaults during set-up.

My original assumption as to why XP won't load is as you think, there is no type of space or format on the hard drive that xp can recognise. I'm inclined to believe that the dual boot option is the best way for me to go. All I need to do is to create the partions. I just wish I new how. I hope you'll have the patience to guide me through. I'd like to try and stick with Windows XP and Linux.


To Alien_Hominid,
I have the same opinion of Vista as yourself.
I had a quick look at the http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php and saved what I thought to be the download I need. I have the same problem here when it comes to running this. I have no command line.

I thought learning and using ms-dos was tiresome but there I could at least change directories and execute the files I wrote as I learned C++. I'm feeling defeated now!

I'm might try another Linux Installation again tomorrow, I think I might be missing the "yum 3.2.7" package tool. I may not have ticked it to be an installed component. I think this where my command line inputs are supposed to be processed via the tool-bars.
Is there a simple way to check if its installed?

Kindest Regards
Paul

That was "su -" (not "us -") - enter if from a (normal) terminal to become superuser (i.e. root); the "-" is to ensure you get access to all the commands as root would, rather than being restricted to your normal user pathing.
From a terminal, use "man command-name" to explain any command - including "man".

Open a terminal, do the "su -", issue the fdisk.

If you downloaded the GParted liveCD, just use whichever CD burning software Fedora ship to burn an image. Then boot that - it's a (very good) Partition Magic look-alike.
Then start installing ...

I'm sorry but the second last sentence made no sense, how can command-line inputs be processed by tool bars and what tool bars?
Yum is fedora's package manager, a package manager downloads and installs software via yum install <programname>, I don't think you can install fedora without that because otherwise you wouldn't be able to update your system

To syg00,
Thanks I have some command line input control at last. I entered the fdisk and got this:
[paul@localhost ~]$ su -
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# fdisk

Usage: fdisk [-l] [-b SSZ] [-u] device
E.g.: fdisk /dev/hda (for the first IDE disk)
or: fdisk /dev/sdc (for the third SCSI disk)
or: fdisk /dev/eda (for the first PS/2 ESDI drive)
or: fdisk /dev/rd/c0d0 or: fdisk /dev/ida/c0d0 (for RAID devices)
...
[root@localhost ~]#

Where do I go from here?

I've got the GParted download and saved it to disk. Is there anything i Should know before I plunge into the deep end again?

To AceofSpades19,
Thanks for setting me straight. I'm just getting myself confused. I've been made stupid and lazy by microsoft and its attempt at world domination.
Ha ha :-)
Hopefully with your help I'll get up to speed with Linux soon.

Thankyou everybody,
I'm begining to feel better about Linux already.
Paul