Many questions - sharing harddrives, XP product/activation keys, partitions...
 

Since Partition Magic screwed something up and now Windows won't boot, I have formulated "The Plan."

"The Plan"

1. Move everything from my harddrive to my sister's harddrive over the network. Basically, I want to move all the contents from my C:\ (/mnt/hda1 in Linux) to her E:\ (she doesn't have Linux.... yet). It seems that Knoppix won't let me share anything that is not in my /home directory. (See question 1)
2. Get an XP disc. I am going to go to where the computer was purchased from and ask for an XP disc. If they do not give me one, I will try to burn one either from the i386 direcotry (looks like it could be the disc, but it is over 700 MB) or get it off Kazaa (last resort obviously).
3. Get the XP activation off of my harddrive. I need to know how to get it off using either Knoppix (preferably) or DOS. (See question 2) That way, I will have a legal key for Windows, whether I have to get the disc itself off Kazaa or not.
4. Attempt to fix the problem with any means necessary, including things that may screw everything up (as long as it doesn't do physical damage of course) If all else fails, bomb the harddrive (a.k.a format it) and start anew.
5. If previous step failed, and I format it, I will setup 4 partitions:
   Partition 1 - Windows XP - NTFS - (See question 3)
   Partition 2 - Knoppix and the programs that come with it - Linux FS - 2-3 GB
   Partition 3 - Knoppix Swap Partition - Linux Swap FS - 500 MB
   Partition 4 - Everything Else - FAT32 (See question 4) - All Remaining Space
6. Then, I install both Windows XP and do the HD install of Knoppix and dual-boot. (See question 5)

Here are the questions:

1. How do I share my harddrive on the network? I need to so I can move all my data off of it incase something goes wrong.
2. Is there any program or step-by-step process to get the activation key that was used when XP was originally installed (the computer came pre-installed with XP)?
3. How big would a Windows XP partition need?
4. I'm pretty sure it can, but I want to confirm this. Can both Linux and Windows read and write to a FAT32 partition. Obviously Windows can, but I'm not 100% sure whether Linux can or not.
5. What tools would I need to dual-boot Windows and Knoppix?

That's all for now.

Hi,


Windows XP stores the product activation data in wpa.dll. If you can copy this file to a floppy etc. It wil save you having to reavtivate again. When you reinstall, start up in safe mode, rename the existing wpa.dll file ( found in the system32 directory within the windows directory, just in case, and replace it with the one you saved. This only works if the hardware has stayed roughly the same.Mainly the motherboard. Also you will need the original product key.

In my job I install windows xp a lot and the install is generally around the 1.5 gb to 2gb area, but that didn't include much software.

Richard G.

Well, I mark a thread urgent when it is urgent for me. Of course, the word "urgent" seems to be overused. Point taken.

uselinux34 - I do not have any of the activation codes or product keys, so if the original product key is stored somewhere on the harddrive, then I still need to grab it. Thanks for the location of the activation. All the hardware will stay the same, as it is going to be the same computer, so it'll work for me. I'm not going to install any programs other than Windows on that partition, so I guess I should put it at 2 GB to be safe.

all i have to say is just "bomb" it and then add just linux......

There is a program called partimage. I'm pretty sure it comes with Knoppix. You can use that to create a compressed partition image. Maybe it works if you create an image of your win partition, format the drive, create a fresh empty NTFS partition, and restore the win partition from the image (the partition must be at least as big as the original but not much bigger because you won't be able to use the leftover space). Maybe this'll work after doing fix /mbr (assuming it's the partition table and mbr that PM messed up). Just an idea since you're going to back up your C: anyway. But if it works, you won't have to worry about activation and all that crap.

I am using about 32/37 GB on my harddrive, so I do not have any space in it or in my RAM to make a compressed image of the partition. I only have one very un-organized partition right now, so I plan on moving everything over, and when I get everything up and running, grabbing what I need off of my sister's harddrive through the network...

Although, if I wait for Christamas, I might convince my mom to get me a 350 GB harddrive, the should solve my problem there. :D

(a bit OT)

I don't know anything about xp, so can't help on the technicals. but if you try to get a m$ disc from the store, do not mention Linux -- your chances are very slim if you just say that the partioning is fouled up and nothing more, but if you mention Linux, forget it.

especially if it's a big chain store - they don't understand, and have no intention of understanding - to them a computer is just a vehicle to sell m$, Linux is an automatic violation and less paperwork for them. don't even bother trying, it's not worth the headache.

:cool: