I've recently been hacked, and my Windows 98 OS was mangled(yeah, I know - it's a fossil, but I liked it.)
I've formatted my computer, and foolishly installed Fast Window - which, I believe, is a Linux system? Now, instead of a primary DOS partition using 100% of my disk memory, the primary partition is using only 31%, and the Extended DOS Partition is using 69%!!!
My computer is all fouled up - I cannot install and run XP, or my CD burner, and cannot make my system go online with my Qwest DSL...

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

How can I delete/remove/wipe out the Extended partition?

Thanks in advance,

RocketmanVT

Load up a Linux Live CD or the like and run fdisk. Usually during the install of any OS you can wipe, create, manage the partitions.

The only CD I have is the Fast Window CD...Not even sure if it came with my computer back in '03...
I don't have a Linux startup disk, either...

First things first.
1st: Welcome to LQ.
2nd: Take a breath.

I've had happen to me what seems to be happening to you, you try to delete the logical partitions and fdisk says it can't until all the extended partitions are deleted. Try to delete the extended partitions and it says it can't until you delete all the logical partitions. Hair pulling I know.

If you are using the win-xp installation disk you need to delete any logical partitions on the extended partition. Then delete the extended partition. Any linux partition will show up as a non-DOS partition fdisk should delete those with no problem.

Or you can put in a live-cd, or parted magic and just delete all the partitions write the changes, then boot to your installation cd and do a normal install.

The ONLY startup disk I have is for Windows 98.
I have installation disks only for 98 and XP, and the Fast Window that caused this migraine.

I'm now totally bald, and Valium has become my new bestest friend...Wheeee, look at that snail speeding down the sidewalk!

You can download a windows 98 boot cd, burn it to cd, put it in the drive and boot with it and use fdisk to delete, change, create partitions or do whatever:

http://www.bootdisks.us/windows-98/1...cd-images.html

I had this situation yesterday. Using W98 fdisk trying to delete all partitions and get the message I can't delete extended because there are logical partitions and asks if I would like to see logical partitions. I type Yes and it says there are no logical partitions but it still wouldn't delete the non-existent logical or the extended. I finally managed to do it but it was pretty frustrating.

When you use the boot disk for fdisk, make sure you do the 'display' option first so you know exactly what you are dealing with. Also, as rangerman says, delete logical before extended.

Is a boot disk different from a startup disk or OS installation disk?

And that snail is really movin' down the street...Is it time for another happy pill yet???

I guess it would be like a startup disk but definitely not an install disk. It basically allows you to partition and format and not much more. It does have fdisk. If you have a boot floppy and a floppy drive it would do the same.

I don't know what "Fast Window" is, but a quick internet search reveals that it is some sort of extremely dumbed down version of Linux.

Your best option is to download and run some other version of linux (literally ANY other version will be better), and use that to erase the partitions on your hard drive.

One possibility is to try Ubuntu Wubi. I've never used it myself, so I don't know exactly what it will do. It says it requires 256megs of RAM and 5gigs of hard drive space. You probably don't have 256megs of RAM, but it'll probably still run--slowly--if you have at least 128megs.

I recommend you could ask one of your friends to download and burn Parted Magic. This is a live CD that runs before your computer boots then you will be able to erase the extended Partition and join it with the primary partition. I just used it today and I really like it.
Good Luck! and please upgrade to at least win2k! lol

This is probably heresy - but if the very sensible suggestion of ceantuco isn't an option.. you did say in your post at 9.56 that you had a Windows XP install disk?

Install it! From your description there is nothing of value on the hard disk at the moment, so letting Windows do its own thing won't do any harm in the long run.

After you've got a working Internet connection and a CD burner - albeit a crude one - you can then download something like the Fedora 9 Live CD and use its version of GParted to re-format your Hard drive and install a mainstream Linux system. If you don't like Fedora after you see it, you can pick another of the releases offered here - http://iso.linuxquestions.org/

In his first post he says he can't install Windows XP. This may be because the Windows XP installer is failing when it encounters these inexplicable non-Microsoft approved partitions on the hard drive.

Thank you all!
I'm gonna have to re-install the dumbed-down version of Linux - the literature that came with the system says it's a "limited version," and that peripherals (scanners, printers, digital cameras, etc.) will NOT be supported...But I just might be able to get online...

Again, thank you ALL!

BTW, Win XP says my C: drive is corrupted and cannot be fixed - but I'm hoping that's just due to the memory (69% !) that the extended partition is gobbling up, or remnants of Linux.