Reclaiming Linux drive space for windows
 

After doing some experimenting with Linux over a few months and using quite a few references to help I've determined that it's beyond me. However, since I gave about half of my hard drive to linux (and its drive format which is incompatible with windows) my computer thinks I only have half of the hard drive space that I really do have. Is there anybody out there that can help this linux traitor? ;) Thanks.

boot up to a windows command prompt and use fdisk to delete the linux partition(s) then create a new windows partition
where it was, and you should be able to see it as a new drive in My Computer, choose format and format it, now its a windows drive again.

cya,
linux_terror

I deleted the partition and fdisk shows my total hard drive space as 9531mb (the correct total). It lists my primary dos partition at 5522 mb and an extended dos partition at 251 mb (with the linux partition making up the difference, I'm guessing). However, when I try to add a partition after doing that it won't let me create a new primary or extended dos partition (I get the message "primary/secondary DOS partition already exists"). Can anyone figure out what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks!

can you delete the extended partition? Im trying to remember but I think theres a way in fdisk to create a new partition inside the extended partitrion.

linux_terror

When I try to delete the extended partition I get the message "cannot delete extended DOS partition while logical drives exist." But then it tells me that there are no logical drives defined in the extended partition when I try to delete logical drives. Grr!

Since I can't get this method to work, is there a way that I can have linux installed and access the free space on the linux part of the hard drive through windows? I just don't want to have 1/2 my hard drive space sitting there doing nothing.

you might try this, I have run into that problem before and its fdisk's fault. Try running through a linux install until you get to the formatting part and delete the extended partition with whatever linux partitioning software you are using, have it commit the partioning scheme to disk and exit the install. then make a new partition with fdisk.

linux_terror

DOS fdisk has a delete non-dos partition option in the delete menu.

You can boot the Redhat CD and select rescue mode. Then use the linux fdisk to delete the offending partition.

I'll try those last 2 suggestions, hopefully they work. Thanks a lot, everybody!

Try boot magic maybe? It says it can alter ext2/ext3 partitions. Seems like one of the best windows partitioning programs I've ever used.

instead of making a new partition, just resize the current windows one.

2 words:

Knoppix
qtparted

Scuzz, i was going to sleep last night and for some reason i thought of this thread and bling! knoppix popped into my mind, just came on to post that knoppix would do the job....great minds lol. Get knoppix and follow scuzz's suggestion, it should work out beautifully for ya.

linux_terror