Removing Slackware
 

I have three primary partitions. XP, Slackware,bsd.
I wanted to use the Windows and the linux versions of
fdisk to get a final look at all the partitions on the disk.

I plan to use the Linux version in order to delete the Linux and the
bsd partitions and create new ones in fat32 so that Windows can see them.

When I tried to use fdisk (from a Windows boot disk ) the program froze
right after I choose yes in order to enable large disk support. Was this because
Windows XP uses the disk manager in order to deal with partitions?
Because I was able to use fdisk to set up the Windows partition.

Before I use the XP CD to reinstall I wanted to be able to use the Windows fdisk
to delete the old partitions and create and format the new one.

If you are having issues with yoru partitions, you can use fdisk in your Linux installiation to hose the partition and set up a new one.

Ify ou have a program like Partition Magic, that should work too.

Otherwise, pop in either a Live CD and use a program like qtparted or fdisk, or, you can pop in the windows cd, and before you get to the install the os section, (when it asks whatever disk you want to install windows to) choose the right one, and then use PM or other disk utility to create the fdisk partition.

I'm new also but I like using Gparted. It's very easy to use and will create, resize and format partitions. It's a live cd & here's a link if it works ( I'm new also ). Hope this helps you if I understood your goals. Just curious what boot loader are you using ?
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

fdisk(windows) versus XP disk manager
 

Thank you, I still need to know why fdisk (windows)
froze after that first menu option. Was it because of Windows XP and it's this manager
or some other reason. Also I have no access to the root account
and will need to use fdisk(windows) to remove lilo.

In other words I'm guessing that the XP disk manager
is stopping fdisk(windows) from working.
And if this is the case when I try to run
fdisk /mbr
will it still work?

If you have a windows cd, you can pop it in and go into the recovery console and run fixmbr and reinstall Window's bootloader.

Without more info, we aren't going to know why the windows fdisk didn't work.

It would be much easier with an actual windows cd. on a side note, is it on a computer at work/ why don't you have access to the root account?

fdisk and xp
 

This is a home computer, due to carpal tunnel
I have not use this account for about two years
and just forgot the root password.

From the recovery console would I run:
fixboot
fixmbr

Then could I run fdisk? Or could I even get away with
just using format?

You could get away with just formatting, if you've got all your stuff backed up. You could hose the particular partition you're trying to get rid of by just formatting that partition. But if you also want to get rid of lilo, you're going to need to run fixboot and fixmbr.

are you trying to get rid of your bsd too? It so, you're going to have to reinstall a bootloader... so You might have to install lilo or grub from your bsd install.

Boot l oader
 

I have not worked on this computer for about two years, and I believe that
when installing and the reinstalling these operating systems that I
removed the BSD operating system but then either

Made the BSD partition and installed it

Or

Just made the BSD partition


I am planning on getting rid of bsd, just by deleting the partition
with the fdisk from the Slackware CD. Since I cannot actually reach
the lilo.conf file in order to add the BSD entry.
(The three current entries are : Linux, XP, Linux (modified kernel))

The hard disk has three primary partitions: XP, Linux, BSD


I'm confused by
>>

It so, you're going to have to reinstall a bootloader... so You might have to install lilo or grub from your bsd install.


I was using lilo to boot all three systems, so once I get rid of Linux
and bsd, I do not plan on installing grub or ilo

Ok
I misread your OP, thought you wanted to keep BSD and just get rid of Slack.

In your case, if you've got all of your software and whatnot backed up, it might be time for a reformat of your ntfs partition anyway (I always do mine about once a year), so it probably would be easier if you just refomat the whole HD and reinstall windows, isntead of trying to fight all the Partitioning programs. Keep in mind you're still going to have to boot to the recovery console and run fixmbr to get rid of lilo.

Recovery console
 

So the commands I would use from the Windows recovery console are(in order):

fixboot c: (is this required? you did not mention it but I've seen it in other threads)
fixmbr
format c:

And I want to make sure that I understand you,
and I can use these commands and not worry about
the versions of fdisk

To the best of my knowledge, fdisk only "plays" with the partition table which shouldn't stop it from working. Neither does the existence of lilo matter at all to your situation. It seems to me that you want to reinstall all your operating systems on this computer. Running the XP install CD should do just fine. In my experience it still shows you that there are linux partitions present on the drive, as well as your ntfs partitions. Is there any real good reason to "check" your partitions before using the XP CD? Also, to the best of my knowledge, linux vfat and windows fat32 are apparently different and could possibly cause you problems. I would suggest looking into that a little further before you go ahead and do it. I, personally, would just dive in and get going with it. There's no reason to do a "fixmbr" or a "fixboot c:" unless you want a windows bootloader in there... that's all it really does.

Let us know.

Removing partitions
 

Thanks for your help, and to clarify I just want to clean the hard disk and install only XP

No problem. :)

Sometimes, especially with the version of fdisk that XP uses, microsoft will complain to you about having to remove linux partitions and will refuse to do so. I'm over-personalizing it, but I've heard about it. Basically it doesn't "know how" to remove a linux partition and you will need to use a linux fdisk to do it. I've never run into that problem, but there are those who have. If that is the case, you will need to have the install/rescue CD from either slackware or bsd to use its fdisk to remove the partitions before the XP cd will let you use the whole drive. You can also use a LiveCD like Knoppix or SLAX if you don't have one already. They can always be useful.

If you don't have a LiveCD, and you don't plan on keeping it when you're done, use a CD-RW and use SLAX as it is not as large of a download. Using the Slack or BSD installer/rescue CD is the easiest, with the LiveCD being second-easiest.

If you don't have any of that, it could be a bumpy ride but you might want to look at something like Escape Pod Linux. It probably isn't your cup of tea, but it's only one floppy disk and it'll boot your computer so you can use fdisk. You can google around for something similar, but it can be a little much.

Also... I'm not sure this applies to a Windows fdisk pre-XP. You might want to give the Win98 boot/rescue disk a shot because I know you can grab that by searching google. Most likely the Win95 or the MSDOS 6.02 boot disk would work too. It's only speculation on my part, though...

I'm interested to know how this works for you now... :D

Please post back and let me know.

Good luck!

As per the commands you mention above, you don't have to run the format c:. When in the recovery console, just run fixboot and fixmbr. You might need to reboot (I don't know how the recovery console works...), after that, just install windows like you would (just at the partition selection make sure you remove all the partitions first (press r and select all the drives..). then continue (just follow directions).