windows install problem (on a linux machine)
 

Hello,

I have encountered a nasty problem when trying to install both linux and windows. I asked first on a windows forum because windows is the problem. They told me that windows should be installed first, and then linux. I know that, but i was forced to install linux first as I didn't have the windows cd on me at that time.
First this is how my partition table is organized:

/dev/hda7 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/hda3 / reiserfs defaults 1 1
/dev/hda5 /home reiserfs defaults 1 2
/dev/hda6 /media reiserfs defaults 1 2
/dev/hda1 /disk-c vfat defaults 1 0

(hda1 and hda3 are primary partitions, hda1 is bootable)

Now, when i boot from the windows cd it says "windows will now check your hardware" or something like that, and then it shows a blank screen and it hangs. The hardware hasn't changed since the last windows install.

I would appreciate any ideas about why windows won't install and how i could install windows without formating my entire hard-disk.

PS: How does windows work on WMware ? Would Delphi, Visual Studio and Dreamweaver work on a 1.3GHz & 256Mb ram machine work?

Hello,

The only reason I know why you have to do so is because windows will replace Linux's bootloader by its own... but if you have a floppy rescue or a live CD that's not really a problem.
But maybe there are other reasons :confused:
After for your specific problem, I don't know enough windows install process to help you :(

Oliv'

My Delphi7 works just fine in VMware with my 256 RAM. And if your 1.3GHz is Celeron or Duron <- that's much worser than the same for Pentium or Athlon... Only 1 problem with VMware: I can't find valid crack :)
I don't understand what version of win you're trying to install - 9x or NT? It seems to me that all NTs should work just fine, cuz they allow you to create win partitions while installation. But 9x are stupid for that... for many things.

Kornerr tx for the advice on vmware. Now about the windows install... I believe a field of negative energy was around the computer this morning as I rebooted and shut it down 5 or 6 times and it didn't work. An hour ago I tried again and SURPRISE! it worked. :scratch: I should go to church more often.... Anyway... there is a new problem.. Windows somehow changed my root partition from /dev/hda3 to /dev/hda2 :cry:

PS: I'm talking about WinXP sry I forgot to mention

Solved the last problem too... (changed lilo.conf & fstab)