Can't install fedora 13 due to it wanting to erase windows (re)initialise.
 

The problem:

I have windows 7 installed on my computer. I recently reinstalled it.

Now I want to install fedora 13 on the same disk.
I assumed I could just enter the live cd and run the installer.
When I tried this and i ran the installer the following warning was displayed: The disk needs to be reinitialized....
I tried clicking ignore but then setup sais there is no disk or filesystem detected.

Clearly I do not want to reinitialise the disk because that would remove my windows install.

Are there any solutions for this problem?

you need to shrink the windows partition and create some empty space for Fedora.
A lot of bootable CD/DVD distros have qparted on them, that can do this.

Since it's Windows 7, first make sure that version of distro you use to shrink Windows 7 partition supports them. There were some changes to partition structure between Windows XP and Windows 7 so be careful not to use old versions of distro's.

I have more than 100 Gig unpartitioned space on my hard drive.
I assume this is a lot more then needed for Fedora? The error still occurs.

I wouldn't advise using the live cd to install from. Far better to use the proper dvd, as there are some odd settings used in live cds that don't translate well to a hard drive install - mainly due to space constraints on a cd. The dvd install will also have a far more functional set up menu.

Regarding the disk reinitialization, that is due to the live cd system being in use when the setup command is run. It has to reinitialize the hard disk /cd in order to move to a hard disk install mode. To be clear, I don't think this wipes the drive, it merely re-reads the drive parameters and mounts it in a different way. And I'm pretty sure the installer would tell you before it wipes the drive.

It sais. "reinitializing will erase all data" (something like that)
So it will empty it. I will try to download the non live install cd now and see if that helps

Nope.

Using the normal install cd did not work either.
I have the impression it is due to my hard disk. I did use testdisk to repair my partition table a few days ago. Perhaps that can explain one or two things.

Any other solutions?

It will erase all the data from the partition that you have selected. If you have windows7 on a different partition then you should be alright. When installing you get an option to choose where to install Fedora, all the disk is one, you don't want that rather select the empty partition.

Of course you will want to back up any important data first ;)

you might want to read the fedora install guide
http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/...ide/index.html
and dual booting with 7 ???
MS made changes to the MS bootloader AND to the os
to prevent dual booting .

the MS bootloader MUST stay on the mbr and MUST STAY installed
you MUST make a 800 to 1 gig boot partition as THE FIRST PARTITION ON THE LINUX SECTION
and install grub there
DO NOT i repeat DO NOT put grub on the mbr( overwriting the MS bootloader) if you do win 7 will never boot again -- untill you put the ms bootloader back on the mbr

then using gparted live cd change the "boot" flag from the ms bootloader and make the linux /boot partition bootable
the fedora installer should have added a boot line for windows 7 in ( menu.lis/grub.conf )

please do some research -- MS has been trying to stop this . and has been makings changes

docs for XP no longer work
docs for vista also no longer work for 7
and search fedoraforum
-- one link --
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=250552

also BE WARNED fedora never has been and never will be designed for the new user
it is a R&D testing distro and as such A LOT OF WORK ON YOUR PART IS NEEDED
fedora is and never will be a " it just works" distro

Was this resolved?

I am now having the same issue when trying to install Fedora 14 (from the non-live DVD) on my dual boot WinXP/F11 system.

I do not have any "empty" space on the drive and I don't see why I would need that as I intend to
upgrade rather than do a fresh install.

Found a bit on the F13 install doco that says the message I am seeing will come up
"If no readable partition tables are found on existing hard disks,"

I have used Acronis (windows based ghost type program) to clone my original 320GB disc to
a 500GB one. This configuration is working OK and uses GAG as the initial boot manager.
Maybe the installer is finding something not quite right in the partition table due to the clone
operation.


Cheers,
mike

Have now run parted -l and get:

Error: Can't have overlapping partitions.

So that would be what caused anaconda to complain...

mmahoney
you CAN NOT "upgrade" fedora 11 to 14
will not work !!!!
reformat fedora the partition fedora 11 is on and do a clean install of fedora 13

also the /boot partition format has changed since fedora 11
so a full clean install is the only option
and fedora 14 uses ext4 partition format
fedora 11 user ext3

so a fresh install is required .

Hello John,

Thanks for the info. I guess I would have found out anyhow and perhaps should have checked...
Probably need to clean things up and change config to separate /home partition anyway.

Also, I don't mean to be rude and maybe I'm a bit oversensitive but I think your message
will still get through without SHOUTING and !!!!ing it home.

Cheers from Oz
mike