WHY? Removed Fedora core 2, HD erased, cannot reinstall XP

kendawg · 06-12-2005, 08:10 PM

I had a dual boot setup with both Windows XP and fedora core 2 (shortly after fedora core 2 came out) with each operating system on a separate 80GB HD. I had so many problems that I dumped the dual boot. I have done a Government-level secure wipe of all data on both 80 GB drives, but I still cannot reinstall windows on either 80 GB HD. The Windows XP install begins, but when it reboots to finish the install I receive and error related to "the operating system cannot be fount."

Any suggests... other than do not reinstall XP?

--Kendawg

Andrew M · 06-12-2005, 08:55 PM

I've never had the exact problem you are describing, but I suspect that the MBRs of your hard drives are not formatted.

You'll have to do:

Code:

fdisk /mbr

And then format the master boot record (MBR) possibly using the Windows XP CD (which likely has fdisk) or a Live CD.

This is just a hunch but it may work.

Hope it helps!

kendawg · 06-12-2005, 10:54 PM

Thank you for the information. I have tried the fdisk, but it does not seem to help. I have read a few posts that discuss a glitch in the installer for Fedora Core 2 that "re-writes the tables for the HD?" or something to that effect. What ever installing FD2 did to the HD... it did a good job of it. Nothing I have tried seems to work.

WhatsHisName · 06-13-2005, 06:53 PM

kendawg: Boot into linux rescue and use linux fdisk to delete all partitions on both disks.

1) Boot using either the 1st FC2 CD (“boot: linux rescue”) or the FC2 Rescue CD. When it asks about searching for linux installations, select “skip”.

2) From the command prompt, run:

fdisk -l

to see if any partitions are present on either drive and to see the device names for the drives.

3) If partitions are present, run:

fdisk /dev/hda (or possibly fdisk /dev/sda)

using the device names listed by fdisk -l

3) From the fdisk command prompt, use the “p” and “d” commands to print/list and delete the partitions. When all are deleted, enter “w” to write the final setup. “q” quits without finalizing the setup.

4) Repeat this for the second drive (/dev/hdb or /dev/sda).

I had to do this a long time ago to clean up the geometry mess left by FC2 on a couple of drives. FC2 by itself ran fine, but when used in a windows dual-boot setup, it tended to be a partition nightmare. FC3 does not have the same problem.