well

I am going to format my hard drive and install windows 98 so how do I format with linux installed... I assume its alot different then doing it through linux


later on I will probly add a partition and put linux on that so uhhhm how do I do this I would like to have it done by tommarow night...

Somewhat confused on your question. What OS if any is installed on the hard drive?

If linux is already installed.
Windows needs to be installed on a primary partition and select that partition to be bootable. Be sure to create a linux boot floppy disk if you didn't during the install process since windows will overwrite the mbr.

You can create the paritition with linux but it would be best to format it with the win98 boot CD.

I have redhat linux 7.3 installed

so whats the first step then walk me through it lol...

I bought a 170 dollar sound car dI cant use with linux apparently

In a nutshell.

If you didn't create a boot floppy disk now is the time.
mkbootdisk or bootddisk is the command see man pages for syntax.

The first step is to see how the drive is already formated.
execute following command as root in a console shell and post the results.
fdisk -l (small L)

If the entire disk is allocated then you will need to resize an existing partition to create free space for windows.

Its bests to boot to rescue mode from the 1st install CD. Then use parted to resize a partition.

Then use fdisk or cfdisk to create a primary partition. And set the partition boot flag.

I don't remember if the windows installer will format the drive but if you boot the windows CD i.e. do not run setup then at the DOS prompt:
format c: /s

Reboot the PC and then install windows.

After about 100+ reboots to install hardware drivers... Reboot using the RH boot floppy. If you are using grub you will need to edit the grub menu to include windows and then run grub-install. If using lilo you will need to edit the /etc/lilo.conf to include windows and then run /sbin/lilo.

nonono y dont understand I WANT REDHAT GONE not windows on the same hard drive... how do I just get rid of linux my PC is messed up because I put a sound card in it and it wont use it I have been out a computer for awhile now I just want it gone...

Sorry, But you really didn't state your question very well. If you had stated your last post as your first it would of been less confusing.

To remove linux.

Boot using a windows CD to DOS.

Use DOS fdisk to delete non-DOS partitions.

1.Create primary partition.
2.set active
3.Create extended and logical if desired.
4.reboot.
5.Format drive(s).
6.Reboot and install windows.

ok a few questions

how do I create a primary partion..
How do I know what partions are non dos
what do you mean extanded and logical what do they do?

When fdisk first runs answer y to the first question.

To delete non-dos partition
From the main menu press 3 & then enter key. Your now in the delete menu.

Press 4 & then enter key to enter the non-DOS menu. A table of partitions is displayed. The left column will be a partiton number and there will be a type column which will say non-DOS.

Enter the partition number you want to delete and press enter key. Repeat untill you have deleted all.

Now you are left with an unpartitoned drive.

To create a primary partition:

Press esc until you are at the main menu.
Press 1 & enter key, Press 1 & enter key. If you only want one partition then press y. If not then n and enter size or precentage of disk.

Press Esc key Now press the 2 & enter key. It might ask you for the partition number which should be one. You have now set the partition active.

Press the esc key to exist fdisk and reboot. It might be best to just go with a c: drive.

You are now ready to format the drive.

The method by which disk are partitioned is that there 4 primary partitions labeled 1-4.

But you can have more the 4 partitions on a drive. To do this you create an extended partition which is a container for logical partition. Logical partitions are labeled 5-64.

I have the partion created and I restarted

then I boot from CDrom

then I start with CD rom support then I type
C:\ at the A:\

and it changes to C:\
then I type format
and it says invalid media type reading drive C
Abort,Retry,Fail?

what do I do?

hey nvm its formating it wouldent format from a CD I had to use a floppy...wierd

I hope this works
and dont worry everybody I will be back before you know it with a nice linux partion I just dont think I am ready to go ful linux yet...sorry

type format C:

You don't need \.

Format is in win98 directory on the CD.

I suggest you make two paritions. One for Windows and the other will be for all your files. When Windows crashes (usually does in two months), you can install Windows without worry about your files.

Please learn DOS. It will also help you learn LINUX faster.

too late it worked...

and my sound card works perfectly....hmmm

well I shall return...........one day when I am more prepared but until then I am sure I will just install a partition...thanx for all your help guys and see you soon!