Dual booting, need major help

Jmcatch742 · 01-07-2005, 03:41 PM

Hey guys, I'm installing linux and Microsoft winxp pro on my comp. I already have linkux, MEPIS, and I am trying to install winxp also. So I boot up, sign in and place the cd in the drive and run the setup. But while it is preparing for installation, it says "Drive C uses an unsupported data block size" Can somebody help me get through this? Or is the another way to install? I have the Winxp pro cd right here next to me and it cost be quite a bit so i would really appreciate it if you guys could help.

Tino27 · 01-07-2005, 04:06 PM

You must install MS first and then Linux. MS assumes that it will be the only game in town and thusly rewrites the Master Boot Record (MBR) making your Linux distros completely unavailable.

Fortunately, most Linux distros are smart enough to check for the presence of other OS's on the computer and will set up LILO or GRUB accordingly.

Jmcatch742 · 01-07-2005, 04:31 PM

So i should format my hd then boot from the winxp cd?

Tino27 · 01-07-2005, 04:37 PM

If you haven't already invested a major amount of time already, it'd probably be the easiest thing to do.

Jmcatch742 · 01-07-2005, 11:37 PM

And how do I format?

bluesman2333 · 01-08-2005, 12:24 AM

Putting the win CD in the drive will start the process. windows will format the HDD in NTFS because that is the only file system it uses. You might want to partition a small portion of the HDD in FAT32 so you can share files between the two OS's.