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-   -   linux 5.2 redhat format winxp problems etc (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/linux-5-2-redhat-format-winxp-problems-etc-179293/)

Wiz22 05-08-2004 11:15 AM

linux 5.2 redhat format winxp problems etc
 
hi i'm having problems installing Red Hat Linux 5.2 on my laptop...first of all HOW DO I FORMAT WINDOWS XP?!?!? i cant get into dos-prompt since Windows XP WONT ALLOW ME (that means rebooting or going into setup), neither can i start/run/cmd or anything so is there somehow i can format from the redhat 5.2 CD or is there a way to remove XP without CD's or violence?

dopefish 05-08-2004 11:47 AM

There should be a tool to format the harddrive on your redhat cd. I havent used 5.2 so i dont know what the install is like but if it comes up with a command prompt try using fdisk or cfdisk

Wiz22 05-08-2004 12:22 PM

yeah theres a fdisk and when i push the edit button it goes DOS-mode like this:

This is the fdisk program for partitioning your drive. It is

running on /dev/hda.

Command (m for help): m

Command action

a Toggle a bootable flag
b Edit bsd disklabel
c toggle the dos compatibility flag
d delete a partition (yes ive tryed and i dont get it)
l list known partition types
m print this menu
n add a new partition
o create a new empty DOS partition table
p print the partition table
q quit without saving changes
t change a partitions system id
u change display/entry units
v verify the partition table
w write table to disk and exit
x extra functionality (experts only)

this is where im trapped...any suggestions or should i go with d?

Wiz22 05-08-2004 12:25 PM

when i press d it asks me Partition number (1-5) ...i dont get it so i just push every number untill it says

Warning partition 1 has empty type
Warning partition 2 has empty type
Warning partition 3 has empty type
Warning partition 4 has empty type
Warning partition 5 has empty type

and thats the only thing i could do

Wiz22 05-08-2004 02:42 PM

guess im stuck on windows...again.........

dopefish 05-08-2004 10:47 PM

Are you able to use cfdisk? its a lot easier. If not then press n to create a new partition, choose primary partition then choose 1 if you have nothing else on there then choose your size, probably easier just to go with defaults for now.

btmiller 05-09-2004 04:32 AM

Why are you using such an ancient distro anyhow? RH 5.2 dates from October 1998, so it's not going to recognize modern hardware. Unless you have a specific reason for wanting a distro that old, you should probably do yourself a favor and download a newer one -- the install programs are much nicer anyhow.

mermxx 05-09-2004 02:39 PM

can u not reboot using a floppy.....u can use any boot updisk to format including win95 or win98 boot up disks ( u can create one of the from an image on the site www.putergeek.com) these still allow ur pc to boot with cdrom support.
Also as btmiller advises why not use a more recent distro of linux cos methinks u will have a big headache trying to get RH 5.2 to recognize ur hardware.
U can d/load the updated versions of most distros free (including rh9) from the relevant websites.


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