Messed up when installing linux, erased win Me...Need to reinstall is it possible?re

wolfyheart · 10-19-2001, 05:09 PM

I would like to know if I can install Win Me on my pc?.
I have mandrake 7.2 as main os,
500 mhz celeron
128 mb pc 100
30 gb hd

I messed up and erased win me when installing linux and I used all hd space for new os.
can I partition my hd in 3 and install windows?
How?

thanx

___the wolfman___

Tasha v71 · 10-19-2001, 06:34 PM

I'll just put in my two cents and say that it can be done... but why would you want Me anyway?? I'm guessing it'd only lead to trouble.... if you install Win2K w/ ur linux, you'd be better off in the sense you'd be more stable and 2K is made for NT.... Me is a pretty boy OS

trickykid · 10-21-2001, 10:32 PM

if you want to install ME and have linux too, its best to install ME first, then linux. then you can configure lilo for your dual boot with more ease than going with another boot loader or windows boot loader.. you can check out the lilo or boot howtos at www.linuxdoc.org for good info on how to set that up...

Coproscefalo · 10-22-2001, 01:03 PM

To partition your disk there are many programs like partition magic, etc. but I use fdisk since I don't have any other.

I suggest the same as trickykid about installing me first and then linux using lilo, you can install lilo on the MBR (Master Boot Record) or in a floppy.

I have me and suse linux and they haven't caused me any trouble. Probably because I only use it for games and burning cds.

Azael

acid_kewpie · 10-22-2001, 01:21 PM

if you're alerady using MD, then i'd suggest using DiskDrake no the installation disk, and reboot once you've partitioned. I frequently use that to fix random harddrives.

Thymox · 10-23-2001, 05:09 AM

I agree with acid_kewpie, DiskDrake is much nicer to use, even if it might not have the power and flexability of fdisk (which I found to be a little intimidating the first time I used it).

Bert · 10-23-2001, 11:23 AM

Just a thought on WinMe and dual booting ...

The nicest way of dealing with dual booting into WinMe is not to touch the MBR, because it doesn't like sharing at all. With the Redhat distro at least, I've been down this road before.

I found that a slicker way was to use GRUB - the Grand Unified Bootloader (ususally bundled in with Redhat 7.1 distros), installed on a floppy.

Hang on - "I don't want to boot from a floppy!" you say, but this one boots straight into the image file from a customisable menu - right in there like err ... swimwear you could say.

If there's an boot-image file on your system, grub will be able to boot it.

There are a few threads on this in fact you can see a hugely inflated thread on this under my old alias 'cubed' if you do a quick search for terms 'dual boot' 'WinMe' and 'lilo'. This particular thread hints at the traps and problems associated with that combination of lilo, winMe and big IDE drives.

Erased you OS? At least you've got rid of surreptitious tracking software (Update agents etc) which Microsoft blesses your system with every now and again.