Hello Everyone,

I' m trying to install Xp on one of mine ext3 format, for this, i tried 'mkfs.msdos /dev/sda11' command but didn't got it correct everytime i run this command it says "partition mounted has file system"(something like this) any how i tried the options like -c -C etc., but didn't worked for me...... may be i' m not doing it correctly. so anyone who can guide me some easy way to do it quikly.

I'm using Mandriva 08.
sda11 has 30gb of space.

and generally what should be used gparted or mkfs.msdos ?

Thanks,
simer

You need to unmount it before you can mkfs on it.

Evo2.

Ok, after umount /dev/sda11 then mkfs.msdos /dev/sda11. It will be done after this.

Thanks for reply
simer

You would be MUCH better off, in general, using XP to make it's own filesystem on install. Don't use gparted or mkfs, use the Windows CD for Windows....

My guess is you need to recompile the XP kernel and apply support for that filesystem.

I never heard of XP being installed on an ext3 filesystem.

The OP doesn't want to install XP on ext3, but use the ext3 partiton to install XP, so first format it using

I am not sure what the OP exactly wants. But, I will set an alarm here because he doesn't seem to know what he's doing at all.

First, be aware that mkfs will completely destroy ALL the contents of sda11 if you run that command above. Second, if you plan to install Windows XP on sda11, first check if you can do it at all, I am not sure you can even install Windows XP on a logical drive to start with, it might only accept primary partitions, and primary partitions are *always* from 1 to 4 (and 11 > 4), so check that.

Let's try not to go to fast, you might regret it later. Do you really want to format sda11? or do you want to take some free space from sda11 and make a new partition for Windows XP? Please, explain in detail, toying with partitions without having idea on what you are doing is the quickest recipe for disaster.

Besides, xp won't properly install to a DOS partition, it requires FAT32 or NTFS.

mkfs.msdos and mkfs.vfat usually both point at mkdosfs. mkfs.msdos can create fat32 volumes just like mkfs.vfat (anyway they are truly the same tool).

A little detail from the man page:

doesnt windows want drive c: to be the first partition on the first physical disk ?

That entirely depends on the version, I guess.

I am sure that Windows XP doesn't enforce that. Well, at least latest service packs don't do so, because a lot of laptops with XP pre-installed have a "hidden" partition in front of the Windows one for recovery purposes (hence, the Windows partition is not the first one).

/dev/sda11 was empty that's why i want to install xp on this drive.It's obviously an ext3 drive but i need to install xp on my system. There must be some way to do it.

I can format it no problem for me, it is empty or i can also create a new partition out of it. Anyhow i need to install xp on my system.
I hope there is a possibility of doing this.


Thanks Everyone
simer

Nope. Unless I am incorrect in my assumption that XP needs a primary partition.

There's no easy way to work around that. Formatting the drive will change nothing. However, if you post the structure of your partition table here we could make suggestions on how to move one of the first four partitions into the extended one, then install Windows there. If the sizes differ significantly you are probably going to have to do quite a lot of rearranging.

If you don't need great performance you could as well use a virtual machine and run Windows from Linux.

Again, I am no Windows specialist: the above info only applies if I am correct in my assumption that XP can't be installed to logical drives. That's what you need to find.

Thanks i92guboj,

I will attach my partition structure as soon as i will reach home.
No, i don't want to use the virtual thing. I can do any type of rearranging... so no worries about that.

Thanks for replying,
simer

Does it HAVE to be the ext3 filesystem? I am not sure what you are asking here. If you want fully functional WinXP partition, simply use GParted (free, easy) or the WinXP install CD (assuming it can partition drives) to do this. Just make SURE that the changes you make are on the partition you want for XP (just double-check) lest risk deleting one of your OS(es). After that, all you will have to do is make an entry for Windows XP in the GRUB so you can boot XP.
Try Google, or ask one of the kind LQ members ( I don't know how. ).
Although I think you have to edit your GRUB menu.lst from a Linux distro.
Advice: clean up your English.
And, most important, Good Luck, it won't be too hard, I promise (: