Im giving up on linux.

I want to reinstall windows and then do a partation.


I put in the xp cd but it reads it but will not excute any files

any help?

Sorry that Linux didn't make the cut for you. Maybe give it another try down the road?

Anyways, is your Windows CD bootable? If it is, then boot from it. You don't need to launch an installer from within Linux. The Windows installer will be more than happy to repartition your drive. In fact, it may do so without even asking.

If your cd is not bootable, then you'll have to download some sort of boot floppy.

I tired to do a dos boot floppy but that didn't work.

how do i change the bios so the first thing it reads is the cd?

It's usually under "advanced CMOS settings"

First boot device CDROM
Second boot device Floppy
Third boot device IDE-0

just set that sequence and that's it.

It's different for each motherboard. Traditionally, there's a message displayed when your computer goes through POST (the initial RAM check, IDE discovery, etc). It will say something like "Hit X to enter setup".

I've run into only a handful of different keys. The main ones being F1 or Del. If your computer displays a company logo (like some Compaq machines do), you'll need to hit Escape to see the POST messages.

If all else fails, you can go to your computer maker's website (or the motherboard manufacturer if you know it), and look for documentation.

I checked the cmos and my cd drive is first to boot but it just skips the cd and goes right to linux.

any more ideas to install windows?

Are you positive the XP CD you have boots? Because if your BIOS is set like you say and the CD is in the drive when you power on, then it should boot the CD unless there's something wrong with the CD itself.

The only other way I know how to go about it is to download boot floppies. If the one you have doesn't work, try looking for something at Bootdisk.com

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Edit: I just realized all those boot disks they have are *.exe files. So, you'll need access to another windows machine to create the bootdisk to use on your Linux computer.

yes the cd boots in my laptop and the screen comes up asking me what I want to do..

so it workss

I dont' get this crap

Well, then give the boot disk link a try. They have some specifically for XP. And since it sounds as though you have a laptop with Windows on it, you should be able to make the bootdisk with it.

hell yea the boot disk worked

thanks guys

Good! Just remember, you're welcome back here anytime!