Hey guys...

I am trying to get rid of the Linux bootloader and then reformat my second hard drive so I can reinstall Linux and boot up from a floppy disk instead of having a bootloader run the system... the only problem is, is that when I use Fdisk on the system, it says an error that my OS (Windows XP Pro) is protecting hardware or whatever and that I can't access it. So, someone suggested I pop in the windows disc, boot up with it and then go into repair mode. Well there is another problem, for some very odd reason when it says to enter Administrator Password, and I enter it, it gives me an invalid password. So I have no clue what to do! I went to Gateway (My computers vendor) and then went to support and stuff but they simply said 'I am not trained in Linux, please go to Gateway *something*'. But I have to pay for that so... I'm trying to avoid that.

Thanks again

The easiest way to get rid of lilo is to put a windows bootdisk in and type fdisk /mbr. That will eraese the master boot record. Then you should be able to boot to windows. Then you should be able to run fdisk (dos version) and clear the windows partitions. If you want to get rid of the old Linux partitions you will have to boot to windows and right click on my computer and the disk management or use partition magic.

When you say 'clear' the mbr, does this clear the mbr meaning I have to reinstall my windows os, or just fix it, and second how do I make this bootdisk? Sorry, I just want to get this right.

No, windows does not boot from the master boot record (mbr). It boots from the partition that it is installed on. fdsk /mbr just formats (eraese) the master boot record.

To make the boot disk, boot to windows, open mycomputer, right click on the A drive and click format. There should be an option to make a boot floppy.

Thanks again. This community is awesome!

Hmmm, just to make sure, the options I have to format is a ms-dos start up floppy... no such thing as a boot floppy. I think its the same but just making sure...

Yes, it's the same.

Thanks again, but for some reason, the disk is just giving me a 'bad command or file name' answer when i type in fdisk /mbr

If you have access to a Win 98/ME machine make a boot disk from them.

If u r still stuck go here
http://www.drd.dyndns.org/fr_index.html?/disks.html

Download the boot essentials disk and then use the fdisk /mbr
command and it should work

thanks guys, that worked. *Time to reinstall Linux..*