My friend requested me to install linux in his hp laptop.I told him, after linux he can install windows .so I install fedora on his laptop 1st.It was successfull.but after that when I tried to install window ,lapy boot from cd and a line "set up is inspecting ur h/w configuration" and the the screen goes blank for ever..


I thought that was cdrom problem or cd problem or lapy problem.So I tried with another friend's compaq laptop.the cdrom ,cd and lapy was working properly ,1st I install windows successfully,then install fedora by deleting all the drives.fedora installed successfully.but then I tried to install windows again .The same type of problem happened as the 1st one.

Now it's a headache for me.

My friend's requested me to dualboot their systems.

some technicians told me that it's the linux that make the windows cd unreadble even with fresh cds...


NOw what'll I do ???I've to solve their problems before returning their lappys. Otherwise their faith on me will ever over ...

First ignore what those 'technicians' told you. The easiest way to install a dual boot is to install xp first then fedora after.

Linux do not make windows CD unreadble .
But the normal way is to install windows first and than linux that is the most easy way
You hard drive what file type has it now
And is it SATA or PATA drive
Standard Xp can not handle a SATA drive you need a driver to do so
With windows are trying to install XP Vista

Put Linux on the logical partition/s.

I ignored them,so I took the challenge.I know how to do dual boot ,installing xp after linux by recovering the grub.
I know installing linux after xp is the easiset way,but now how'll I do that ...

I know that's the easiest way.But I know how to do that(window after linux)

both are SATA.

when there was no linux it's easy to install windows without any error.

What 'll I do now ???

To clarify, you neither have a cd problem or a windows install problem. Since windows was installed before, it should be easy to install again.

The problem is that the windows cd does not recognize the ext3 or reiserfs format of the harddrive. Linux runs on either of those formats. When you installed fedora, it reformatted your harddrive to a linux format.

If you want to reinstall only windows, you will need to first reformat your entire hard drive to fat32 for windows ME and older or ntfs for win xp and newer.

You will need partitioning live cd such as gparted,

If you want dual boot you will need three partitions. 1st is ntfs or fat32 2nd is ext3 or reiserfs 3rd is a small swap partition of 1 gig or less.

Install windows cd first.
Install linux cd second.
Then your are done.

you might want to read this thread over at fedoraforum
" HOWTO Reinstall XP Without Destroying Fedora When the XP CD Balks"
http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=167302
the fault is in that windows install cd and not with fedora .This is a VERY common problem

of course, you could also burn a knoppix disc and boot into that. Then zero out your hard drive using dd.

then start all over installing windows.

that's a gr8 post,am checking that..

hey johnv,thanks a lot,finally I solved the problem as the note 2 described there in the fedoa forum....

the article described in this link is so much useful

http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=167302