in fedora trying to format ntfs partition using ntfsprogs mkntfs

mrj · 12-15-2007, 04:57 PM

In Fedora I am trying to reformat an ntfs partition on my hard drive that I have installed linux on so that I can dual boot vista. Vista requires ntfs format in order to install it. The ntfsprogs package supposedly has the command mkntfs but when I type that command, it does not recognize it. The ntfsprogs package I have installed is 1.13.1-8.fc8.i386. I know there are other versions available, but the documentation is messy. Any comments?

lazlow · 12-15-2007, 06:39 PM

I would use gparted it can handle ntfs. It is available via yum. You have to unmount a partition before you can format it.

syg00 · 12-15-2007, 06:44 PM

Why not just delete the partition, and point the Vista installer at the free space ???.
KISS.

mrj · 12-15-2007, 08:22 PM

Thanks lazlow and sig00 for replies. I was able to look at gparted by running it, though I did not actually try to change anything yet without doing some more studying. I don't want to just delete the partition because I don't think vista will format a partition to NTFS, sig00. I think I have enough info to reformat though.

syg00 · 12-15-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrj

I don't want to just delete the partition because I don't think vista will format a partition to NTFS, sig00.

Did for me. Can't remember if I had Linux installed first or later, but Vista was certainly installed into unallocated space.
This was a rebuild of one of my test boxes using the original disks.