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Hard drive problem installing OS

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Hello,
I just tried to install LINUX on a windows 98 system with the presumption that the install would first format the hard drive however it actually partitioned it and then crashed (I think because there was not enough space for LINUX to fit.)

Now when I put in any windows recovery CDs and floppys, they fail to install anything due to the hard drive being not in the correct format (eg not fat 16 or fat32 due to the linux partition).
I can’t get to C: on DOS promt to even try to type “format c:” because it says it’s an invalid drive.

Does anyone know how I can get to this? Perhaps writing zeros to the drive would get rid of the partition but I dont know how to even do that, especially without being able to get to c: on DOS.

Thanks.

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If you have a DOS boot floppy, you should be able to go to BIOS first and change the boot sequence to floppy – CD – Hard drive and then boot from the DOS boot floppy.

Run FDISK and you should be able to view the partitions, whether they are FAT or Linux partitions, and then delete them.

You should then be able to boot from your recovery CD all right and access the hard drive. If not, you most likely have a genuine hardware problem with the hard drive.

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Just a bit more of an explanation for the FDISK utility to remove partitions that are not native Dos or Windows not NTFS you need to use the Remove Non DOS Partitions options available in FDISK. After you have deleted the entire HDD you can then run FDISK again to prepare it for a basic format and then reboot and from the A: prompt just type Format C: that will give you a FAT16 or 32 partition depending on what version of the Windows Boot Floppy you are using if it’s Windows 98 you’ll get a Fat 32 Partition if you use something older you’ll most likely get a FAT 16 or even maybe a FAT8 Partition.

If you want to try Linux leave at least 1/3 of the drive unformatted if it’s bigger than 10 GIG and you’ll be able to load Linux after you have reinstalled 98 and when you have finished installing Linux you’ll have a dual boot option that will allow you to chose which OS you want to boot into.

Col

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Your problem is that the Linux make a Linux specific partition, and you can?t delete this partition with fdisk. Your solution is put the Linux install CD in CDROM, boot the computer from this and delete all the partitions. After this you can boot the computer with a windows98 boot floppy, run fdisk, and create your partitions. After this you can format and-or install the windows OS.

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the next time this occurs (i am assuming you have already repartitioned or wiped your drive.) if not, try booting the windows 98 disk more than a few times. it will try to boot to the MBR each time. when you reboot the windows disk if you get the recovery console press R and it will recover the MBR. if you don’t get the recovery console then find a super grub disk and download it from another computer and burn it. try to find the grub partition with the disk(you will have to try more than one time). then put your windows disk back in (even though the grub disk may fail to find it). when you reboot the windows disk if you get the recovery console press R and it will recover the MBR. persistance my friend. Another suggestion ubuntu has a live cd that will boot your computer. you will have to try to boot from the live cd a few times also. eventually it will boot after you get the computer booted go to system—>adminstration—->software sources—> check all boxes and press close. it will download a source list. then open applications—-> terminal. type sudo su (enter) then sudo apt-get install testdisk (enter) after the download type testdisk. see testdisk site if you are not computer suave.

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