[TymeKyller]

Howdy guys/gals

I was wondering if there was a way to fromat Mandrake 10 and format the drive to fat32 so I can install 98se??
I seen on another board that you could use linux cd to format the drive, any help would be great...
Thanks.....

[jcl]

What sort of configuration do you want? Pure Win98, dual boot, etc?

[TymeKyller]

jcl, on Nov 26 2004, 06:24 AM, said:

What sort of configuration do you want? Pure Win98, dual boot, etc?

Hi jcl,

I want to Delete Linux and Put 98se on it....
This is where I am in the command line on linux.....


[root@localhost tyme]# fdisk /dev/hda

The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 77622.
There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
and could in certain setups cause problems with:
1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
(e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)

Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/hda: 40.0 GB, 40060403712 bytes
16 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77622 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 1008 * 512 = 516096 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 12190 6143728+ 83 Linux
/dev/hda2 12191 77622 32977728 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 12191 13205 511528+ 82 Linux swap
/dev/hda6 13206 77622 32466136+ 83 Linux

Command (m for help):

After I hit wq this is what it said.....

Command (m for help): wq
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.

WARNING: Re-reading the partition table failed with error 16: Device or resource busy.
The kernel still uses the old table.
The new table will be used at the next reboot.
Syncing disks.
[root@localhost tyme]#

Now do I let it reboot??
and what would be the next step?
Thanks

[jcl]

You're on the right track then. Drop into fdisk and delete (d) every partition. Win98 should (emphasis on 'should') be able to take care of the rest, but if not you can create some new partitions (n), change their type (t) to FAT32 (type 'b', I believe) or whatever, and maybe set the DOS compat flag ( c ) or mark the first one bootable (a). Then write and exit (w) and reboot and you should be set. The Win98 installer should handle formatting.

[Edit: Heh. These boards change ( c ) into © if you leave out the spaces.]

[Edit: Just occured to me, if you do create the FAT32 partitions in Linux, you may have to put all but the first on an extended partition. I can't remember how Win98 reacts to multiple primary partitions.]

This post has been edited by jcl: 26 November 2004 - 04:24 AM

[TymeKyller]

jcl, on Nov 26 2004, 09:20 AM, said:

You're on the right track then. Drop into fdisk and delete (d) every partition. Win98 should (emphasis on 'should') be able to take care of the rest, but if not you can create some new partitions (n), change their type (t) to FAT32 (type 'b', I believe) or whatever, and maybe set the DOS compat flag ( c ) or mark the first one bootable (a). Then write and exit (w) and reboot and you should be set. The Win98 installer should handle formatting.

[Edit: Heh. These boards change ( c ) into © if you leave out the spaces.]

[Edit: Just occured to me, if you do create the FAT32 partitions in Linux, you may have to put all but the first on an extended partition. I can't remember how Win98 reacts to multiple primary partitions.]

Thanks for the great info...

[TymeKyller]

I'm in fdisk and I'm trying to delete the partitions but it is saying.....

Password:
[root@localhost tyme]# fdisk /dev/hda

The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 77622.
There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
and could in certain setups cause problems with:
1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
(e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)

Command (m for help): d
No partition is defined yet!


Command action
a toggle a bootable flag
b edit bsd disklabel
c toggle the dos compatibility flag
d delete a partition
l list known partition types
m print this menu
n add a new partition
o create a new empty DOS partition table
p print the partition table
q quit without saving changes
s create a new empty Sun disklabel
t change a partition's system id
u change display/entry units
v verify the partition table
w write table to disk and exit
x extra functionality (experts only)

Do you know what I have to do to delete the patitions? How to I define a partitions?

[jcl]

TymeKyller, on Nov 26 2004, 09:25 AM, said:

Command (m for help): d
No partition is defined yet!

Hmm. It looks like the partitions are already gone. Does it shows anything when you print the partition table (p)?

Quote

How to I define a partitions?

Just by creating them (n).

[TymeKyller]

jcl, on Nov 27 2004, 03:14 AM, said:

TymeKyller, on Nov 26 2004, 09:25 AM, said:

Command (m for help): d
No partition is defined yet!

Hmm. It looks like the partitions are already gone. Does it shows anything when you print the partition table (p)?

Quote

How to I define a partitions?

Just by creating them (n).

Hi Jcl,

Got it all done...
Thanks for the help....