Linux - SoftwareThis forum is for Software issues.
Having a problem installing a new program? Want to know which application is best for the job? Post your question in this forum.
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
hey ppl, ive got linux installed on a 5 gig partition on my hd. It got all messed up>> how do I uninstall it from that partition and start over again? and if i decide not to install it again (wont happen) how do i use that partition w/ windows? thanx!
There are more possible answers:
a) format the partition (all data lost)
b) Remove the partition from the disk partition program (fdisk, dos or unix, you need boot disk). Of course, all data on that partition is lost
But be careful: if LILO is installed on the MBR, you won't be able to boot without boot floppy/bootable CDROM, you can't even start Win (if on some other partition or disk)
yeah ive got the boot sector on a floppy, so i put it in to start linux. what would happen if i deleted the partition that linux is on?? how would i do that again? thanks!!!
OK, you are booting from the floppy.
How many hard drives do you have?
What systems are installed on what drives?
Do you have bootable CD-ROM drive (BIOS!!) and bootable CD-ROM Linux?
yeah ive got one HD w/ 19 gigs on it. i partitioned it, giving 14 gigs for win and 5 for linux (suse). ive got a bootable cd-rom, and my suse linux 7 can be booted directly from the cd-rom. on my HD ive got win, and i had linux but it got really messed up, and the message it told me to type wouldnt fix it. thanks
If you didn't touch the MBR (and if you have to insert the floppy to boot Linux, you didn't - there is a simple way to test it: remove the floppy and reboot - if the Win comes up, everything is OK), then just make a boot disk for Linux (the image should be on the CD you have), boot up and remove or format the partition you have for Linux. Win should remain as it is.
You need Linux floppy only if you want to make or format ext2 partition again, if you want to use the 5 gig partition with Win, you can also boot from the dos floppy (this way you will be only able to remove the partition hence dos won't recognize ext2).
OK, let us try again:
1. remove the boot floppy from the drive
2. reboot
3. If the win comes up, it's OK
4. since Win can't see Linux partitions, it acts as if those 5 gigs don't exist, you can work on with Win
If you want to use those 5 gigs with Win do:
5a. start dos from the boot floppy
6a. start fdisk and remove the 5 gig partition
7a. again with fdisk: make fat partition for Win
DONE
If you want to install Linux on those 5 gigs do:
5b. try to boot from the CD-ROM and, when asked, format the partition again as ext2 (the install program should recognize the ext2 partition)
6b. than make new install on this partition
I am not sure if the b options will work since you have big Win partition on the beginning of the drive. There is a thread with this problem under Linux-Installation, read it.
yeah i tried to delete the partition using fdisk. i went into dos (rebooted into it) and i looked, but it wasnt showing the partition. it only showed the win partition, the 19 gig one. and when i went into win, the C drive still registered at 14 gigs, only the partition it is on. what should i do now??
My first thing to try would be to just start the installation process just like u did the first time. The installation program will give u the opportynity to repartition the hard drive (like the first time).
Just remove the linux partition and make it again.
Later in the install process make shure to format the linux partitions again.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.