Windows & Fonts

Slikk2k · #1 15th August 2006, 11:48 PM

I installed Fedora Core 5 installation over my Windows (Was trying to get rid of Windows), but now I want to add Windows for a dual-core operating systems, but anytime I insert my Windows XP CD my screen says "Press any key to boot from CD...", when I hit enter my screen just stays black and does nothing.

As for fonts, I was wondering where I could get fonts so that browser web pages look more normal as well as my Gnome Desktop, menus, etc cause I hate this clear-type effect fonts and its hurting my eyes viciously. Any help would be appreciated.

orf · #2 16th August 2006, 12:34 AM

First, I haven't had to install both systems lately, but I believe this is still true. Windows will not nicely recognize other systems. So, if you want both systems you need to decide how big a partition you want for each system and partition your hard disk. Then, install Windows. You must install windows first. Once windows is up and running, install Linux on the other partition. It will probably set Grub up to default to Linux. If this is not what you want, it is easy to change. See the man page for Grub.

Second, Windows fonts. That is easier than it used to be. See http://www.fedorafaq.org/#installfonts for instructions. Also check the Fedora documentation for similar instructions.

Good luck and have fun.

Slikk2k · #3 16th August 2006, 03:11 AM

Windows won't install right now, because all I am getting is a black screen as if it's erroring completely. So, I am trying to figure a way to get the setup screen to come around. I get the press any key to boot from cd message, then the setup is inspecting my configuration message at top, then my screen just goes blank and does absolutely nothing. I've waited on it to do something for up to 10 minutes.

orf · #4 16th August 2006, 03:17 AM

Have you checked you disk partitions? How is it partitioned? That could be a problem. I'm guessing a bit here, but it is a place to start. I assume you have a live cd of some sort, a windows rescue disk, a linux rescue disk or something.

Slikk2k · #5 16th August 2006, 03:30 AM

I'm just a newbie here, so I can't figure out how to check my partitions, but yes, I have the rescue disk for fedora core 5-linux.

orf · #6 16th August 2006, 03:53 AM

It occurs to me you are online so you have a computer running, at least. Are you using the box you are trying to load windows on and linux is working or what? If you are using that box, don't worry about the rescue disk, otherwise boot the problem computer from the rescue disk .

You are going to run fdisk. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS PROGRAM. It is easy to screw up a partition table. If you do that, everything is unrecoverably gone. Everything. Don't let that frighten you, but proceed with great care. Remember there are two types of people: those who have, and those who will.

Remember that linux looks at everything, including devices, as files. So, there are 'directories' for all you disks, etc., in /dev. Normally the first hard disk is /dev/hda, second is /dev/hdb, etc. So run fdisk /dev/hda. If that doesn't work, check the contents of /dev and try the various entries until you find the right one. Anyway, when you find the one that works you may get a message complaining about the number of sectors. Ignore it. at the prompt 'command (m for help):' press 'p' (no quotes, of course). That will tell you how your disk is partitioned. That information may well help solve your problem. Go ahead and press 'm' to see the full menu, though, because you may well use fdisk at some time in the future and it helps to know what it can do.

rappermas · #7 16th August 2006, 05:49 AM

XP install will not boot if it doesn't find one of three things:

(1) FAT32 Partition
(2) NTFS Partition
(3) Unallocated Space

You said you wiped everything out and put Fedora on. What you need to do (for best results), is get a GParted LiveCD (http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php). Then, delete all partitions on your hard drive and leave it all as unallocated space. Install XP. Use gparted again to shrink the XP partition and leave some unallocated space for fedora. Tell the fedora partitioner (in anaconda) to use the existing free space on the drive for a setup. Also, install GRUB. You'll be set to go.

orf · #8 16th August 2006, 05:55 AM

Rappermas obviously has more experience than I with this - follow those directions. I was getting to the same end, but doing it the hard way. Rappermas' method is certainly simpler. In fact I think I will make a copy of the cd just to have in case.

Thanks, Rappermas!