need to reinstall

[panamaszr12]

I need to set up to have windows xp, and fedora on my computer. I would like to split the drive into two partitions, then setup windows, then fedora. My problem is I can't get fedora on cd to format the drive.

any advice would be great

[pparks1]

When you install Windows, you can select to remove all partitions and then create a partition for Windows to use. Leave the remainder of the drive unallocated.

Then start the Fedora install, you should see the unallocated space as free and should be able to create Linux paritions and install to them.

Let me know if you are having other problems. I couldn't quite be sure with your original post.

[panamaszr12]

I currently have fedora on my hard drive. When I put in my windows xp disc the screen goes blank and windows won't start I am guessing that the mbr is the problem. I just don't know how to fix it. I would like to split the disc into two partitions so I can use both windows and fedora.

[markkuk]

Originally Posted by panamaszr12

I currently have fedora on my hard drive. When I put in my windows xp disc the screen goes blank and windows won't start I am guessing that the mbr is the problem. I just don't know how to fix it.

To clear the MBR from Linux:
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/<your disk device here> bs=512 count=1
Your system will be unbootable and partition information lost after that.

Originally Posted by panamaszr12

I would like to split the disc into two partitions so I can use both windows and fedora.

Fedora installation uses two partitions as default, so you need at least three for both Fedora and Windows Just allocate big enough partition for Windows during installation instead of blindly clicking through the defaults, then install Fedora in the remaining unpartitioned space.

[panamaszr12]

I am lost you say
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/<your disk device here> bs=512 count=1
Can you give me a bit more detail on what to do like
do I do it from a terminal???

[markkuk]

Yes, give the command from a terminal window as root. Change the of= parameter to point to your hard disk (usually /dev/hda for IDE disks, /dev/sda for SATA).

[panamaszr12]

Ok I did that and I get this
1+0 records in
1+0 records out
I put in
dd if=dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=612 count=1
I then put in my windows xp disc and it still went blank after saying hit any key to start cd
I tried to start back up with out the windows cd and fedora started back up again
Oh this is on a dell laptop if that helps

[panamaszr12]

I figured it out, my system is seen as sda not hda, thanks a million for all your help
Panama