Help with GParted LiveCD

[PostmanPot]

Hi all,

A friend's XP notebook was getting very slow, so I formatted it. After format there was a bit of a HDD problem, and I couldn't install XP or Win2k. So I formatted and installed Ubuntu with the Gutsy CD and that worked 100%. Problem he isn't a Linux fan. So I got hold of an XP SP2 disc to install over Ubuntu.

When I restart with the XP disc in the drive, everything is normal. I get the "Boot from CD..." text and it proceeds to the "Setup is inspecting your system's hardware" screen. But after that, the screen goes black and it just hangs. I've tried the disc on my desktop PC and it boots up normally, i.e shortly after the "Inspecting your system's hardware" screen, it goes on to the blue-background screen which starts installing things etc.

So I learned that I should get GParted LiveCD and format the hard drives then install XP.

<snip>

I'm in. Do you know what would I select to format the drives?

I'm at this screen. There are a couple more options below: "Boot mbr on first hard drive", "Boot partition #1-#4 on first hard drive", "Boot mbr on second hard drive" and "Boot partition #1 on second hard drive".

Thanks,

PP

 

[Random717]

Don't have my disc around now, but I think you can just select the first option, which automatically picks up your hard drives and partitions, file systems etc. The next screen should show actual commands...

 

[The_Unbeliever]

What works for me (always) is that I install Windows first, and get it up and running before installing programs etc.

Then I run the Ubuntu/Kubuntu/OpenSuSE install which will resize the NTFS partition and create new partitions for the Linux install - without you having to do things manually.

If you have programs and data installed on an existing hard drive, then I strongly suggest that you first do a backup and a defragment before proceeding.

This method always worked for me, and leaves myself with a dual-booting laptop - Linux for web browsing and other stuff, and Winders for the odd dungeon keeper 2 game and so on.

HTH

Libs

 

[PostmanPot]

Thanks, got to the format section and formatted. Windows installing now