Download the Tom's Hardware App from the App Store
The reference for current tech news
Yes No
Ads
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Linux/Free BSD > General Discussion > Removing HDD with Linux

Removing HDD with Linux

Forum Linux/Free BSD : General Discussion Removing HDD with Linux

Word :    Username :           
 
- 0 +

I have Linux Mandrake 8.0 on a 6 GB HDD. I also use Win98SE on a separate 20 GB HDD. How on earth do I remove the Linux HDD, put a different HDD instead and boot up Win98SE?

I've tried this by removing the 6GB HDD, putting a 4 GB HDD instead and booting. It won't boot. LILO won't load.

I used a Win98 bootdisk to get to DOS, then tried to go to Win, but it started with a blue-screen-of-death and a nice VFAT error message and locked up.

This is no biggie problem, but I'd like to use the 4 GB HDD as a "removable" HDD for tranportation and such.

Thanks in advance.

Using:
AMD Athlon 1 GHz
MSI K7T Pro 2 (VIA KT 133)
512 MB Ram (133 MHz)
20 (Seagate) + 6 (Maxtor) GB HDD
SB Live! 1024
Win98SE/ Mandrake Linux 8.0

Reply to Morwing
Register or log in to remove.

Here you go. First make a boot disc from linux with lilo on it. Then go to winblows then make a boot disc on it and then boot with it then run type at the A prompt: fdisk /mbr
Then when ever you need to run linux just boot up with linux boot disc. If yuo dont use boot disc from linux, your winblows disc will boot up normaly under winblows. Don't know about your BSOD troubles, sorry. Now if you want to get rid of linux completely (please don't give up) just do as I said, and then boot with windows boot disc, then type at A prompt: fdisk
then choose "Change current disc" then reformat it to a "Primary partition". Then set it to "Active", then you can boot into win, then format it to FAT and you are all set to go and all your BSOD fun ;-)

800 Duron
ASUS A7V-E
128 ram
Geforce2mx
2#20 gig(5400&7200)
Win98se/Mandrake8

Reply to mentat_void
- 0 +

Thank you a million times. I will do as you advice. Few questions though.

Using FDisk /mbr, will it remove my partition information? I have loads of stuff, that I wouldn't care to lose.

After FDisk /mbr, is it OK to sys c: from the boot disk? Yes, it will copy the sys files from a: to c: but does Linux mind about this? This way I wouldn't need a boot disk every time I boot (re-boot) Window$.

Semi-stupid question. How do I make a Linux boot-disk? I can boot only to KDE or Gnome. Haven't figured out how to access just Shell.

Thanks again,

- Jan :)

Reply to Morwing

OK, fdisk /mbr wont hurt a thing. All it does is set the master boot record (mbr) to use windows and niot any other boot manager. Well, let me boot into linux and find the exact proggie to make a linux boot disc. I'm a relative noob to linux, but I have had lots of experience in installing it and messing around with a hard drive :-)

800 Duron
ASUS A7V-E
128 ram
Geforce2mx
2#20 gig(5400&7200)
Win98se/Mandrake8

Reply to mentat_void
- 0 +

Okay. Thanks. I almost make me laugh at my own question, about making a boot disk =) It wasn't that hard, after I re-attached the floppy cable (funny that Linux nor Windows didn't bother to give any error messages, they just crashed, maybe they're not that different afterall =) Anyways, now I think I'm ready to do some scientific experiments... hopefully :) Thanks again.

- Jan :)

Reply to Morwing
Register or log in to remove.
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Linux/Free BSD > General Discussion > Removing HDD with Linux
Go to:

There are 1848 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Ads
Latest best answer
Dual Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu 12.04
By ijack, 4 days ago:

To get the best performance and lifetime from your SSD you should plan a little more...

Best offers
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
Top experts
  • audiovoodoo

    audiovoodoo - silver Expert

    Specialties : Linux

    10697 messages since 1970/01/01

  • linuxhero27

    linuxhero27 - bronze Expert

    Specialties : Linux

    148 messages since 1970/01/01

  • nhasian

    nhasian - bronze Expert

    Specialties : Linux

    422 messages since 1970/01/01