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Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 06:19:21
by gmcust3
I have CentOS installed on my HDD.

I want to wipe it off and Install Windows XP.

But

Windows setup hangs at "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration"

I tried google and it talks about some partition issues.

How to delete Partition in CentOS so that when I install WinXP, it goes through normally ??

Re: Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 08:23:12
by deajan
Hi,

If your computer hangs at Windows setup, there are a few steps you can try:

1. Remove SATA/IDE plug from your HDD and retry (just to see whether it's really the partition layout or someting else).
2. Download a fresh copy of System Rescue CD [url=http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page]here[/url]

If removing the hard drive helped Windows Setup going further, than boot into sys rescue cd graphic and get gparted to wipe your hard disk partition layout.
If (as i suspect) the hard drive doesn't have to do with Windows setup freezing, boot System Rescue Cd into Memtest mode to check your memory.

If memory is good, search for other problems like:

How hot is your CPU ? (if you dunno, just touch it and see if you burn :) or go into bios). Should not be more than 60°C
Does your power supply work great ? Do you have a PSU tester ? If not, does it make some kind of high noise ? If it does, change it.

cYa.

Re: Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 10:29:23
by gmcust3
Right ow, My HDD has CentOS

I tried the same HDD in other System with different RAM and Different MotherBoard But same thing happens.

http://www.pcuser.com.au/pcuser/hs2.nsf/lookup+1/56AD59C8F8AAE93ECA25715E0010F9BB

It talks about some partition issue , but No idea How to delete partition in CentOS so that I can Install Win XP easily.

Re: Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 11:39:15
by pjwelsh
The instructions from @deajan should work if you follow them. The part about "boot into sys rescue cd graphic and get gparted to wipe your hard disk partition layout." is key for you.

Edit... On a side note, you could keep CentOS and run xp as a virtual machine with [url=http://www.virtualbox.org/]VirtualBox[/url], vmware or xen. :lol:

Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 15:05:42
by pschaff
[quote]
pjwelsh wrote:
The instructions from @deajan should work if you follow them. The part about "boot into sys rescue cd graphic and get gparted to wipe your hard disk partition layout." is key for you.[/quote]
An easier way, if you don't mind sawing off the limb you are standing on, and want a "new-looking" disk is to just log on as root and[code]dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=512 count=64[/code]or /dev/hda for PATA, then cycle the power.

[quote]
Edit... On a side note, you could keep CentOS and run xp as a virtual machine with [url=http://www.virtualbox.org/]VirtualBox[/url], vmware or xen. :lol:[/quote]
That would certainly be my approach.

No real CentOS question here, so moving this odious thread to Social. :-D

Re: Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 19:14:26
by AlanBartlett
Do I have anything to add? . . . Only

[img]http://www.centos.toracat.org/ajb/tmp/thumbdown.gif[/img]

and

[img]http://www.centos.toracat.org/ajb/tmp/lovelinux.gif[/img]

Re: Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 19:41:00
by pschaff
Since we are now in Social and off-topic is something of an oxymoron, I will comment that [b]Alan[/b] wins the prize for best emoticons, and I heartily agree with the sentiment he is using them to express.

Me too! [img]http://www.centos.toracat.org/ajb/tmp/lovelinux.gif[/img] [img]http://static.linuxquestions.org/questions/images/smilies/emot-tiphat.gif[/img]

I'll also add that Redmond provides extensive advice on how to [url=http://www.google.com/search?q=remove+linux+site%3Amicrosoft.com&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&safe=active]remove linux[/url] and we will be glad to return the favor for their OSs. :lol:

Re: Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 22:03:30
by deajan
As you're a bit OT right now, i'll put my two cents in...



I'm actually a MCTS Microsoft certified person (don't blame me :-D )... and i happen to like linux too.
I personnaly use CentOS as my personal server and some customers.

But sometimes windows is just nicer, as long as there is any lambda users involved.
I use to run MS 2008 Servers with about 50 windows clients for a customer.
And i run CentOS NT domain controllers for about 20 windows clients for another one.
The latter is a 'green guy' who likes linux too, so i started installing linux for his users and having Windows as KVM machines for LOB software.

As always, even 'new' lambda users are not happy with linux, because of various issues involving scanners, document formats, dock stations using windows usb drivers etc...
I'm aware that it's not a linux issue, but there is much too much hardware outside that has only windows drivers written for.

I've installed Linux Mint on a laptop for my wife, and i was forced to rollback to Win7 after a couple of days because of various issues involving VLC, internet sites with activex controls (nanny cam) etc.

So my point is:

Windows is great for users.
Linux is great for power users & dedicated servers.

And to those telling that windows has so much viruses:
Imagine linux would have about 95% marketshare. Then linux would have as much viruses. Standard users will always enter their root password (as they do with UAC under windows) to get access to whatever magic downloading software / films / pr0n a fake provider gives to infect the machine.



Anyway, i don't like Microsoft's licensing policies, especially OEM ones. I just find that their product isn't as bad as most people think. :-D

Re: Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/16 22:58:31
by pschaff
Don't feed the trolls!!!

I actually do have a few dual-boot and virtual systems with XP or 7 (Vista [i][b]never[/b][/i] - was the WinMe of the NT generation) and 7 is not bad if you discount the licensing and [url=http://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm]DRM[/url] issues. Guess we can thank the VAX/VMS (now [b]there[/b] was an OS!) team M$ hired away from the defunct Digital Equipment Corp for that, if they haven't all retired by now.

Re: Trying to Install Windows But .....

Posted: 2011/03/17 00:25:00
by AlanBartlett
[quote]
Guess we can thank the VAX/VMS (now there was an OS!) [i][/i] from the defunct Digital Equipment Corp
[/quote]
The first real 32-bit systems that I knew. And the VAXen were good hardware on which to run Unix. So, in remembrance of [b]DEC[/b] (RIP) --

[img]http://www.centos.toracat.org/ajb/tmp/SmileyVuezevela-1.gif[/img]