I have an old computer which I don't really use anymore, it has 2 harddrives; one with all the main windows information on it (A) and one with a bunch of documents and a few games installed on it (B).
What I would like to do is format harddrive B while keeping all the data on A intact. I want to unplug A and leave it so I can go back to windows later if I want. I would like to format B and then use that as my main harddrive so that I could then install Ubuntu Linux on that and then use Ubuntu as my main OS.
The computer is currently running windows xp professional but I do not have any install disks because the computer used to be someone elses and they gave it to me. so I don't have the right CD's for it.
I hope I have explained what I wish to do clearly enough; if you need me to clarify then feel free to ask, I shall provide information the best I can.
Thank you
2007-09-23 05:01:54 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Definitely unplug the Windows drive when installing Linux, because a Linux installer will usually try to install the boot loader on the Windows drive (the drive on the primary controller), then that drive will always need to be there plugged into the same cable to boot Linux.
Though swapping the Windows drive to the secondary controller (or slave drive), then installing Linux on the drive on the Primary controller (or Master) will probably work fine. The Linux installer will take care of the formating for it's respective drive.
I use to have a nice dual boot setup where XP was on one drive and Linux on the other. I had a Asus motherboard that popped up a drive selector menu when I hit F8 in the bios startup. Other systems have this menu with the F10 or F12 key too. Unfortunately not all motherboards have it.
Of course this is if you want a dual boot setup. Otherwise just unplug the Windows Drive, make sure the Linux drive jumper is set to Master (or Single), and install away.
2007-09-26 16:19:33 · answer #1 · answered by bakegoodz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't format anything, don't unplug anything. Get someone that knows how to set up a dual-boot system for you to do that. Done properly you will have a menu appear when you start the computer and that menu will give you the choice to run XP or Linux (you can set up either OS to be the default).
If you make a mistake trying to do it yourself, you will lose you C: drive (not A). You could do it yourself, but I think you would need to do some reading and understand the process really well before you try it.
Ask around if there are any Linux User Groups in your town. If you are a student go by the computer science department and ask. Lots of people would no doubt be glad to help you, just find them.
2007-09-23 16:05:58 · answer #2 · answered by Sp II Guzzi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are able to desire to formated it. depenidng which version of ninety 8 and how new it is XP is often partiton on NTFS and homestead windows ninety 8 doesnt' reconigize the recent partitions technologies. go into FDISK and format that 2d tension(confirm that is secondry and not time-honored) by using formating with a delete of partition you would be chaing to a FAt32 or a NTFS that win98 can examine. in case you your 40gb is discover as a sparkling then format it else placed the xp based forty gb as yoru considerable and cargo xp and use the different as a your secondary.
2016-12-17 08:20:47 · answer #3 · answered by maiale 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Load up the computer, go to My Computer, right click the 2nd drive (drive B) and select Format. Or in DOS. Click Start>Run and type in cmd cilck OK. Then type format d:\ (where D:\ is the drive letter of drive B).
2007-09-23 05:13:17 · answer #4 · answered by Norak D 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋