Problem with partitioning -- How to format hard drive and reinstall Windows?

[Robin Laing]

peter wu wrote:
> Thanks all for replying.
> 
> I finanlly got ultimate boot cd, and want to possibly
> (1) recover partition
> (2) if (1) fails, reinstall Linux only by formatting Linux partitionings
> (3) if (2) fails, format the entire hard drive and install Windows XP on it.
> 
> I'd appreciate it if you can tell me which program to use and how. I am 
> getting nervous about this...
> 
> Thanks a lot, in advance.
> 
> --peter
> 
> 
> */Robin Laing <Robin.Laing at drdc-rddc.gc.ca>/* wrote:
> 
>     If you have a floppy drive, you may be able to make a boot disk and
>     put the old dos commands of fdisk and format on it.
> 
>     This might also be useful.
> 
>     http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
> 
>     One of the tools may be helpful.
> 
>     In one of your previous posts you mentioned that PartitionMagic left
>     your drive in an strange state and the Linux partition full. It has
>     been years since I last used PM, but doesn't it allow a undo feature
>     to be saved? Or did you skip that step? :)
> 

Hi Peter,

I cannot really suggest or help here.  I have used this disk in the 
past but not any of the tools for what you need to do.  Sorry.

I would take the time to look at the documentation on the partition 
tools.  In you case, Partition Saver may be the best option first if 
it is designed for saving partitions.

Using one of the tools, you may be able to remove your Linux 
partitions and then let the Linux installer create them from the empty 
disk space.  I would be tempted to do this as it was a new install in 
the first place.

Good luck.