formatting a hardrive with linux for another system

[pquinn34]

I have a 6gig WD hardrive with linux 6.1 installed. I would like to wipe the drive clean of linux and use it for another os. I used fdisk and format but this did'nt work. I went to many linux websites with howto's etc, but there does'nt seem to be a compatible program to clean up the disk . I'm open to any help you can give. Thank you.

[reboot]

You're telling me that DOS (or win9x startup) fdisk did not clean the disk?
If you still have Linux on it, then you've got a disk problem, or used the wrong fdisk.

[Statica]

When removing partitions from a drive, use the partitioning utility of the OS you used [in this case Linux] to delete the partitions. This maxim holds especially true when trying to load Win 9x cos ha ha ha when M$ sent Win9x a-shipping it was with the expressed view to quash other OS'.

So basically you are faced with having to fdisk your drive with Linux. For that the easiest way is to use the install disk of Linux. The steps while using RedHat 6.1 are simple. Just bootup with the CD in drive [CDROM bootup] and start text mode setup [cos its faster] .. during the screen to use a partitioning program [use FDISK instead of DiskDruid]. Delete the partitions .. write to partition table. Then just turn off your computer.

Using diskdruid & GUI install has a "feature" which isnt desirable for your case .. most Linux distribs change your disk contents only at the end of your setup [usu. a good thing to prevent uh-oh-s]

NB: This is not a prob. with the Linux FS etc. cos NT works just great at removing Linux FS [even though it cant recognize it].

Oh yeah .. and most decent OS' will allow multiple extended partitions, try using M$ based FDISK on that .. will have u believe that you badly need a new drive.

Cheers

[pquinn34]

I do believe I understand your explanation and your message
(all of it). Thank you for the complete explanation. I'll go to work on my disk with that fix.

[reboot]

That's kind of where I was leading with the statement "used the wrong fdisk", but thankyou for fully explaining it for pquinn34.

[Statica]

Most new NIX users switching over to win 9x have the problem. & the frustration of the MBR not being updated by dos fdisk is common, hence elucidated.

Good luck pquinn

[pquinn34]

The advise from ex-static-cling was very helpfull. Redhat 6.1 was used from the cd-rom, and when it went to re-partition the hard-drive and I was able to use the partitioning device, I deleted all partitions and shut the machine down at that point. I then booted up with a win98 startup disk and used fdisk to delete all non-dos partitions and then was able to format the drive. As a fairly new user of linux I may not be using the proper phraseology, but it worked!. Thank you all.