[Zachary]

Hey,

I'm having a problem trying to get rid of 2 linux paritions on my system (the main linux parition and the swap partition)

The problem is that the program i'm trying to use to get rid of it (Paritionmagic) always craps out with an error. I have a strong feeling it is because the version of Partitionmagic I am using is not able to recognize the type of Linux parition I have setup on my system.

Is this correct??? if so, what do i have ot do to get rid of the paritions??

My setup:

- I had RedHat 7.3 installed (i think it used an ext3 type filesystem and that is why Partionmagic cannot get rid of it)
- I run Paritionmagic 7.0 (for XP)

please let me know what is going on so I can get rid of these two pesky partitions!

thanks,

Zach.

[lynch]

If you can get to the terminal in Linux try this:
Get a win9x bootdisk and make sure it has fdisk on it.Set it aside for now.
Then enter Linux as root.Open a terminal and type:
/sbin/cfdisk -a /dev/hdx
The x depends on which connection the 2nd drive is on;just in case:
primary master=hda
primary slave=hdb
secondary master=hdc
secondary slave=hdd
Use the up and down keys to choose the partition to delete and the tab key to toggle thru the options.
After you delete the Linux partitions you want to reboot with the win9x floppy and at the dos prompt type fdisk/mbr
*NOTE:above was copied from a previous thread
HTH
lynch

[Zachary]

Thanks Lynch..

there's no way to go into Terminal to try what you said....i've already reset my MBR to XP......so basiclaly all that is left to be deleted are my two linux partitions (the main one and the swap partition)...

When i try FDISK it does not even show the 2 linux partitions at all..

so, to sum it up, i HAD RedHat, but now i'm back to XP alone, but the two partitions that linux used are still there - and Paritionmagic cannot erase them b/c i believe it cannot recognize the newer ext3 filesystem.

any more things I can try????

Zach.

[downtime]

Try ranish, www.ranish.com boot with a 98 bootdisk with part.***(whichever version you dld) , at the A: prompt type part*** and hit enter. Use the down arrow to highlight the linux partitions, hit the delete key on each, f2 to save, esc to exit. If XP was installed first, this will work fine. If not, you'll have a problem with the boot drive letter for XP. If XP wasn't installed first, don't do it.

[lynch]

If you have the installation disc (CD 1) you could try booting into the Linux partitions with that.Then try to get a command line and use cfdisk.If not,downtime's suggestion is worth considering.Ranish is a good program.
HTH
lynch

[Zachary]

thanks all!

Ranish was a bit tricky to understand, but eventually it all worked out.

thanks

Zach.

[lynch]

Your welcome
Care to describe the Ranish tricks?
lynch