strange partition problem

Hey everyone,

I'm having a very nagging problem. I have an old desktop computer (486, ISA type) that originally came with Windows 95. I decided to install red hat linux 7.0 on it and replace windows completely. Even only in command-line its quite slow. So I wanted to put Windows back onto it.

Not thinking, I booted the computer with the restoration disk that came with the PC which reinstalls Windows and everything (without first removing all partitions). When it's all done, I reboot it and lilo is still there and tries to boot linux.

So I found a rescue linux distro, ran fdisk on it, and removed all partitions. I ran the restoration program again and created one FAT16 partition. It finishes, reboots, and somehow lilo is STILL there.

What's wrong??? The only partition listed is the FAT16 (from sectors 1-520 if it matters). :confused:

It said something else below it though, something about actual sectors and virtual sectors being different or something...I can't remember I'll check tomorrow or when I can.

-Mike

well, formatting a partition doesnt touch your MBR,
basically, if youv reformatted and taken all partitions off and only Windows is on there you still have your MBR wich has lilo on it looking for Linux and its not there, so,
take a Windows 95 boot disk, and boot with that, when you get to the
A:
prompt type C:
and press enter then type
fdisk/mbr
and press enter then reboot.

yes, linux writes its boat loader to the boot record, not the partition. so when you format partitions the boot record isnt touched. there is a varity of ways of remaking the MBR, but using fdisk is fairly ok so run with that :D

Ive had the same problem once before. depending on the size of your hdd, you might want to consider a dual boot even if your comp is slow. but if the partition is a fat16 i dont think you would have room.

-cheers

Also i didnt see this in the thread, downloading a LIVE version of an OS can also come in handy to fix problems :)

Quote:

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Originally posted here by DigitalSyntax
Also i didnt see this in the thread, downloading a LIVE version of an OS can also come in handy to fix problems :)

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AFAIK there is no 'live' version of win95. He's trying to put win95 back on it.

I would go for the fdisk /mbr (dos-bootdisk) option. That will definitely nuke lilo.

thanks everyone, especially gore. I got Windows 95 back and everything. :)

your welcome man.