windows partitions

[hempa]

hello i am using linux and recently i tried to install windows xp but the installation cd could not find any of my harddrives. i thought that maybe it was because i had linux partitions on both my harddrives so now i have descided to format one of the drives but i need some help with the partitioning, like how many partitions do i need and what file system to use.

[Alan2273]

Are you asking about partitions for XP, if that is the case you only need one formatted in NFTS which the install disk will do for you.

But if you do it that way you will need to edit the MBR after, as Windows will install its own bootloader so will not see the Linux partition.

When I dual boot I always install Windows first then Linux that way Grub or LiLo always pick up the Windows OS and gives the option to dual boot.

[hempa]

Are you asking about partitions for XP, if that is the case you only need one formatted in NFTS which the install disk will do for you.

But if you do it that way you will need to edit the MBR after, as Windows will install its own bootloader so will not see the Linux partition.

When I dual boot I always install Windows first then Linux that way Grub or LiLo always pick up the Windows OS and gives the option to dual boot.

i have tried to make a ntfs partition on my second harddrive while im in linux.but when i boot from the installation cd it still cant find any of my harddrives. do i need to install anything on my harddrives so that the installation cd can find them and install xp??

[trackrat]

Making a NTFS partition can not be done from within Linux.

You need to go into the BIOS and set the CD/DVD to first boot(so when you start the computer it looks for that drive first), make sure that the XP disk is in the drive before you start up.