Or if you really want to nuke it. Dban.
Dafydd.
that i can put on a flash drive, that i can uninstall/erase/reformat whatever, to get rid of Win 7 and ubuntu, so i can install XP instead
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that i can put on a flash drive, that i can uninstall/erase/reformat whatever, to get rid of Win 7 and ubuntu, so i can install XP instead
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Or if you really want to nuke it. Dban.
Dafydd.
I've been told several times that i can't install an older system (XP) over a newer system (7). none of the installation discs will open, and the ubuntu disc utility keep giving error messages. I can't open 7 because the recovery partition is damaged
and I tried just taking the C drive out, but i still couldn't open the installation discs.
okay, I've downloaded the Dban for CD/DVD, and the Universal USB Installer, and now I'm supposed to format the flash drive to FAT32, is that right?
And i have to somehow change the BIOS to boot from the flash drive?
XP has severe install issues on modern gear. Almost all the reasons are in prior discussions but to list the top 20 is not a good idea as you may not want to know about the 19 ones that don't apply.
It's not a FAT32 issue.
Bob
as soon as i pushed F10, a screen came up saying "DBAN finished with non-fatal errors" and "ERROR/dev/sde (process crash)" several times on the page
I tried both the DoD methods listed
should i try all the methods listed?
it's an old Gateway FX400, with a Pentium D, and 3 ATA hard drives with SATA connectors. It came with XP on it
There are so many posts about that that I don't duplicate that information.
The DBAN failure is interesting but I would try GPARTED next to delete partitions then decide which OS and method to use to install.
-> Let me ask it point blank just in case. You are aware of the XP SATA issue?
Bob
but i just googled it
in the BIOS, under drive configuration, it shows
ATA/IDE Mode Enhanced
Configure SATA as IDE
Dban says it doesn't work with RAID
Remember I take your word you only have a XP CD. As such you know also about the 127GB issue.
If you wish to try again with DBAN, try all BIOS settings to default except which drive to boot from.
Bob
what that 127 GB issue is.
the C drive is defective (has bad sectors). might it help to reassign the primary master to another drive and take out this one?
the GPARTED has me stuck. I'll have to go to the library to download all the installation files.
When I installed ubuntu, i downloaded it on my laptop and put it on the flash drive. is there a provision in those installation files for uninstalling?
I actually have 2 XP CDs, 1 for this machine (but i don't have the registration numbers), and 1 for my previous pc
It's a very old OS with limitations, issues and very involved installs. You can find out more about the XP 127GB limit by using google.
1. Ubuntu should have gparted.
2. Gparted as a bootable CD has no install files. It boots and runs.
3. No. Just like before when we want an OS gone we delete it's partition, etc. Only those new to this seem to ask about uninstalling an OS. Give yourself more time.
4. Your two XP CDs. Again, you wrote "XP" so all the limitions of XP are in full force.
FINALLY you have a drive with bad sectors. I can't help you further. Good luck with that drive.
Bob
that I downloaded from your site to my desktop is an .exe file. But the universal USB installer that i got with the Dban requires an .iso file to install it to usb. so to open the gparted i have to be be online to download 126mb of additional content. that would take 12 hours, and earthlink isn't gonna let me do that.
i can't use the ubuntu because it doesn't have any provision for creating a dialup connection.
the drive i want to put xp on is only 80gb, so i don't see how the 127gb issue would matter, but i also have service packs 2 and 3 on cd.
i suppose i should just give up on doing it myself and take it to the shop and pay a pro to deal with it
So I'm left to guess what site you meant. Here's the one I use -> http://gparted.org/
Good to see you did your research on the 127GB issue as well is it not going to be a problem.
-> You're getting close to being a pro now. That is, almost all the issues are well discussed but which ones apply is kinda hard the first time round.
About dialup in Ubuntu. I see it does have ways to setup at https://www.google.com/search?q=ubuntu+dial+up+setup
Bob
but since you represent Cnet, and download.com is a Cnet site, it's "yours" by association
gparted.org has too many choices, plus having to get one with a usb loader, when i already have a usb loader.
what i have is : cbsidlm-cbsi-183-GParted_LiveCD-ORG-10698802.exe
i'll never be close to being a pro, i don't retain much of what i read, and understand even less of it, lol
The reason is pretty simple. Some folk have CD drives some do not. So there is choice. Creation and use of bootable media is a SURVIVAL SKILL or rather one that can save owners lots of money.
For example a badly infected PC might be so bad I'll go get a CD from this list.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/bootable-antivirus-rescue-cd-windows-free-download
Or the PC needs some hardware stress testing so I'll go get this.
http://www.stresslinux.org/sl/
And all of these have USB/CD or DVD options for the media.
Keep at it!
Bob