Error, cannot open operating system... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Paradise Lost · 08-27-2004, 10:48 PM

Erm... yeah, so, today I was trying to install Linux on the computer, and I followed the instruction manual prefectly, but, figuring if I deleted partitions on my computer from the install would then actually DELETE the freakin things, I could go along with the installation... Well, right when I got to the Portage part of the install, it says disk doesn't have enough size, or space, and stops installing it (so I'm guessing the old windows partitions didn't freakin delete). So I goto restart to go back into Windows (which made sense if the old partitions were still in tact), and I CAN'T DO IT. When I put in an XP disk, it doesn't boot from CDROM, even though I've tried everything that's humanly possible to try and make it boot from it, and I don't even think the Linux disk boots up, so I have no idea what to do to fix this.

I was thinking maybe there was some way to wipe the hard drive clean, or to boot somehow into DOS and format, but I'm clueless... Any help would be VERY appreciated, since I can't get past my motherboard BIOS stuff... (posting from my brother's computer right now...)

cliche · 08-27-2004, 11:06 PM

Some linux installation processes will let you use alt-f-keys to get to a command prompt - from there you can perform all sorts of partition mangling. Alternatively a DOS boot floppy (you can download them from bootdisk.com. Is your CDROM set to boot in the BIOS? (usually f1 or del to get to setup screen)

mikec · 08-28-2004, 07:34 AM

from bootdisk.com, download and create a 98SE bootdisk, boot with it, and run fdisk to manage the partitions, if you do not have partitionmagic.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=255867

08-27-2004, 10:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paradise Lost "Afternoon everybody." "NORM!" Location: Poland, Ohio // Clarion University of PA.	Error, cannot open operating system... Erm... yeah, so, today I was trying to install Linux on the computer, and I followed the instruction manual prefectly, but, figuring if I deleted partitions on my computer from the install would then actually DELETE the freakin things, I could go along with the installation... Well, right when I got to the Portage part of the install, it says disk doesn't have enough size, or space, and stops installing it (so I'm guessing the old windows partitions didn't freakin delete). So I goto restart to go back into Windows (which made sense if the old partitions were still in tact), and I CAN'T DO IT. When I put in an XP disk, it doesn't boot from CDROM, even though I've tried everything that's humanly possible to try and make it boot from it, and I don't even think the Linux disk boots up, so I have no idea what to do to fix this. I was thinking maybe there was some way to wipe the hard drive clean, or to boot somehow into DOS and format, but I'm clueless... Any help would be VERY appreciated, since I can't get past my motherboard BIOS stuff... (posting from my brother's computer right now...) __________________ "Marino could do it."

08-27-2004, 11:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
cliche Rookie Location: Oxford, UK	Some linux installation processes will let you use alt-f-keys to get to a command prompt - from there you can perform all sorts of partition mangling. Alternatively a DOS boot floppy (you can download them from bootdisk.com. Is your CDROM set to boot in the BIOS? (usually f1 or del to get to setup screen) __________________ I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. -- John Cage (1912 - 1992)

08-28-2004, 07:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
mikec I flopped the nutz... Location: Stratford, CT	from bootdisk.com, download and create a 98SE bootdisk, boot with it, and run fdisk to manage the partitions, if you do not have partitionmagic. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=255867 __________________ Until the 20th century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see, and hear. Since the initial publication of the charted electromagnetic spectrum, humans have learned that what they can touch, smell, see, and hear is less than one millionth of reality